Warriors vs Clippers Playoffs 2014: Storylines Heading Into Game 5 Tipoff

Warriors vs Clippers Playoffs 2014: Storylines Heading Into Game 5 Tipoff (Photo: San Francisco Chronicle)

Here are some story lines and themes heading into Game 5 of the 2014 NBA Western Conference Playoffs Round 1 involving the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers, which tips off tonight at 7:30PM PDT. Our preview will come out later today.

On Mark Jackson thinking fans should boycott Staples Center

Monte Poole of CSN Bay Area:

And when you consider Jackson’s other passion, the ministry, his strong comments are not surprising at all. Time after time, he talks of the importance of principle. He often says if all he can do is coach his team as basketball players, and not also as men, he has failed.
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“If it was me, I wouldn’t come to the game,” Jackson said. “I believe the loudest statement that they can make, as far as fans, is to not show up to the game.”

Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle:

“The loudest statement to be made is not showing up,” said Jackson. “To me, it would make noise about this not being tolerated – that this is a different time. … We cannot allow someone with these feelings to profit.”
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Even in the middle of this heated series, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers couldn’t argue with Jackson.
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“If this was a normal thing, I would say Mark is trying to get no fans to come, because he wants to win this game,” Rivers said. “That has nothing to do with Mark’s comments. It really doesn’t. I think he’s speaking from his heart and from his emotions. I can’t fight Mark on this.”
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Suddenly, these two Pacific Division teams – which wouldn’t share a chapel service and have thrown punches in the past – are on the same page.
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“Sometimes you can think, ‘Nobody feels that (racist) way in 2014,'” Jackson said. “Well, now it’s documented. It’s unfortunate, but we can act on it. I believe some folks will be helped and healed because of the dialogue that’s happening today. …
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“You make a statement with how you play, who you are and how you answer questions. That’s Exhibit A to show that everything that (he) stated is a lie.”

Ethan Sherwood Strauss of ESPN.com:

Asked about how the league should address the issue, Jackson deferred to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, who was to address the matter during a news conference Tuesday in New York.
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“I’ve got total confidence in the commissioner,” Jackson said. “It’s an unfortunate position that he’s in, but I’ve got total confidence in how he’s going to handle it.”
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The coach made sure to convey that the issue is broader than just one team or its owner.
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“The statements were not made toward, other than maybe a line or two, the Clippers,” Jackson said. “The statements made toward all of us — not just African-Americans — I mean, all of us should be insulted.”

On the Warriors getting credit for winning Game 4

Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group:

The Clippers won’t make their players available for interviews at the Tuesday morning shootaround and also canceled Monday’s practice.
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“I felt like they needed to breathe,” Rivers said. “If you get your life better, then you can probably do your work better, if you know what I’m saying.”
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Rivers continued to serve as spokesman for his players while at the same time turning down an opportunity to speak with Sterling.
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“I don’t think right now is the time or the place with me personally, so I passed,” Rivers said.
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Jackson disagreed that the Clippers lost Game 4 because they were distracted, adding that the Warriors were affected too by the comments attributed to Sterling.
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Said the Warriors’ Jermaine O’Neal: “To take away from what we did, to me, was probably the most disappointing to hear people say that the Sterling situation had a lot to do with them losing. I think the Golden State Warriors had a lot to do with them losing yesterday.”

Robert Morales of the Long Beach Press-Telegram:

Jackson wanted to make something else very clear – his players also have felt the brunt of this situation.
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“Please don’t think it’s just the Clippers that’s been affected by these comments,” Jackson said. “I think it has affected us all. And it’s difficult to believe that, as crazy as it sounds, that that’s the mentality of, I wish I could say one person, but that’s the mentality of a lot of folks today and it’s unfortunate.
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“We’ve come too far, and there are a lot of folks that have sacrificed their life to make this a better place.”
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Jackson said he spoke with his team Saturday about all of it.
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“We talked briefly yesterday before practice,” he said. “Obviously, this a big story, and it’s gotta be dealt with accordingly. … So we talked about it and we moved forward, but it’s not going to end even as we play the game today. This is a process.”

Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times:

But Chris Paul said it wasn’t difficult for the Clippers to put their all into the game despite the ugliness of the Sterling drama.
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“No, because it’s about those guys in the locker room, our guys, our teammates,” Paul said. “We prepare. We’ve been through training camp and this is what we love to do.”

On Jackson’s leadership (as well as that of Doc Rivers) during this Donald Sterling situation

Poole again on CSN Bay Area:

So when Jackson mentions with studied frequency that Sterling’s predicament is merely a predicament because it’s so public, he’s speaking only partly as the coach of the team opposing Sterling’s Clippers.
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Mostly, though, Jackson is seizing upon this moment to make a difference in the lives of those around him or within the sound of his voice. He’s speaking as the Rev. Mark from the church he shares with his wife, Desiree, True Love Worship Center International in the San Fernando Valley.
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“I believe that some folks are going to be helped and healed by the dialogue that’s taking place,” Jackson said before the team’s Monday practice.
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He also believes his co-captain on this mission is more than capable.
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“Doc is a tremendous guy that we can trust,” Jackson said. “He’s going to handle it the right way and make sure that he makes us look good.”

On the return of Harrison Barnes
Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group:

This season began on the wrong foot in July, when the Warriors acquired Andre Iguodala, crowding the perimeter. Then a strange foot injury kept him out early in the season. When he came back, it was off the bench, where he was surrounded by players who did not complement his game.
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“When two bad games grows to four, grows to six, to a month, to two months,” said Barnes, “you start thinking when will this hard work pay off? … There was a point in time where (the Warriors) probably could have gotten the 15th player off each team, and he would’ve given them more production than I was. It’s true.”
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It was true.
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But that’s what made his clutch 3-pointer in Game 1 against the Clippers so much more of a wow moment. And his 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting in Game 4 made it feel as if the Warriors’ young stud was back.