BJ Mathews is the host of the THE PULL UP! Basketball Podcast. He’s a Clippers credentialed creator representing thePeachBasket. On this article, Why the Clippers Have the Crew to Win the Clippers vs Spurs Playoff Collection, he experiences from San Antonio on why the Clippers match up nicely towards the Spurs
SAN ANTONIO, TX – That was a playoff-atmosphere sport.
There was a Western Convention showdown on ESPN within the Alamo Metropolis final Friday evening. The San Antonio Spurs have been capable of will their manner again right into a sport versus the visiting LA Clippers 116-112.
Regardless of the sport’s consequence, this was eye-opening about what would occur if these two groups met within the playoffs.
Key takeaways
The Los Angeles Clippers have the benefit versus the Spurs in a playoff sequence.
This was their first matchup of the season; two stay. Regardless of the loss, the Clippers can sit up for the following two dwelling video games towards the Spurs.
Clippers starters Darius Garland and John Collins have been out. Nonetheless, the Clippers led by over 29 factors towards a close to full-strength Spurs squad lacking solely Harrison Barnes.
To be truthful, the Spurs have been coming off the tail finish of a back-to-back versus the bodily Detroit Pistons. Nevertheless, the Spurs have been youthful and at dwelling, so the benefit nonetheless leaned towards them.
Expertise versus youth
The saying sounds cliché, however it’s true: “Expertise is the very best instructor.” A group could be enjoying lights out within the common season, the place opponents will see them 2–4 occasions a yr, and probably not need to take care of the resistance from a group truly scouting you and taking away your strengths.
Nevertheless, within the playoffs, it’s the precise reverse: it’s extra about execution, with gamers being battle-tested. That’s what the Clippers have over the Spurs.
Garland, Collins, Kawhi Leonard, Bennedict Mathurin, Derrick Jones Jr., Kris Dunn, and Brook Lopez all have some kind of championship or playoff expertise. For the Spurs, the one two gamers to succeed in that stage are De’Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes.
Final playoffs, the second-seeded younger Houston Rockets fell quick to the seventh-seeded previous Golden State Warriors. The plenty appeared on the regular-season top-seeded Rockets whereas overlooking the Warriors’ championship tradition, whose values prioritize matchups over seeding.
Clippers vs Spurs Playoff Collection: Kawhi Leonard would be the greatest participant within the sequence
There are sequence that decision for the very best participant to do heroic issues. Kawhi Leonard had a game-high 30 factors versus the Spurs, however he was additionally capable of shut down Stephon Citadel, who solely had 3 factors going into the 4th quarter. The accountability of being the main scorer whereas taking the defensive task and holding him nicely beneath his scoring common reveals Leonard’s influence on each ends of the court docket.
Leonard is likely one of the biggest playoff performers of all time, elevating his stage of play. From 2017–2025, he has averaged 28.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 4.5 APG with capturing splits of 51.1/37.5/86.8. Whereas able to having a terrific run, Victor Wembanyama has but to enter the playoffs. The Clippers and Spurs will meet once more twice extra in Los Angeles; let’s see if the end result is totally different with the Clippers having Garland and Collins again within the lineup.
