NBA Playoffs Recap 10 — Joy and Pain in Utah, LA, OKC
The Jazz/Clippers series flipped, and the probably MVP exited the playoffs
Part of why I was originally so intrigued by Utah/LA in the first round was because of how high the stakes are for each team. With the roster decisions and payrolls that each faces this summer, their playoff performances this spring could have lasting effects. I’ve written about the Jazz and Clippers extensively, but in essence each team could lose two (or more) very good players after the 2016–17 season ends.
So last night’s game five, a 96–92 Utah victory, was huge for so many reasons. The first is that it likely won the series for the Jazz. FiveThirtyEight gives the team a 77% chance of making the second round now. But it’s also huge because of the roster decisions. My gut feeling after this is that Utah keeps its core together while the Clippers finally dissolve. I don’t say this from any position of knowledge, but I think this is at least a reasonable feeling.
If I am excited for the Jazz though, it’s hard not to empathize with the defeated Clippers as well. This team has had enough talent to win a title for multiple years now, and still walks away empty-handed. Chris Paul’s answer to the question below is amazing, and reflects a lot of the disappointment he has to be feeling:
Truth be told though, I don’t think the series will get back to a game seven. Utah has been building toward this moment since the playoffs began, and I think it’s far more likely than not that the Jazz finish things off on Friday night. The Clippers have been a very good team for a very long time. I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be to have people tell you that you’ve always fallen short of your potential.
Elsewhere, Houston closed out Oklahoma City for a first-round win. This outcome isn’t surprising, but many (myself included) expected at least six games out of this matchup. For the Rockets, the Spurs (likely) await in the next round. For OKC, the questions that faced the team after Kevin Durant’s departure only grow louder. Can they keep Westbrook around for longer? Can the team build a better roster?
These issues are pressing, but they can wait. For now, we should appreciate the amazing season that Westbrook had, and really how much this team overachieved. I can’t think of many teams that could lose a consensus top-five player in the league and still make the playoffs, but the Thunder did. As many before me have already said, this will always be Westbrook’s season.
Tonight, there are two pivotal game fives. Atlanta plays at Washington, and Chicago plays at Boston. The two home teams are rightly favored, but these series have shown us that nothing can be taken for granted. The rollercoaster ride continues.
