Los Angeles Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers: Game Preview, Prediction
By Anthony F. Irwin
@AnthonyIrwinNBA
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
One team is rolling along, only a game and a half out of first place in the conference. The other has struggled with consistency and is dangerously close to slipping out of the playoffs. Funny thing is, the latter describes, the Los Angeles Clippers and the former is the Portland Trail Blazers. Can’t imagine many saw that coming.
Instead of Chris Paul competing for MVP honors, it’s Damian Lillard who has a legitimate claim. Blake Griffin’s improved passing and outside shooting have garnered headlines, while LaMarcus Aldridge has put together a second consecutive 20-point, 10-rebound season. Doc Rivers has yet to fully imprint his culture onto his team, but Terry Stotts has done just that with only one additional season with his franchise.
Sure, the portrait I just painted seems pretty dire for the Clippers, but it goes a long way in showing just how crazy preseason predictions can be. This Los Angeles team was supposed to be a juggernaut, but they have stumbled along, feasting on inferior teams and struggling against anyone with a record above .500.
You know where teams searching for an identity and consistency don’t historically find success: in Portland against a good Blazers team. That ravenous crowd is hardly the solution for faltering team chemistry.
I hope I’m wrong here. A game featuring two playoff teams – especially in this brutal Western Conference – rarely disappoints. In all honesty, it wouldn’t shock me at all to watch the Clippers play well up north. That’s how this NBA season has gone. Scratch that; this entire sports year has seemingly enjoyed making “experts” look ridiculous.
I’ll stick with my gut and predict a one-sided affair, though.
Final score: Trail Blazers 111, Clippers 98
Anthony F. Irwin is an NBA, NFL, MLB and NCAA Football contributor for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google. Send him an email at .
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