Defending champs on the ropes? And a Clippers series that doesn’t seem like it will be close

Harden, Rockets advance after shockingly tough series against rebuilding Thunder

We saw three MVP’s last night struggle for answers in crunch time. How many NBA players can consistently generate crunchtime baskets in isolation in today’s game? 

Remember the 2020 All-Star game, when in a Kobe Bryant inspired, no clock final quarter, barely anyone could score without flailing at the rim and praying the refs bailed them out?

I wondered i…