Rewatch: 2015 Round 1. On track for the Revenge Rematch against the Clippers if they can handle their business
Rewatch: 2015 Round 1. On track for the Revenge Rematch against the Clippers if they can handle their business
Basketball from the good old days when we could high five without sanitizer
Given the NBA season suspension, what better time to look back at the 2015 NBA Playoffs run, which ended the 40-year title drought. I’ll post a game every day, which should last us 21 games. Come watch along with me! These articles will be written as if the events were unfolding in real-time. The full series index is here.
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Most of the other first round series are rolling along as planned:
Golden State Warriors over New Orleans Pelicans (4-0)
Houston Rockets over Dallas Mavericks (4-1)
Los Angeles Clippers over San Antonio Spurs (4-3)
Memphis Grizzlies over Portland Trail Blazers (4-1)
with the exception being the hated Clippers almost blowing it to the Spurs. All the teams below the Warriors were very close in the standings, and things got decided on the last day.
AD was the unsung hero of the 2015 playoffs. That crazy double clutch 3 at the buzzer not only beat OKC, but won NOP the regular season series, since they had to beat SAS in game 82 of the regular season to tie OKC in the standings. I think KD and Serge would've played in spite of their injuries and may or may not have ended GSW's season. Not only that, but NOP winning the very last game of the regular season changed GSW's path to the WCF. SAS went from the 2 seed to the 6 seed just like that. And the whole "Cool story, Glenn" narrative was underway. Many thanks, AD, my pick for Honorary Warrior For Life.
SAS were probably the better team, but LAC got home-court advantage in a very tight series which they trailed 3-2 after losing at home, had to win Game 6 at San Antonio, and then won Game 7 on a crazy awkward last second shot by a banged up Chris Paul.
Thank goodness, the Clippers pulled it out. All of Dub Nation wants revenge for last year’s Game 7 loss and their general asshattery. If the Warriors can get through Memphis, we’re on track for a vengeful rematch, as long as the Clippers can handle their business against the Rockets.
In the East, it doesn’t matter. The Cavaliers are the best of a very weak conference, and they are sleepwalking through the regular season and playoffs. The Hawks have a better record, but no one thinks they will do more than give LeBron a good workout. CLE’s test will be whoever makes it out of the West.
See you tomorrow for Game 1 of Grizzlies-Warriors in the Second Round!
I love CP3's expression: it is such a Platonically-ideal illustration of why I hate him as a person.
Tim Duncan gives you a hug after losing the series to your wild, lucky, last-second G7 heave, you don't f***ing mean-mug him like he's your stepson and stepdaddy's takin' off the belt. That's Timmy D, who has accomplished far more than you, and done it as a far better, more decent, humble, and family-oriented man.
At least, that is how CP3's face looks to me: always got a bad smell in his nose, the stench of all his inferiors who denying him his rightful spot as Point-God of the 2010s...
That's why I'm glad we had our revenge, and how sweet it was: tearing down Lob City to the foundations (though they built back up as Klaw City, so...they best be thanking Mr. Jerry West!)
You can relive the Curry Bang Bang game in about 40 minutes here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I33o9UnUe1A