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April 21, 2006
Joe Stevens: The playoffs are new for everybody in Clipperland
This is my fifth year covering the Clippers, and so Saturday will be the first Clipper playoff game I've covered. I have written about the Lakers' run with Shaq and Kobe, but never about the Clippers in the postseason. These playoffs are new for everybody in Clipperland.
What I am most interested to see with the Clippers in the playoffs are two things 1) Do expectations matter? and 2) How much does experience count?
If we discover that those two things are the most important factors, the Clippers could be doomed. They haven't been to the playoffs in nine years and have never advanced in Clipper history. There can't be expectations for them to advance. And as far as postseason experience, Denver has much more.
My prediction on the series is "Clippers in six,'' but I actually believe one of two things will happen, and that pick was a compromise of that belief. I believe the Clippers could roll over Denver like they did in the regular season and win in five, or I believe this will be a dog-eat-dog, rock 'n' roll, rough-and-tumble series that goes seven games. If that happens, it will be a coinflip to see who wins.
The playoffs are new for Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Chris Kaman, Shaun Livingston, Q Ross and more. How will they respond?
Clipper playoffs are new to me. How will I respond? Check out the Daily News and Press-Telegram for that answer. Got a story on Mike Dunleavy in Saturday's papers. I yearn to accept his challenge, play him in one-on-one and take the spotted 18 points in a game to 20. Not sure he would accept that because, well, he is 52, and I am younger.
If that one-on-one challenge ever goes down, look out Internet, I'm hooking up a Web cam, and you could watch us battle at www.joebattlesdunleavy.com.
Posted by Joe Stevens at April 21, 2006 08:09 PM