Analysis Of The Warriors – Clippers Series Via ESPN

May 1, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Darren Collison (2) holds onto the ball underneath the legs of Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the fourth quarter in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 100-99. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Heartbreak, crying, distraction, passion, and incredible play. These are just a few words that can describe the Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Clippers series. Heading into a Game 7, where there will be a lot of physical play and emotions, the Warriors are facing the elimination, but the Clippers are as well. The one difference is that the Clippers are going to have home-court advantage.

Fortunately for the Dubs, they have secret weapons that can get the job done. They are finally figuring out how to play Blake Griffin, and Stephen Curry is stepping into his offensive game, and Chris Paul is facing injury. Right now, the general favor is for the Clippers, but I’d say it’s a coin toss right about now.

What has this series been like to ESPN?

Adande: Emotionally draining. The Clippers were caught in the sports scandal of the week, the Warriors were dragged in by proximity, and both were worse off for it. Los Angeles paid the price in Game 4, the day after the team began processing the Donald Sterling story. And Golden State was preparing to boycott Game 5 if necessary, only to get washed over by the emotional wave that carried the Clippers and their crowd following Sterling’s banishment. By the fourth quarter, there was very little energy left in Staples Center.

Han: A stressful coin flip. Let’s just say what everyone is thinking: Without Andrew Bogut, the Clippers are a better team. But the strategic adjustment by Mark Jackson in Game 4 to startDraymond Green, coupled with the Donald Sterling distraction, has thrown the series into tumult. At least these two teams are meeting in the postseason, though; their pointed ire for each other can actually be called a rivalry now.

McGuire: Fast. With four games in the books, these two have given us a faster-paced series than any of the other 14 teams. The defense has been mediocre (at best) with Bogut on the sideline, but the series has been a quick-sprint competitive bout between two distinctly different styles. If it weren’t for the other Western wackiness, more people would notice.

Nowell: Surreal. Between the Donald Sterling fiasco and the revelations surrounding the firing of Warriors assistant Darren Erman, this series has been saddled with an inconceivable amount of off-court baggage. The fact that the two viable contenders have played through it is amazing.

According to these ESPN guys, this series has EVERYTHING that the fans could have hoped for and more. Draymond Green has done a fantastic job making up for the lack of Andrew Bogut, and Blake Griffin, although stumbling, knows how to play him. That is the matchup to watch as of now, but the point guard matchup, or matchup of the superstars is going to be the determining factor.

From a Warrior point of view, they can at least take pride in the fact that the Clippers, more specifically Chris Paul, have a tough time getting out of the first round.

Strauss: Draining. So much is happening that it’s hard to focus on the basketball. That isn’t a complaint, as some things are more important than basketball. The series isn’t half bad, either, with the short-handed Warriors putting up a fight against a talented Clippers team.