NBA Playoffs 2022 on Wednesday, 13.04.2022
Basketball laymen like to give today’s games the headline “playoffs”. But strictly speaking, the play-in tournament is a kind of preliminary round before things really get going in just a few days.
In the so-called “Seven-Eight Game” of the Western Conference, we get a thrilling game with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Los Angeles Clippers, in which things could well get heated …
Those who have been hibernating along with bats, dormice, hamsters and groundhogs will be horrified to look at the final standings in the Western Conference.
For the Clippers, surprisingly, failed to make the playoffs outright and have yet to qualify. The reasons for the Californians’ weak season with a record of 42-40 can be found quickly.
Superstar Kawhi Leonard has been injured since the beginning of the season and will not play in the playoffs. Paul George, who has also been a great player, has been out of action since December, but was able to get fit again shortly before the end of the regular season.
George played a total of six games for Lob City since 30 March and did not look at all hip despite the long absence. His comeback has paid off, as the Clippers have won seven of their eight games in that span.
That winning streak also includes a mind-boggling 153-119 over defending champions Milwaukee and an equally impressive 113-109 over the Phoenix Suns.
The offense has been much better since the return of Paul George and could be the undoing of even a talented squad like the Timberwolves. But either way, there’s no getting around a high-scoring game.
After all, the Timberwolves are an offensive machine! Their offensive trio of Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell has really shaken up the NBA this year.
Accordingly, I’m confident that we’ll see a game with a lot of two and three-pointers. However, I am highly uncertain about the outcome of the game due to the “Paul George effect”.
The Timberwolves won the last direct duel (without George) at Lob City by a relatively clear 104-122.
But just a month earlier, in November, when King George was still doing well, things looked very different.
Because “PG13” was the man of the game with 23 points in this 123:102 victory of the Clippers and thus the driving force. Consequently, it cannot be ruled out that his contribution could work wonders again tonight.
Conclusion: Just a fortnight ago, I would have seen the Clippers shimmy into the playoffs – if at all – via the Nine-Ten Game at best. But the return of Paul George has made me a little more optimistic.
King George, after all, was the architect of the Californians’ last success over Minnesota. Moreover, Lob City won seven of the last eight NBA games since PG13 returned to the floor!
I expect a game on a razor’s edge, but given the way the game is going, I’m very confident of a lot of baskets. The home side is not the NBA franchise that scored the most points in the league during the month of March for nothing.
My Timberwolves Clippers tip: Over 223.5 points!
