Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Clippers (Game 6): Predictions, Odds and Roster Notes

What: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers

Where: Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA

When: Friday, April 26th at 10:00 PM EST

How (TV): ESPN

Series Standing: 3-2 GSW

Golden State Warriors (Home)

Head Coach: Steve Kerr {All-Time 322-88 | GSW}

Season Record: 57-25, 1st in the West

Projected Starting Five: (G) Stephen Curry – (G) Klay Thompson – (F) Kevin Durant – (F) Draymond Green – (C) Andrew Bogut

Top Performers:

• G Stephen Curry – 32.6 MPG | 24.8 PPG | 6.8 RPG | 5.0 APG
• F Kevin Durant – 35.0 MPG | 32.0 PPG | 5.2 RPG | 5.4 APG
• G Klay Thompson – 35.3 MPG | 19.0 PPG | 1.0 BPG | .438 3P%

The Golden State Warriors came out on all cylinders against the Los Angeles Clippers in their last match. While they’ve touted individual brilliance, they weren’t able to wrest control from the Clippers in the dying minutes of the game.

The Warriors performed well overall but lost the game in the second quarter of the match. A 34-22 second period created the greatest scoring disparity by a quarter in the game.

The Clippers run through the success of Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams. If the Warriors want to keep this series from going to seven games, they’ll need to slow LA’s bench superstars.

Los Angeles Clippers (Away)

Head Coach: Doc Rivers {All-Time 894-658 | ORL, BOS, LAC}

Season Record: 48-34, 8th in the West

Projected Starting Five: (G) Patrick Beverly – (G) Landry Shamet – (G) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – (F) Danilo Gallinari – (F) JaMychal Green

Top Performers:

• G Lou Williams – 30.0 MPG | 24.4 PPG | 7.8 APG | 0.8 SPG
• F-C Montrezl Harrell – 28.0 MPG | 20.0 PPG | 5.4 RPG | .750 FG%
• F Danilo Gallinari – 33.6 MPG | 18.0 PPG | 6.4 RPG | 3.2 APG

Who would’ve thought that one of the last teams to be putting up a fight in the first round of the Western Conference would be the Los Angeles Clippers. Who have played five incredibly competitive games against the reigning champion Golden State Warriors.

Big nights from their three stars and decidedly efficient shooting efforts from the field led the Clippers to victory. It was a full team effort, as no Clipper was ready to face the off-season quite yet.

It will be tough for the Clippers to replicate their shooting efficiency for Game 6. They will need to buckle down on defense even more, and rely on their shooting and even some luck to bring it back to Oakland for Game 7.

What’s At Stake?

The Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers are state-rivals, but the series is very much in favor of the Warriors. In 153 regular season games, the Warriors lead the Clippers 91-63.

These two teams have shared a playoff series once before, in 2014. It was a hard-fought, seven-game series that went the way of the Clippers.

A win for the Golden State Warriors would clinch them the series and match them up with the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

A win for the Los Angeles Clippers would push the series to Game 7 in Oakland, where they could upset the reigning champion Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors’ Defence Has Been Lackluster

The Golden State Warriors have always defined themselves by the fact that their regular season performance, doesn’t always dictate their post-season performance. In this series against the Clippers, they’re yet to display their vaunted regular season defense.

While starting off strong, a number of injuries throughout the year and lineup changes moved them from the top ten of the leagues’ defense to a 108.5 defensive rating by the end of the year – good enough for eleventh in the league.

While there has been thought that the Warriors are looking beyond their current opponents and at the Houston Rockets, more credit should be given to the Clippers. They’re exploiting the lack of mobility on the Warriors front-line and punishing them when they go small. If the Warriors can’t adjust, it’s Game 7 in Oakland.

Lou Williams Is Pure Class

The common saying is, “Form is temporary, but class is permanent”. In the case of Lou Williams, his disappointing Game 4 performance was just a precursor to an offensive explosion in Game 5.

The world has seen the scoring ability of Lou Williams, putting him in the echelon of Kevin Durant and James Harden in isolation. After a quiet 12 points in Game 4, he shocked the crowd with 33 points, 10 assists, and this play to close the game:

NINE straight points — Lou Williams is playing out of his mind

(via @NBAonTNT)pic.twitter.com/RYSBkalqFg

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 25, 2019

The difference for Williams in his last game versus Game 4, was his decisiveness and willingness to mix it up in the paint. Rather than settling for difficult shots, his one-on-one prowess was encouraged by active cutters should his shot not be available. Another match like this and the Clippers might be in for a Game 7.

Los Angeles Clippers Roster Notes

The Los Angeles Clippers have no injuries to report.

Golden State Warriors Roster Notes

C Damian Jones – 8 Mar 2019 – Out (Torn Left Pectoral) – Head coach Steve Kerr said its doubtful that Jones returns during the playoffs, according to a report from Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

C DeMarcus Cousins – 17 Apr 2019 – Out (Torn Right Quad) – Cousins reportedly has a six-week timetable for return but may still sit out the remainder of the postseason.

X-Factors: Kevin Durant (GSW) vs Danilo Gallinari (LAC)

Without a doubt, the success of the Golden State Warriors offense runs through Kevin Durant. After losing despite a dominant individual performance, Durant will look to take the series for this team. On the other side, the performance of Danilo Gallinari was undervalued. Gallinari is integral to his teams’ success, regardless of accolades.

Kevin Durant

Small Forward | 6-9, 240lb (206cm, 108kg) | Texas | Exp. 11 Years

26.0 PPG | 5.9 APG | 6.4 RPG | 0.7 SPG | 1.1 BPG | 2.9 TOV | .521 FG% | .353 3P%

Kevin Durant couldn’t carry his Golden State Warriors beyond the Clippers in their last match. It was a valiant effort on his part, but the overall dominance by the Clippers was too much to handle.

In his last match, Kevin Durant produced 45 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds on 14-26 shooting and 5-12 shooting from range. He was masterful, and also the leader of an impressively efficient Warriors offense.

If the last game is any indicator, it will be an offensive battle between the Warriors and the Clippers. Kevin Durant can lead any team in that category, but his ability to get his teammates involved might be what it takes to win the series.

Danilo Gallinari

Small Forward | 6-10, 225lb (208cm, 102kg) | Italy | Exp. 9 Years

19.8 PPG | 2.6 APG | 6.1 RPG | 0.7 SPG | 0.3 BPG | 1.5 TOV | .463 FG% | .433 3P%

Gallinari was the unsung hero for the Los Angeles Clippers in their last match. While the accolades will go to Harrell and Williams, he finished an impressive +12 to push the Clippers past the Warriors.

Gallinari’s position as the third star for the Clippers has been an up and down affair. But his value as an outside shooter and high-post playmaker are invaluable for the Clippers.

If the Clippers want to take down the Warriors once more, they’ll need Gallinari’s production. He was 3-11 from three, but 6-11 from inside the arc. His five free-throws also helped. If the Clippers want to force a Game 7, Gallinari can’t be complacent.

Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers Predictions and Odds

The Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers have put together a back-and-forth series. It’s been all-out offense between the two squads, and the team that produces a more efficient night will likely come out the winner.

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