For a moment before Thursday night’s break, Clippers’ guard Patrick Beverley ignored the social distance reminders plastered across the walls of the NBA’s Walt Disney World campus.
Trying to convince official Scott Foster that he hadn’t hit the Lakers guard arm Alex Caruso and deserved his third foul, Beverley pleaded for his innocence as he got closer and closer, until they were much closer than six feet.
“I hit the ball, man!” Beverley said, his words clearly heard throughout the Arena, the void of the gym was no longer filled with a pounding soundtrack. “Oh my God, brother!”
For Beverley and Clippers, it was not a moment of unique frustration during a 103-101 loss which, at times, reflected the lack of continuity of the roster since arriving in Florida three weeks ago.
Playing without the instant offense of bench stars Lou Williams and the energy of his running mate Montrezl Harrell, the Clippers appeared in danger of running away from the field while falling behind by 12 points, failing to triple and committing 13 do so during an unstable first trimester.
Their frustration extended to the game’s final game. Paul George was left to ask officials for a foul after his shooter’s three-point attempt fired from the top of the arch in the last few seconds incorrectly.
The first of the Clippers’ eight seeding games was, in effect, an indication of how far they should go until they regain their shape from March, when they finished second in the Western Conference rankings behind a finally healthy list.
“We were understaffed and made too many mistakes,” said coach Doc Rivers. “It’s a good lesson for your team. You can’t make as many mistakes as we did in one game and be short staffed. If you don’t have a boyfriend you have to run. “
The Clippers’ bench looked stiff for the first half, as if they were still getting to know each other after their list of 15 men had dropped to 10 last week. Meanwhile, the Lakers – whose list has been nearly intact for three weeks – scoffed during the warm-ups with a fake football game.
But Thursday was also a reminder of how the depth and power of the Clippers’ stars can compensate for the times and solidarity they have yet to earn.
Highlights of the Lakers’ victory over the Clippers on Thursday.
George scored 30 points at the team level and Kawhi Leonard scored 28, his poor shots shot were forgotten when he made three three points and reached the free throw line 13 times.
“I loved the way PG played,” said Rivers.
Even without Williams and Harrell, the Clippers have been able to cause Lakers’ problems by sometimes blocking paint for Anthony Davis and holding LeBron James at 16 points in 6-of-19. The Lakers were three points behind Davis and four with James.
George made three three bets during the third quarter when the Clippers opened with a score of 14-1.
With 5:23 remaining in the third quarter, Beverley was crushed to the floor after firing over the three point arc after attacking Davis in a foul. But Beverley stood up abruptly, with a grin on his face, and made two of his three shots for an eight-point Clippers lead.
Beverley’s body language had changed along with the game itself. During a timeout, Ivica Zubac whispered into the ear of the center, making the 7-foot smile.
The Clippers ‘bench roared when Zubac’s defense against Lakers’ center JaVale McGee forced him to make mistakes later in the fourth and the second unit provided the life that was missing in the first half.
Patrick Patterson, rarely used when the Clippers roster was healthier in March, scored only five points but provided stability during his 22 minutes.
“We had every opportunity to win the game again and it would have been a great victory for us for what our kids have gone through,” said Rivers.
Yet their awakening in the third quarter failed to save them due to careless mistakes that served as a cautionary tale, because they were the type who could undo the Clippers even when they return in full force.
