Spurs First Stop: Los Angeles Clippers

Well it wasn’t the grand finale that Spurs fans would’ve wanted, but it feels so good to be back in the playoffs.  Easily my favorite time of the year, sports wise, the San Antonio Spurs earn a trip back to the playoffs for their 17th straight postseason appearance.  Now it will be anything but easy this time around considering it very well might be Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili‘s last playoff series.  I am hoping I am 100% wrong on this but with a 38 year old aging Tim Duncan and a 36 year old Ginobili following his lead, who knows how many more years these two future hall of famers have left in the tank.

But let’s just leave that for the future when the time comes and focus on what every Spurs fan is looking forward come Sunday night, the NBA Playoffs!  What a crazy first round this is going to be.  #6 San Antonio Spurs versus the #3 Los Angeles Clippers.  Any true basketball fan knows and is probably going to tell you, this is going to be an amazing series.  These are 2 of the most exciting teams to watch in the postseason and in my opinion is a great rivalry that isn’t talked about that much.

We have the Los Angeles Clippers fast break tempo game with Chris Paul running the point that brings out his versatile game on both ends of the floor that sets up for exciting transition games.  The NBA leading leader in assists (10.2 per game) is a dangerous yet entertaining challenge for Tony Parker as both point guards have similar style to their game.  They both make their opponents pay with their slice and dice layups as well as their superb over the top passing game.  It definitely won’t bore NBA fans anywhere.  Combined with, yes another NBA leading leader, Deandre Jordan (15.0 rebounds per game) this combo is a challenging one for those pick and roll situations as well as Jordans tough post game with those flashy dunks that can posterize an opponent in any given moment.  And of course, you have Blake Griffin, A first round draft pick in 2009 and All-Star who has not disappointed in his first 4 seasons in the league.  With Doc Rivers commanding his team, you will definitely see a different side to this playoff hungry team as they have never reached the conference finals in the past 10 years.

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On the other side of the court, you have the NBA defending champions, the 5 time NBA champions to be exact and a force to be reckoned with.  A combination of the big 3 and Leonard hitting their stride at the perfect time of the season to kick things off.  You have father time on their side as Tim Duncan, even at the age of 38, doesnt look like is slowing down.  The Claw, Leonard, shining game after game and especially surprising everyone with his tenacity on defense.  And always, you can never count out old faithful with Ginobili lending a hand as the best 6th man off the bench.  This team is playing lights out and ready to go.  It is surprising that they have meshed so well after that rodeo road trip and especially this late in the season, but I guess the defending champions played it out to perfection like they usually do.  Well, not 100% since they missed out on the 2nd seed, but nonetheless secured that 6th playoff spot for a first round matchup with the Clippers.

I for one am excited at the matchups with these two teams.  Paul vs Parker, Leonard vs Barnes, Ginobili vs Crawford, Duncan vs Griffin, Splitter vs Jordan, its as good as it gets.  More than that, its the best way to kick off the NBA playoffs!  Get ready Spurs fans, the race for seis is on and their first stop is Los Angeles.  So let’s get our game face on and cheer on for our beloved champions, our San Antonio Spurs!

Next: Spurs: First Round Draft Prospects to Look At