- Jordan Kahn (@ayoitsjordan) has a video-based breakdown of the Clippers-Grizzlies first-round series for Hickory High. He focuses on the way Memphis has defended Chris Paul on pick-and-rolls in their three matchups this season, and how that might work going forward. A lot, he concludes, depends on screens to free Paul from Tony Allen, and how Clipper bigs are able to use the open space they see when/if Marc Gasol lags back in help.
- Brian Windhorst has a look at “The Five Tenets of Playoff Basketball,” all of which can be applied to the Clippers. Two of the takeaways: the playoffs expose weaknesses (for the Clips, that could mean wing defense) and reward the teams that make the best use of off days.
- With Game 3 at Staples Center almost a week away, plenty of seats are still available on StubHub. You can still find seats for as little as $24 in the upper level, or if you’re feeling flush, there are seven tickets in section “Premier 10″with your name on them, at $9,999.99 a pop. If you prefer to sit up close but find yourself a little shorter on cash, maybe you book yourself a flight to Memphis and snag one of the few remaining $1,000 seats they have available. How do these compare with Lakers tickets for Game 1 of their opening series against the Nuggets? The cheapest ticket available is $40, and even if you have the money, the premium seats are hard to come by — as of right before game time, the best you can do is a loge baseline seat for $425.
- Ralph Lawler, guest DJ.
- Dan Woike of the Orange County Register has a fine piece on the importance of C.J. Paul and Taylor Griffin, the big brothers of the Clippers’ two best players. Woike does a great job covering the team and is a must-follow on twitter (@DanWoikeSports).
- This Outside The Lines feature on Blake Griffin’s relationship with his late best friend, Wilson Holloway, is a must-watch. Holloway lost his battle to cancer just before All-Star weekend a year ago, and his memory remains strong with Griffin, as he prepares to make his playoff debut.
