The Clippers blowout loss is dividing the Inside Guys. Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley blame it on Paul George and James Harden. Kenny “The Jet” Smith believes they’ve the allowance to have one dud sport. However after Ty Lue tried to maintain the optimism alive, Kenny could have mentioned one thing blasphemous. That triggered a really robust response from Shaq. With the Clippers down 2-3, they should resolve if they need to take heed to Shaq or Kenny.
Sport 5’s 30-point deficit was the worst loss the Clippers have ever suffered within the postseason. Tyronn Lue admitted within the post-game presser that it was unhealthy however they nonetheless have a shot. Kenny Smith agreed on Contained in the NBA making Shaq and Chuck make incoherent disagreeing noises. Kenny proceeded to say, “Everyone’s not Shaq, everyone’s not Kobe.” He meant not all of them can burst within the playoffs. Kenny forgets that Shaq will get riled up when Kobe Bryant is introduced up in nothing however the very best situation.
“It’s not about being Shaq… it’s about stepping up-to-the-minute,” O’Neal countered. Regardless of Kenny making an attempt to defend his assertion, Shaq wasn’t having it. Shaq and Kobe have been the very best duo in Lakers historical past however they have been a posh pair off the courtroom. When it mattered although, they stepped up. When Shaq was sidelined with accidents, it was Bryant’s second to be the chief on the courtroom. Bryant as soon as even confessed to taking a backseat to protect Shaq’s delight for the advantage of the workforce.
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The Clippers have been down Kawhi Leonard at this time due to his injured knee. O’Neal hoped for George and Harden to greater than make up for that void.If somebody goes to check a duo like PG13 and The Beard with Shaq and Kobe, they received to dwell as much as it in an entire sequence. Drawing from his partnership with Bryant, Shaq mentioned George and Harden have to know, “He’s a very powerful piece of that workforce. He’s a part of the one-two punch. You bought to step up within the sport. It ain’t about being Shaquille. Paul is the one, he’s [Harden] is the 2.” If that doesn’t clarify Shaq’s sky-high expectations than nothing does.
No Shaq&Kobe 2.0 within the Clippers at this time
At Tip-Off, it was Harden and PG that made Shaq declare the Clippers would win. He sees the duo play their greatest with out Leonard to defer to. O’Neal was certain that “Playoff P” and the “previous Harden” could be on the courtroom at this time. The duo nonetheless made for less than a mixed 22 factors on a 6 of 25 capturing. This was after they put up 33 factors every in Sport 4.
Regardless of Kenny arguing that one dud is allowed in a seven-game sequence, O’Neal demanded nothing however consistency within the playoffs. He slammed George for less than going 5 factors within the first half and scoring too late within the final quarter. He explicitly mentioned, “That’s why I’ve by no means actually been on the Clippers bandwagon as a result of these two guys are too inconsistent for me. You may’t go from 33 to seven.”
George and Harden have solely Sport 6 to redeem themselves. Or they exit from the primary spherical. Do you suppose that Harden and George are allowed one loss?