Spurs-Clippers Halftime Update: Clippers Keeping It Close With Elimination On Line

The Clippers are only down four, even up against a strong performance Spurs team that is resolute as usual in this potential series closer.

The Spurs had an early 12-point run and the game looked like it would be another laugher as the Spurs opened up a double-digit lead with all of their out-of-the-middle-of-nowhere bench players - Tiago Splitter, Danny Green, Gary Neal, et. al. - putting in meaningful contributions. However, the Clips' best players are coming through - seven and five for Chris Paul - and managed to make the game doable by the half.

What stands out to me is just how the Spurs manage to always live up to their Spursian stereotype: they just take everything so unbelievably seriously. Up ten in the first quarter of a series which they lead 3-0, Gregg Popovich ordered his players to foul DeAndre Jordan off the ball to make him shoot free throws - the Hack-a-Shaq reimagined, an old Pop trick. It didn't exactly work - Jordan went 2-for-4, which is a pretty average per-possession result - but the point is, this team plays every minute like it's of utmost importance. Although it's only four points, it'll take a gargantuan effort for the Clippers to extend this series another game.