With legacies on the line, Chris Paul stepped up to the plate and banks an incredible shot off the glass to go up by two with one second left on the game clock. Greg Popovich and the Spurs draw up a final play but are blindsided by a inadvertent buzzer which throws off their entire offense. Click more to see in detail.
The Spurs offense was clearly trying to draw the Clippers defense outside toward the three point line in order to free up space in the painted area. This plan very well may have worked if it were not for a game buzzer prematurely sounding–definitely on the part of game officials on the sideline. Coincidence? With a chance to read the offense, The Clippers’ Matt Barnes goes away from the three point line to the paint and get the block that perhaps saved this game from entering over time. What a time for dramatics on the NBA.
The Game Saving Block…
As always, though, Greg Popovich kept his comments classy and professional when asked about the inadvertent game clock sounding. Coach Pop started the interview with the press in an unusual fashion by commending Doc Rivers and The Clippers on winning the series but he is then asked about whether or not he feels the game clock allowed the Clippers a second chance and he answered, “absolutely…they had seen part of the play it was going to be hard anyway.”
Coach Pop On Final Second…
What was most impressive about Coach Pop’s response was the fact that he did not completely blame the inadvertent clock to be a bail out as a reason for the Spurs loss. Coach Pop did admit that there was only one second left on the clock and that the effort to score in that situation would have been difficult regardless. We have to admit that Chris Paul’s greatness–despite being injured–in the final quarter is what ultimately caused the Spurs to lose this game.
