Game 6 Preview: Can the Clippers oust the Warriors?

The Clippers-Warriors series has been largely overshadowed by the Donald Sterling off-the-court controversy, but one of the more highly-anticipated first-round series has, for the most part, lived up to the billing thus far.

The Warriors stunned everyone by waltzing into STAPLES Center and taking game one, before the Clippers righted the ship and took the next two, including the first at ORACLE Arena. The Clippers were clearly distracted by the Sterling thing in their game four blowout loss, before again rectifying things with a home win in game five. Now, the scene shifts back to the Bay Area for game six.

The key for the Warriors has to be to get Steph Curry on track early. He took just 10 shots from the floor in game five, though it's tough to really say he struggled, considering he made half of those attempts, and drilled four of his seven tries from three-point range. He did, however, have eight turnovers.

The Clippers were aggressively pursuing him around screens, forcing him to pass rather than allowing him to get a clean look at the rim. Were the Warriors trying to get others involved offensively? Who knows, but you can bet that Mark Jackson and friends have built a gameplan for tonight surrounding getting Curry open looks.

Photo Credit - Keith Allison/Wikimedia Commons

Clipper coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that his players are focused intently on the Warriors, and that things seem to be getting more normal around the team since last weekend's events. He also said that this is just something the Clippers are going to have to deal with as long as they're still in the playoffs. Is it something they can rally around? Perhaps.

The Clipper team that showed up Tuesday night was clearly a different bunch than the one that masqueraded as the Clippers last Sunday at ORACLE. The "we just toppled a dictator"-type feel in the arena appeared to help carry the team and energized them, which is exactly what they needed.

It'll be tough for L.A. to come out Thursday with that same energy level, especially with the way the crowd in Oakland is sure to be frenzied behind its Warriors. The play of DeAndre Jordan may be the X-factor for the Clippers. After being held scoreless last Sunday, Jordan played the game of his life in game five, finishing with 25 points, 18 boards and 4 blocked shots. Golden State has gone small with David Lee starting at center, meaning Jordan is essentially free to eat the glass by himself.

Jordan and Blake Griffin are tasked with keeping Lee and Draymond Green off the offensive glass, which was a bit of a struggle in game five. Lee and Green finished with five offensive boards apiece in that game, which is a recipe for disaster given the shooters Golden State has. Allowing potential second looks for Curry and Klay Thompson is a dangerous game that the Clippers should not be playing.

The Clippers will be without forward Hedo Turkoglu, who injured his back after a fall in game five.

Tip-off for game six is slated for 7:30pm PT.