OKC Thunder: Paul George playoff failure adds credence to Presti winning trade
Peers unimpressed by George – call him to task
Returning to the Game 7 loss some might feel the shots and shade being fired at Paul George and the Clippers was unfair. And while I’m not advocating trolling players or being rude the fact is the door was opened by the Clippers and by ‘Playoff P’ himself.
Some of those who took to social media were Blazers stars, Damian Lillard, and CJ McCollum. That’s because the Clippers pulled out a win over the Blazers in August when Lillard uncharacteristically missed two free throws. Patrick Beverley and Marcus Morris laughed at him from their bench. Beverley couldn’t leave well enough alone waving goodbye to Dame similar to how Lillard did to George and the Thunder. Then he took to social media.
In a tweet Beverley has since deleted (speaks volumes) he said “Cancun on 3” plus three rolling on the floor laughing emojis. Lillard spoke postgame about Beverley’s trollish antics and cited how he’d sent PatBev and George’s team’s home when it mattered most.
PG13 decided not to let sleeping dogs lie and jumped on social media as well (and also deleted his tweet) that said ‘And you getting sent home this year (laughing emoji) respect (fist emoji).
Lillard shot back with a tweet of his own directed at George ‘keep switching teams…running from the grind. You boys is chumps‘.
With Lillard getting hurt and not able to finish the series against the Lakers as well as Zach Collins his Blazers simply didn’t have enough depth to deal with the Lakers but what they did to capture the eighth seed was impressive. Additionally, with the numerous injuries, the Blazers dealt with this season they weren’t expected to be in the mix. Conversely, the Clippers were earmarked as a title favorite from the minute Leonard and George joined the team.
Still, when the Clippers bowed out to the Nuggets Lillard and cohort McCollum hadn’t forgotten the shots that were fired in their direction and roasted George and Beverley mercilessly on social media.
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The Blazers backcourt tandem had every right to join in the trolling. Their feelings are representative of how many die-hard NBA fans felt about this Clippers squad. Other than Kawhi Leonard not one member on that team has anything to be bragging about.
No other Clippers player has been to an NBA finals let alone won the chip. Technically, Reggie Jackson was part of the OKC Thunder 2011-12 finals roster, but he didn’t play in any postseason games.
Yet the Clippers players conducted themselves all season as if they were the champions between how they tried to punk teams on the court and their words off the hardwood. In comparison, I can’t remember one time this season when the Raptors postured in a similar manner to how the Clippers acted.
Although Leonard didn’t get involved in the commentary George was among those who celebrated on court and made comments. He acted in a similar manner when joining the OKC Thunder in his effusive praise of playing with another superstar (Westbrook). Yet he was quick to jump ship when he saw an opportunity.