On the sixth, Russell Westbrook

Actually, it had to be like this. Weird, complicated, atypical. This is how these Clippers have decided that things are for them that they achieved, finally and at the sixth attempt, their first victory with Russell Westbrook. They beat the Grizzlies (135-129) and took a load off their shoulders. Because there had been no way before and it seemed that it was going to continue to be that way. The game was literally in the hands of the Grizzlies. But the Clippers, and that might mean somethingthey had Reaction capacity. Rebellion, actually. Because of how uphill it had been. Hereinafter, we will see. Because with this team… who knows.

The fact is that Westbrook, who is not the cause of all ills but does not seem like the formula that will solve any problem in the Clippers, finally won with his new jersey. And finally won as a starter. He hadn’t done it since last March 21, almost a year ago. Since then, he had lost the last ten he played in the Lakers’ starting five and also his first five with the Clippers. Fifteen losses, almost a year. A martyrdom that threatened to become the evil that would last a hundred years because the Clippers were literally on the canvas. But they won after a second phrenopathic period. He finished with a 68-68 that seems quite normal but was reached with a very strange swing: 30-51 the third quarter, 38-17 the last. That said, whoever understands it…

Shortly after beginning that second alien time, the Clippers led 72-61. A little while later, the score was 93-109. Entering the last quarter, a 99-114 seemed to leave a margin of safety for the Grizzlies. But the Tennessees stopped playing, almost literally. They lost connection with the game and sank miserably, minutes and minutes without scoring and barely defending. The Clippers saw a crack in a door that appeared to be closed and pushed until it was knocked down. With a Paul George who never got tired of trying (42 points, 11 rebounds and the final basket after attack rebound). With a Kawhi Leonard who came out of his reverie on time (34+10), a good contribution from Eric Gordon (17 points) and a strange job from Wetsbrook (9 points, 6 assists), who did nothing special but at least sailed into your team stream, without creating disruptions. At this point, he doesn’t make sense to ask her for more.

The Grizzlies seemed to suddenly remember all their problems. The serious injury of Brandon Clarke, the continued absence of Steven Adams, the suspension of Dillon Brooks and the disappearance of Ja Morant, a franchise player stuck in a maze that has separated him from the team and that is going to force him to face demons that They have nothing to do with basketball courts. Depleted and clueless, the visitors (38-25, still second in the West) were slow to react because they had decided to take a nap too soon. They spoiled that illuminated section of the third quarter in which Tyus Jones, that substitute point guard (when Morant is there) who would start many teams, scored 20 points without a miss (5/5 in triples). But the point guard disappeared later (he finished with 25 and 12 assists). Desmond Bane (30 + 6) also stayed dry for too many minutes and neither Jaren Jackson Jr did enough in defense nor Luke Kennard (15 points, 5/5 in triples against his ex) in attack.

So what seemed like the sixth loss in a row with Westbrook it turned into a victory that seemed, above all, a pure relief. More than euphoria and more than joy in explosion format, it was a feeling of tired, prolonged sigh. The Clippers continue to have problems, very visible and difficult to solve at this point in the season. But if they want to dream of a positive final stretch, of reaching the playoffs whole and with aspirations (whatever they may be), they have to start at some point. Use some point of support. And, as things are, any victory can help them, at least, to think for a couple of days that it will be like that. That they will find a way. And then, it will be seen.