The Clippers are sabotaging the Rockets' playoff chances
The Rockets and Jazz are locked in a tight battle for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, and with four games left in the season, Utah holds a one-game lead over James Harden and company.
Both teams need to win all four of their remaining games to ensure they have a seat at the postseason table, and it appears the Clippers are keen to help the Jazz in their fight while subsequently hurting the Rockets' hopes.
The Clippers are planning to rest Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul, Wesley Johnson and J.J. Redick for Friday night's game in Utah, essentially handing the Jazz a win in the toughest game that remains on their schedule.
The Clippers are locked into the No. 4 seed, so other than integrating Griffin to the team's modified Paul-centered offense, there's not much reason for them to get a run in at altitude.
But by doing this, the Clippers are totally sabotaging the Rockets' playoff chances.
The Rockets have a cupcake schedule in their final four games — they get the Suns, Lakers, Timberwolves, and Kings — and they also hold the tiebreaker over the Jazz. They should get four wins. They only needed Utah to slip up once down the stretch.
The Jazz's game with the Clippers was Houston's best chance at Utah dropping a game.
But with the Clippers guaranteeing 30-plus minutes of Austin Rivers Friday, the Jazz should keep their one-game lead over the Rockets heading into Saturday. From there, they control their own destiny with games against the Nuggets, Mavericks (at home) and Lakers (Kobe's final game.)
This isn't to say that the Rockets can't take the No. 8 seed from the Jazz, but the Clippers made doing it a whole lot harder. Sorry Houston.
