~:[CH10 - Day 169]:~ There Goes That Mann

 
~:[CH10 - Day 169]:~ There Goes That Mann

On a day where watching games would be the highlight, it was fun to watch the 76ers and Hawks games, but my nerves were up for the Clippers game. Knowing that a game 7 would probably mean a Jazz win, I knew how important this game was. It was tough to hear all those who counted the Clippers out down 2-0 and then again when Kawhi was out. Watching the game, I didn't get a good feeling seeing Mitchell and Clarkson hot and I said to myself, when will they break this open and they did. As a Clipper fan all my life, you're never comfortable with a lead, but you're also hoping that you can always come back. Rewind to the Clippers versus Memphis game where many had turned their TV off with eight minutes left down by 24, I watched as they slowly erased that deficit. In this game, they made their move a lot earlier, but it had the same feel. Down 25, Terrance Mann, who started the game strong, helped make another push. He's been an under-the-radar player who started because of Kawhi's injury, but he's always been a defensive plug when the team needed it. Today it was his offense. We saw sparks of it last game when he dunked on Gobert, but this was epic. It's a stars league, but stars cannot win without their role players doing what they need to do The Clippers have shown that they have weapons all over and I have been amazed at how many of their players averaged over 40% from the 3-point line this year. I guess it's a reminder that collectively you can overcome the loss of even your best player. The Clippers didn't win anything yet, but today was an inspiring win especially after suffering through so many excruciating defeats in history (many which I attended live). When the shots needed to fall, they did today, but I know it cannot just be today. Regardless, whatever happens from here, I hope you can appreciate when someone like Mann can step up and do what he did today and a team who stepped up when there were few that believed in them. I know many who stood by them, but for those who didn't, just be reminded that will, determination and teamwork can often overcome even the greatest of obstacles. There's not much time to celebrate as in a few days they will face the Suns, however, for today at least, they made history and can celebrate something so sweet.