Vinny really screwed up by taking Bledsoe out and leaving Mo in down the stretch. I'm sure free throws had something to do with it, but you don't have to worry about that when you are up by 10. Bledsoe makes things happen on defense.

Sure the Clips had problems of their own on the offensive end during that stretch, but it wouldn't have mattered had they made stops. Mo is a great, valuable player, but he is not a good defender, and should not be in down the stretch. Foye has done an admirable job on Gay and provides a shooting threat, so I can understand him being in the game late. Frankly, I'm not sure why Caron is always on the bench late in games. Vinny's subbing patterns are curious to say the least.

That being said, the Clippers got the job done. They showed guts. Despite being out-rebounded by 11 (and giving up 19 offensive rebounds - yikes!), they managed to do just enough to win.

This game was HORRIBLY officiated. Both teams were the victim of bad calls, though the Clips really got the short end of that. I really wish the NBA would figure out a way to get a handle on the bad refereeing. I'm never one to blame a loss on refs. Bad calls are part of the game. If you allow the game to be close, you allow the refs to be a factor. Play well and you don't have to worry about it. But their ineptitude does for a less enjoyable viewing experience.

Memphis is a tough, gritty team. I respect them. The only reason they haven't swept the Clippers is because they don't have a superstar to take over late in games, and we do. The NBA is a superstars league, and Chris Paul is a super-duper star.