In this informal, back‑and‑forth YouTube discussion, former NBA players Draymond Green and Baron Davis dissect the controversial Game 4 finish of the Clippers‑Nuggets Western Conference semifinal, debating whether the call on the final shot was correct and how it could swing the series. They critique the Clippers for allowing two games to slip away, highlight the need for deeper contributions from role players like Norman Powell, Ivica Bojanović, Nicolas Batum, and others, and note the pressure on Nikola Jokic as Denver’s de‑facto leader. The conversation then shifts to the Knicks‑Pistons first‑round series, praising Jalen Brunson’s clutch play, lamenting Isaiah Stewart’s injury, and forecasting a gritty Pistons effort against a determined Knicks squad. Interspersed is a sponsored read for Degree Cool Rush deodorant, where the hosts acknowledge the brand’s formula misstep and promote the return of the original scent. Throughout, the hosts blend analysis, historical references (e.g., Lorenzo Charles’s 1983 put‑back), and personal anecdotes while maintaining a conversational, slightly critical tone.
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Man, I didn't get an opportunity to see it obviously live, but I saw it on video.
I was at that game.
You was there.
Clippers versus Lakers. I was at that game.
Tough call. I don't know how to judge it. I think for me personally, I've never seen a game winner like that. You were there. Have you ever seen an ending like that in the playoffs?
Nah, that was wild, dude.
What was your thought being there?
My thought was it should go to overtime 'cause hand was on top of the ball. But when you look at the play, his hand was not on the ball when the red light hit. And it's in the cylinder. And it was in the cylinder. So it was like, damn, how do you, to me, you know, shout out to the refs on those 'cause that's a big call to make.
It is a huge call. It changes, it could change the, it could change the outlook of the entire series. The entire series. Which could change the entire playoffs. Like, it's a huge call to make in that moment.
But like I said, the Clippers shouldn't have put themselves in that situation, especially when you at home, you have the advantage. And I think when they put, you know, when they picked up the pressure on defense, when they were down to get back in the game, that's the same type of pressure that they needed the entire game. So I think that they were going through lows. And then at the end of the game, like we all know, it's not always the game when it's shot, it's always the tip-in. And that goes back to way back into the day where Houston lost in the Final Four, Hakeem Olajuwon,, to the great Jimmy Valvano with basically an airball, uh, putback. So I mean, it's a heartbreaker because as a coach, as a player, the shot was off. It's a controversial call, but you shouldn't have been in that situation. And it was just devastating. I mean, the whole Clipper Arena was rocking and Denver got away with one.
They did. Shout out to Lorenzo Charles, by the way, getting that putback. For NC State back in the day. When I look at that series now, I'd say that's 2 games that the Clippers have let get away. I'm not sure if you can win a series against a really good team giving 2 games away.
With that type of margin of error. Yeah, no, I agree.
Now in saying that, the Clippers have obviously the system, but Kawhi Leonard, who is just playing at an elite level, and which will always get 'em a chance. They got Ronnie Lue, Draymond Green on the bench, which always gives them a chance. But it's just hard to beat, it's hard to beat a team 4 times. To essentially beat them 1 for sure, come back tonight and have a real chance at winning that game and not coming up with those 2, I think those 2 could possibly cost you later. But in saying that, who do you have taking that? I just think like that, that could get tough, man. That can get hard. You know what I'm saying though?
Very much so. You've let 2 games slip away. You had those games in your clutches, but I still think the Clippers are the more talented team. More talented, yeah. Yeah, what I did see from Denver is, you know, you just gotta keep going at Joker. You gotta keep wearing Joker down. He's doing everything out there. I was on the Denver side of the court, so I got a chance to see, you know, how the bench, you know, the conversations in the huddle. And a lot is being asked of Joker to do a lot, a lot of the thinking, a lot of co-coaching, a lot of playing and coaching, talking to teammates. He has a lot of responsibility. And then him not having Russ out there, you don't have another vocal person.
Mm-hmm.
You have, like, you have a lot of non-vocal players. It's just hard to communicate and, and to get energy and motivation when guys are not like really dialed in. And I think the Clippers, they unlock Norman Powell. Zubac has been playing great, we talked about that. But the unlock of Norman Powell I think is gonna be huge. And then now it's gonna be a Bogdanovich or a Batum or a Dunn. Somebody from the Clippers now has to step up and be you know, that, that fifth, they need a fifth, sixth person that they can rely on now to close out this series that's gonna make big plays for 'em. They need some, they need some big plays from Derrick Jones. They need some big plays from Dunn. They need some big plays from Batum. They need those guys to make winning plays over these next 3 games.
Yeah, no, most definitely. Most definitely.
But they can win in Denver. They can win in Denver.
Right, right, right, right. So I'm not worried about them going back to Denver. Yeah. They let a couple get away.
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There are 4 2-1 series. The first is Knicks-Pistons. My Knicks, Knicks tape, let's go. Bay up 2-1 on Detroit. Every game has been a slugfest back and forth. Jalen Brunson has showed why he's clutch player of the year. I predicted that this series was gonna go Knicks in 6. How you feeling about your Detroit Pistons still?
I think they too have given games away. They gave game 1 away. Game 3 was bizarre. Nonetheless. This is what I expected. I expected the Pistons to have a chance to win this series, and they are showing that. And that's also what Isaiah Stewart been out, he's missed the last 2 games, and I thought he'd be a vital part of this series. And they're still showing Paul Reed has stepped up huge. They're, they're still playing really good basketball. So I'm not sure, I, I didn't see what it was that's been keeping Stewie out. I'm not sure if he'll still be out. But if they get him back, I'm telling you, man, watch out Knicks. If they get Stewart back, because that's just another body they could throw at Cat. That's another enforcer. You know, this series been a little testy. You get your enforcer out there, not another enforcer, your enforcer out there.
Game 4 is always harder for the home team.
It is.
Game 4 always tougher for the home team.
I think the Knicks gonna struggle.
With this one. Yeah. And I don't think the Knicks have been in that situation where they've had that margin for error, right? You look at the Clippers and you say, damn, the Clippers let Denver get to, but they still got Kawhi. They still got James. They still got, you know, super elite veteran experience that have been, have played back to the wall.
That's a fact.
I wanna see Detroit, and I know they gonna come out fighting. I know they gonna play that type of basketball. But Game 4, Game 4 is all about will, intellect, right? And small, small, small, small margin for error, especially when you the home team.
This is true. 'Cause they ain't got— These Pistons ain't got nothing to lose, man. They playing with the church's money, with the house money. These Pistons, man, watch out because they coming for blood.
Hey man, the Pistons was one of my team. They was one of my teams in the East. I just think that they're gonna, the Knicks on a mission. The Knicks on a mission to prove something. The first thing they gotta prove is, hey, we getting out this first round again so we can go to the conference semis.
