Joseph Ibarra

<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/1800x1200-playoffpreview-160417.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026728"/><figcaption>Rowan Kavner

LOS ANGELES – Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach used to constantly give Clippers head coach Doc Rivers a simple message. 
“Get the ball, don’t give up the ball,” Rivers said. “I used to always ask him the four keys – ‘Any keys today?’ – And he’d say, ‘Oh yeah, simple: Get the ball, don’t give up the ball.’ That was his key to every game. And he believed that, and there’s a lot of truth to that.” 
That’s particularly the case Sunday as the Clippers start their first-round series at home against the Trail Blazers. 
</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026729"/><figcaption>The Clippers owned the season series, 3-1, for the second straight year and did well defending Portland’s dynamic backcourt, but the battle on the glass presented a problem. In the Trail Blazers’ victory against the Clippers to start the season series this year, Portland pulled down 17 offensive rebounds and outrebounded the Clippers by 13. 
As dangerous as Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum can be, Rivers and the Clippers are just as focused on the rebounding, and they don’t think that boxing out means sacrificing their transition game. 
</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026730"/><figcaption>“We can be a decent rebounding team and still a running team,” Rivers said. “I think running means you’re getting stops. If you get stops, and multiple stops, and rebound the ball, you’re going to be able to run.” 

And, the Clippers aren’t putting that all on their bigs alone. J.J. Redick said one of the key matchups will be the Clippers’ entire defensive group against Portland’s big on the offensive glass, and Blake Griffin said rebounding will be a “huge” factor in this series. 

“It’s really on us as a team,” Griffin said, “just like corralling C.J. and Damian is on us as a team.”
</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026731"/><figcaption>SEASON SERIES

 
Trail Blazers 102, Clippers 91 (Nov. 20, Moda Center): Damian Lillard scored 27 points and C.J. McCollum and Mason Plumlee added 18 points apiece. Griffin led the way for the Clippers with 21 points and Jamal Crawford added five 3-pointers, while the Clippers’ starting backcourt were just easing their way back in from injuries. The game was tight heading to the fourth, when the Blazers outscored the Clippers by nine points. 
</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026732"/><figcaption>SEASON SERIES

Clippers 102, Trail Blazers 87 (Nov. 30, STAPLES Center) – This game took the hacking strategy to new heights, with DeAndre Jordan shooting 34 free throws and finishing with 18 points and 24 rebounds. The Clippers overcame a 38.8 percent shooting night by holding the Blazers to 37.9 percent shooting, pulling away in the second half by holding Portland to 15 points in the third quarter. Griffin added 23 points and Lillard left the game early with abdominal pain.</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-7.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026733"/><figcaption>SEASON SERIES
Clippers 109, Trail Blazers 98 (Jan. 6, Moda Center) – The night will be remembered more for what happened prior to tip-off than how the actual game unfolded. McCollum was mistakenly left inactive because of a clerical error, and the Clippers’ backcourt took advantage, with Chris Paul posting 21 points and 19 assists – his most assists in a game since joining the Clippers. The Clippers jumped on the Blazers early, leading by 13 after the first quarter and 23 at halftime. </figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-8.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026734"/><figcaption>SEASON SERIES
Clippers 96, Trail Blazers 94 (March 24, STAPLES Center) – One lasting image remains from this matchup, with Chris Paul inbounding the ball through Mason Plumlee’s legs to find J.J. Redick with 1.1 seconds remaining for Redick’s first career game-winning buzzer-beater. Paul and Jamal Crawford scored 25 points apiece in the win, with the Clippers holding Lillard to 4-for-16 shooting and the Blazers to 40 percent shooting. </figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-9.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026735"/><figcaption>NOTEWORTHY MATCHUP 

Chris Paul vs. Damian Lillard – The Clippers held Lillard to more than seven points below his season average in four matchups against the Blazers, but Lillard still averaged 18 points per game and is a threat to go off at any point. Both point guards will lead the way for their respective teams. The last time Paul faced the Blazers, he scored 25 points, and the time before that he posted 21 points and 19 assists. 
</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-10.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026736"/><figcaption>TWO THINGS TO WATCH

Redick health – Redick, who hit the game-winner the last time the Clippers played the Blazers, didn’t practice Friday with a left heel contusion and he said he was in a walking boot for 48 hours before getting back on the court for Saturday’s practice. Rivers said he wasn’t sure how much Redick would practice Saturday. His plan was to see how Redick looked and go from there. If Redick can’t go, Rivers said Jamal Crawford would probably get the start, but for now Redick’s listed as probable. Of course, after just five games back from injury, Blake Griffin will be another Clipper to keep an eye on. 
</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-11.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026737"/><figcaption>TWO THINGS TO WATCH
Bench pop – Crawford averages 17.2 points per game for his career against Portland, his third-highest scoring average against any team in the NBA. He’s posted two 20-plus point performances in four matchups against the Blazers this season. For Portland, all eyes are on a player Rivers has always liked. Rivers said two years ago, it came down to the wire for Ed Davis between signing with the Lakers and the Clippers. Davis picked the Lakers, then signed with the Blazers this year, and he’s been a pain for the Clippers, posting double-doubles off the bench in three of the four matchups this season. </figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026738"/><figcaption>WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Doc Rivers – “We want to do the same thing the other four teams at the top of the West want to do, and that’s win it all. This is just the beginning of a long journey, hopefully, for us. To do that, you’ve got to do your job. You’ve got to be ready to play, you’ve got to be ready to execute, your guys have got to make shots for you, and you’ve got to get stops.”
</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-12.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026739"/><figcaption>WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Blake Griffin – “I think the reassurance that we’ve been here before and just the experience alone has helped us be in the right mindset going into the playoffs. Everybody kind of knows what to expect, everybody knows what to do. I think we’re confident, but at the same time, we’ve been in situations in the playoffs where things can go crazy pretty quickly. So, I like where we’re at from a mental standpoint.”</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-13.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026740"/><figcaption>WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Paul Pierce – “It’s always an exciting time of the year come playoff time because this is what you play for, right here, a chance to win a championship. You get through the 82 (game) grind, which is tough on a lot of us. Guys go through injuries and miss games and stuff, but it’s good right now that we’re probably as healthy as we’ve been all year long for a chance to chase what we’ve been talking about all year long – winning a championship.”</figcaption></figure><figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://cdn.nba.com/teams/legacy/www.nba.com/clippers/sites/clippers/files/preview-160416-slide-14.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1026741"/><figcaption>NOTES: Griffin averaged 22 points per game in two games against the Blazers this season … The Clippers held the Blazers to 41.1 percent shooting and 95.3 points per game during the regular season … This series marks the first time the Clippers and Blazers have met in the playoffs … DeAndre Jordan finished in the top two in field goal percentage, rebounds and blocks, while Chris Paul finished in the top five in the league in assists, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio … Lillard and McCollum are No. 6 (25.1) and No. 18 (20.8), respectively, in points per game in the NBA … </figcaption></figure>