If the Clippers, sans Chris Paul and on the road against the best team in the league, had been outclassed from the outset by Golden State–perhaps the loss would have been easier to swallow. But Los Angeles was very aware of the previous nine losses to Golden State and took full advantage of the Warriors somewhat lackadaisical start to the first game post-All Star break. Which makes the casual ease in which Golden State turned a 12-point half-time deficit into a 12-point fourth quarter lead all the harder to swallow.
It’s easy to attribute this, and the other nine losses preceding it, to a “mental edge” the Warriors seem to enjoy over the Clippers.