The Clippers were outplayed in Boston by the Celtics on Thursday night during their 116-110 loss. Keep reading for a full recap of the Clippers’ loss to the Celtics.
RECAP
Offensive production was hard to come by in the early going for the Clippers, as turnovers and bricked jumpers held them back at the onset. Only Kawhi Leonard seemed to have a clue of how to deal with the Celtics’ switchy defense that kept the Clippers mainly on the perimeter. All the while, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown dominated the first half in a way that suggested they were ready to avenge what had happened in Los Angeles on December 12.
Norman Powell, who didn’t participate in the first matchup between championship hopefuls, eventually joined Leonard to combine for more than half (27) of L.A.’s 49 points through 24 minutes of gameplay. However, the Clippers still went into the half with an 11-point deficit.
A new game plan was assembled at the break, and much of it included playing through Leonard. He hunted mismatches, abused the smaller defenders the few times doubles weren’t sent and picked apart the defense with his passing when he’d created enough defensive attention. The result was everything that Clippers basketball should look like on the offensive end under Ty Lue — catch-and-shoot jumpers and playing smartly through elite individual talents — and the Clippers took an 85-84 lead into the fourth.
But after playing the entire third quarter, Leonard headed to the bench for some rest. From there, L.A.’s lead disappeared thanks to Boston’s offense cranking it up a notch. Jaylen Brown was responsible for the Celtics’ comeback, and with Luke Kennard mostly as his primary defender, Brown punished the ill-equipped defender by repeatedly working his way past or through Kennard en route to the rim where the Clippers’ small ball unit lacked a rim deterrent.
The script had flipped when reinforcements made their way back in. Boston controlled the tempo and momentum, and the Clippers began running out of time. L.A. was able to trim a 10-point deficit to three with a chance to tie the game potentially, but Paul George was met at the rim by Derrick White, thus putting the final nail in the Clippers’ coffin.
A free-throw game ensued as the clock dwindled, and the Clippers left TD Garden with a 116-110 loss.
THE GOOD
Halfcourt Offense:
For most of the first half, the Clippers’ offense looked like the lifeless one that took the floor early this season. Turnovers plagued them to begin the game, and the Celtics’ ability to utilize switchable defenders kept the Clippers out of the interior and limited them to mostly jump shots, which they missed repeatedly. But the looks progressively became more open towards the tail-end of the second quarter and the Clippers began to find the bottom of the net. And by the time the third quarter rolled around, L.A. had diagrammed its plan of action, which included attacking Derrick White at every available chance. When he stayed singled up, Clippers players scored over him, and when he required assistance, they found the open man along the perimeter for three.
Although they put themselves behind the 8-ball early, it was encouraging to see adjustments made to combat how the Celtics’ defense was playing and to create better offensive opportunities. Even better, the process of playing through Kawhi Leonard was a good one — good to practice those habits, and good to know that Leonard is still an elite game-changer even post-ACL injury.
THE BAD
Rotations:
It’s tough to be too hard on Ty Lue, given all of the injuries, load management, and minutes restrictions he’s had to deal with throughout the first half of the season. With that said, there have been more than a few questionable rotation decisions that may have cost the Clippers some games. Obviously, the decision to not play Robert Covington is the strangest one, and one that deserves a ton of criticism. Tonight’s issue was him going away from Ivica Zubac during the fourth quarter.
Zu wasn’t perfect (his lack of footspeed failed him several times when trying to get out on the perimeter and defend the pick and roll), but he was otherwise really good. Also, really important. The Celtics were, figuratively, foaming at the mouth each time Zubac was off the floor. They made it a point of emphasis to attack the paint whenever possible, which is what ultimately cost the Clippers in the final frame.
For what it’s worth, Zu wasn’t the only one squeezed out of playing time. Terance Mann played just five minutes and, of course, Robert Covington received a healthy DNP — all signs that Lue values the offensive production of some guys more than the defense and rebounding of others. Nevertheless, the Clippers still have lots to work out rotation-wise that might not be settled without a trade.