The 4-seed Los Angeles Clippers hosted the 1-seed Utah Jazz at Staples Center Monday for Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinal playoff series. The Clippers put on an impressive performance for their home crowd, led by offensive stylings of Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Marcus Morris. The Championship contenders, having evened the series, now head to Salt Lake City for Game 5.  Your complete Game 4 recap follows below.

GAME SUMMARY

First Half

Much to the surprise of, well, everyone, the Clippers opened Game 4 on a 10-2 run. Opening buckets came from the usual suspects, Leonard, George and Morris.

Defensively, LA was very effective with air-tight man-to-man coverage.   The effort saw 3 deflections and 2 turnovers in the first three minutes of play. Halfway through the quarter the Clippers led by 12. By the end of the frame they had extended that lead to 17, on top 30-13.

In the second quarter, it was much of the same. The Clippers’s defense forced the Jazz to play 1:1 ball and stifled their ball movement.  On offense, the Clippers aggressively attacked the basket, particularly when Gobert was off the floor.   

The Jazz struggled to get stops, could not get anything in the way of transition offense, and settled for bad shots late in the clock. The Clippers’ elite defense was on full display. 

The Clippers led by as many as 29 in the second quarter and despite mini runs by Mitchell – he had 17 in the frame – held a 24 point lead at the break, 68-44.  

Stats at the Half:

Marcus Morris led the way for LA with 22 points on 6 for 8 shooting, including a perfect 5 for 5 from long. He also snatched 3 rebounds. Kawhi Leonard was also solid with 19 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal. He also had the highlight of the half.

Paul George contributed 15 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal. Nico Batum also made an impact, particularly on the defensive end of the floor, with 3 steals to go along with 2 points; 3 assists and 3 rebounds.

For the Jazz, Donovan Mitchell was best with 21 points; 1 assist; 2 rebounds.  No other Jazz player hit double figures. 

The Clippers shot 50 percent from the field and 50 from three point range. The Jazz only connected on 35 percent from the field, and 33.3 percent from three.

The Clippers also fared better than the Jazz in numerous other categories: 

• Points in the paint (Clippers 14; Jazz 12)
• 2nd chance points (Clippers 8; Jazz 1)
• Fast break points (Clippers 8; Jazz 3)
• Turnovers (Clippers 2; Jazz 7)

Second Half

The Jazz came out of the break with resolve, connected on a few easy baskets and quickly cut the lead to 20.  Quick time out for Ty Lue to steady the ship. 

For most of the remainder of second half the Clippers lacked the defensive energy and intensity they showed in the first half. The Jazz were able to push the pace and get better looks earlier in the clock. Joe Ingles and Bojan Bogdanovic combined for 24 points, and Mitchell added 16. It was not enough to overcome Utah’s poor start, however, and the team struggled to slow LA’s consistently clicking offense. The Jazz never broke the Clippers’ double digit lead.

Clippers win, 118-104.

Final Stats

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George both finished Game 5 with 31 points.  Leonard added 3 assists, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot to his stat line while George had 4 assists, 9 rebounds and 1 steal. Marcus Morris was a solid third fiddle with 24 points, 1 assist, 6 rebounds and 1 steal. Nico Batum was also a difference maker, contributing 7 points, 4 assists, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 blocked shot. 

Donovan Mitchell finished with 37 points for the Jazz.

CLIP NOTES

Great Team Effort

Game 5 was a great team effort for the Clippers. Although only three guys hit double figures (Leonard, George, Morris), everyone in the rotation provided meaningful contributions. The squad forced the Jazz to turn the ball over 11 times. They also bagged 10 steals, blocked 7 shots, grabbed 44 rebounds, and logged 19 assists. They shot 46.8 percent from the field on the night, and 40.5 from three.

Of course, although all the Clippers’ players performed well, it was the dynamic duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard who sparkled. According to ESPN Stats & Info, George and Leonard are the only the 5th pair since the 1976-77 NBA-ABA merger with 30 points each in back-to-back playoff games. If they continue to play well, at the same time, there is no telling how far this team will go.

Welcome Back to the Offense Mook!

Marcus Morris showed up big this matchup, and the crowd at Staples could not have been happier. Prior to Game 4, Morris was a dismal 1 of 16 from long. During Game 4, Senior got into a rhythm early, going 5 for 5 from three in the first half. Although his offense cooled significantly in the second half, Morris finished the game with a respectable 24 points on 6 for 11 shooting.  Hopefully his newfound stroke will continue as the series goes on.  

Welcome back to the Defense Mr. 94 Feet!

Patrick Beverly saw an uptick in minutes tonight and made the most of his time on the floor.  His back to back blocks on Donovan Mitchell to end the first half were savage. Bev finished the game with a post-season career-high 4 blocks, and his presence on the floor –as both leader and irritant– had impact.

Paul George celebrates his 100th career postseason game.

Game 4 was a milestone for PG-13; his 100th career post-season game.  George made it a good one, playing with purpose on both ends of the floor.  He was particularly successful with his aggressive downhill play and finishing at the rim. Overrated? I think not. He’s just warming up, folks.

Kawhi Knee Concerns?  

Kawhi exited the final quarter with over four minutes left after bumping knees with Joe Ingles.  He was not attended to on the bench, so it is unclear if his sitting out the final minutes was purely precautionary or cause for concern.  Something to watch.

Kawhi Leonard Named to All-Defensive Team

Off topic, but still good news worth mentioning, the NBA announced today that the Klaw has been named to the All-Defensive Second Team. The announcement marks the third consecutive season and the seventh time in Leonard’s career that he has received All-Defensive Honors.  

NEXT UP:

Game 5 between the Clippers and Jazz is set for Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. at Vivint Arena, Utah.  

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Clippers vs. Jazz Game 4 Recap: All Even
michelle uzeta

The Clippers are once again trying to come back from a 2-0 series deficit, and made a good start by winning Game 3. If they can win their next game at home, the pressure will be back on the Jazz heading back to Utah. Keep reading for a full preview of Game 4 between the Clippers and the Jazz.

GAME 4 INFORMATION

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

When: 7 p.m. PST

How to Watch: TNT

How to Listen: AM 570 L.A. Sports / The Patriot AM 1150

Projected Starting Lineups:

L.A. Clippers: Reggie Jackson – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Marcus Morris Sr. – Nicolas Batum

Utah Jazz: Donovan Mitchell – Joe Ingles – Bojan Bogdanović – Royce O’Neale – Rudy Gobert

Injury Report:

L.A. Clippers: Serge Ibaka – OUT (Back Surgery) 

Utah Jazz: Mike Conley – QUESTIONABLE (Right Hamstring Strain)

THE BIG PICTURE

“Take Note”, Utah, the Clippers aren’t dead yet.

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George combined for 65 points to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a crucial 132-106 Game 3 win over the Utah Jazz Saturday.  Although the Clippers still trail Utah in the Western Conference playoff semifinals 2 games to 1, the unsinkable and scrappy squad will make every effort to even the series at Staples Center Monday night. 

GAME NOTES

Small Ball Success

Clippers’ head coach Tyronn Lue returned to a small starting lineup in Game 3, replacing Ivica Zubac with Nicolas Batum. Using a five-out lineup without a traditional center forced Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert to defend shooters on the perimeter and allowed the Clippers room to attack the rim without worrying about the “Stifle Tower” being camped out under the basket. The strategy worked; the Clippers outscored the Jazz in the paint 44-32, snatched 10 offensive rebounds, and logged 13 second-chance points. More than that, the Jazz’s hallmark half-court defense seemed discombobulated. There were visible communication and rotation errors that allowed the Clippers to get good looks and score with ease, particularly off small-small pick and rolls.  Although Utah will likely correct some of the defensive errors made on Saturday, expect the Clippers’ small-ball sets to continue to diminish Gobert’s defensive impact and create difficulty for the Jazz defenders. 

Offense Must Continue to Flow

The Clippers offense showed much improvement in Game 3 after meh performances in Games 1 and 2.  LA scored 132 points in 93 possessions, an impressive 141 offensive rating. The team also boasted a 56/52/82 shooting split and 21 assists on the night. Four players scored in double figures: Leonard (34), George (31), Batum (17) and Reggie “Action” Jackson (17).  

In order to extend and win this semifinal series, the Clippers’ offense must perform at a high level from first tip through final buzzer. Leonard and George always find a way to get their numbers, but neither has had a truly exceptional full-game performance to date in this series.  

They. Are. Both. Due.

Role players, with the exception of Jackson, have largely under-performed in the playoffs. To play at “Championship contender” level, at least two other guys besides the dynamic duo need to step up offensively with double-digit contributions. It would be great if regular season third-scoring option Marcus Morris would get hot, but he has been wildly inconsistent as of late. Senior’s field goal and three-point shooting percentages have dropped off significantly from the regular season (47.3/47.3) to the playoffs (39.4/33.3). The Clippers have many other options, as they do have a deep bench, but depth does not mean a damn thing if everyone on the roster is off at the same time.

Morris has gotten the looks, the shots just have not been falling. Game 4 may be the game to break his slump. If not, the Clippers need above-average performances from Batum, Kennard, Mann, and/or Beverley to stay in contention.

Defensive Effort

Game 3 also brought an improved defensive effort from the Clippers. LA’s defenders were over-helping and closing out well on shooters throughout the game with very few lapses in coverage. Perimeter defenders double-teamed Mitchell early on in the clock and far from the basket, making it difficult for him to turn corners and play downhill.  Mitchell saw many different looks from many different bodies during Game 3, and although Spida still logged 30 points in the match-up, the Jazz’s overall efficiency was compromised. The Clippers’ intensity was such that Utah’s offense was altered. The ball was not moving as usual and they often looked immobilized and/or confused. As a result, the Jazz finished the game with more turnovers (16) than assists (15). The Clippers need a similarly elite defensive effort to take Game 4.   

Jazz Injuries

Injuries may play a role in Game 4 and beyond. Jazz hot shot Mitchell re-injured his right ankle midway through the fourth quarter of Game 3, causing him to make an early exit. In post-game interviews Mitchell insisted to media that he was fine and would be ready for Game 4, but the extent to which his nagging ankle issues will impact his performance moving forward remains unknown. Remember, this is the same ankle that caused Mitchell to miss the last 15 games of the regular season and Game 1 of Utah’s first-round series against the Memphis Grizzlies. 

The Jazz is already without Mike Conley, who has missed all three games of this series with a hamstring strain. Conley has been upgraded to “questionable” for Game 4. 

PREDICTION: LA Takes Game 4

The Clippers appear to have figured out their defense and rotations, and as mentioned throughout the preview, Game 4 should just be a chance to further straighten things out against the Jazz. So long as they get decent production from their superstars and meaningful contributions from a handful of role players, they should have no issue protecting home court and evening the series.

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GAME 4 GAME THREAD: That about does it for this preview of Game 4 between the Clippers and Jazz, but the comment section below will serve as the Game 4 game thread. Sign up for a free account and join the always insightful and sometimes snarky conversation!

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Clippers vs. Jazz Game 4 Preview: Evening the Series
michelle uzeta

Dr. Shap, Lucas Hann, and Robert Flom gather postgame to discuss the Clippers’ disappointing game 7 loss, capping off a disappointing series and disappointing season for a team that never found out how to be the best version of themselves.

Check out the pod here! Please give us a 5 star rating and review on whatever you listen to us on, and give your thoughts in the comments below.

213Hoops is an independently owned and operated L.A. Clippers blog by Clippers fans, for Clippers fans. If you enjoy our content, please consider subscribing to our Patreon. Subscriptions start at $1 a month and support from readers like you goes a long way towards helping us keep 213Hoops sustainable, growing, and thriving.

TLTJTP: The End of the Clippers’ Season
Robert Flom

This might be the most depressing way the Clippers could have been eliminated from the playoffs. Not with a big blown lead, or a huge blowout, or a nailbiter down the stretch, but with a steady stream of bricks in the 4th quarter and brilliant play from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. This loss wasn’t on Doc Rivers (though he did play Montrezl Harrell far too much), but on the Clippers as a collective team. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard were ice cold, particularly in the second half, and neither was able to find open space frequently.

Their defense, while energetic, was scattershot, with overaggressive double teams and continued overfouling the order of the day. Despite it being a 7-game series, and with plenty of time to prepare, practice, and strategize, they seemed to lack any real strategy on that end. The Clippers were never able to stop Nikola Jokic, and they were eliminated by the Nuggets because of it.

It was the offense, however, for the 3rd game in a row, that let the Clippers down. They scored a mere 30 points in the second half, and seemingly ran no plays. It was just ISO, pick and roll, and ISO again. Again, there was no plan of attack, no attempt to pick out Denver’s weak spots and exploit them. There were merely barfed jumpers, weak drives into the paint, and lots of standing around.

The Nuggets, on the other hand, defended vigorously, continuously attacked the Clippers’ weak points, and played each possession on both ends with crisp execution. They were the better team, top to bottom, and Jamal Murray (40 points on 15-26 shooting) and Nikola Jokic (16 points, 22 rebounds, 13 assists) were by far the best players on the court.

The Clippers’ two superstars, however, never got going. Paul George was again in foul trouble in the first half, and Kawhi Leonard looked flat from the jump, his jumpers regularly falling short or clanking to the side. Neither made a field goal in the 4th quarter, truly incredible considering how well they’d played most of this series. But, then again, that’s why Game 7’s should always be avoided. Anything can happen. Tonight, the Clippers were frigid, the Nuggets were brilliant, and the end result wasn’t close.

We will have more thoughts on what will come next later, but the LA Clippers have been eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the 2nd round after being up 3-1 in the series, and face a miserable offseason of wondering what went wrong, and where.

Rob’s Note: There will be no full recap coming later – this was a huge bummer, and we all need to detox a bit.

Clippers Eliminated by Nuggets, Fall 104 to 89
Robert Flom

The Clippers take on the Nuggets in Game 7 in a winner-take-all contest to determine who will advance to meet the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.

Game Information

Where: Disneyworld, Orlando, Florida

When: 6:00 PM PT

How to Watch: ESPN, Watch ESPN

Projected Starting Lineups

Nuggets: Jamal Murray – Gary Harris – Jerami Grant – Paul Millsap – Nikola Jokic

Clippers: Patrick Beverley – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Marcus Morris – Ivica Zubac

Injuries

Nuggets: Will Barton Out, Vlatko Cancar Out

Clippers: None

The Big Picture

The Clippers are right where no team wants to be – facing elimination. Sure, they’re also a game away from advancing to the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, but being 48 minutes away from elimination in the second round is not ideal for a team that has championship aspirations. The Clippers roared out ahead in the first half in both Games 5 and 6, only to sputter in the second half, coughing away fairly large leads in tragic fashion. In Game 6 in particular, the Clips looked utterly shell-shocked down the stretch, with no idea for how to stop the Nuggets or any methods for generating easy offense. This was, of course, very dispiriting for Clippers’ fans, who have seen this movie before.

All that said, the Clippers did play well enough in both games to get those leads in the first place, and were able to win Games 1 and 4 fairly handily. They have the talent and players to beat the Nuggets. They just need to keep execution high, and make the right rotation moves and strategies to help on the margins. While the Nuggets are good, and fight hard, there’s no reason for the Clippers to lose to them in a seven-game series based on talent and overall ability. If they do fall, it will be the most disappointing end to a Clippers season of all time. Not great, Bob.

The Antagonist

The Nuggets, meanwhile, are riding high. They are playing with house money at this point. Virtually nobody gave them a chance to even push this series to seven games, much less win, and they were written off entirely by most people after Game 4. They are having fun, playing loose, and just generally look like they’re having a great time. This is in stark contrast to the mostly glum Clippers, who look stoic even when they’re up and playing well.

The Nuggets have been powered by the superstar play of Nikola Jokic, who has been the best overall player in this series. The Clippers simply haven’t found a way to consistently slow down the big Serbian, and if he has another monster game tomorrow, even the Clippers’ best efforts might not be enough to win against the Nuggets (which is why you avoid a Game 7 at all). On defense, the Nuggets have clamped the Clippers up in the second half of both Games 5 and 6, and while there are certainly adjustments to make, the Nuggets’ ability to get stops consistently is surprising considering their porous defense for much of the season. Overall, they’re simply playing with more energy and fight than the Clippers, and it has shown.

Notes

Kawhi Takeover: While Kawhi Leonard has been spectacular at some points this series, he’s also been quieter than expected on a couple nights. Notably, in Game 2 he was extremely cold, and in Game 6, he was good but not great on a night when the Clippers needed him to dominate. Unsurprisingly, both of those games were losses for the Clippers. The good news is that after struggling with his outside shot in the first three games (2-11), Kawhi has caught fire (10-21) over the last three. If his three-pointer is falling and some of those midrange jumpers that missed in Game 6 drop as well, he could have a monster night in Game 7. The Nuggets have defended Kawhi well, but Game 7 is when superstars come to play, and the Clippers will need every bit of that tomorrow.

More from Morris: After a scorching hot Game 1, Marcus Morris has been fairly quiet in this series. He’s been efficient enough scoring the basketball, but the impact hasn’t really been there in terms of raw production, and his defense has not been noticeable. In the five games since Game 1, his averages are: 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in around 31 minutes per game. Morris hasn’t been as blatantly bad offensively as Landry Shamet and Montrezl Harrell, or as bad defensively as Lou Williams and Harrell, but he simply hasn’t made much an impression either way. That’s simply not good enough for the Clippers’ major trade deadline acquisition, and hopefully he shows up with more force in Game 7.

Pat Beverley Avoiding Foul Trouble: Vijay already discussed this in his article a few hours ago, but one of the biggest reasons for the Clippers’ collapse in Game 6 was the absence of Pat Beverley down the stretch due to his fouling out. Pat hasn’t even been that good in this series, but his defense and rebounding make him a much better option than the Clippers’ other guards, and they missed him greatly in the 4^th quarter. He needs to be able to play at least 25 minutes in Game 7 (probably closer to 30), and that means keeping out of foul trouble.

Going Small with JaMychal Green: The Clippers briefly went small down the stretch in Game 6, with JaMychal Green at center, but the lineup didn’t do very well. Still, that sample size is not very representative, considering the Nuggets already had all the momentum and the Clippers were greatly struggling. If Ivica Zubac and Montrezl Harrell struggle again, Doc could turn to Green at center for a greater amount of time in Game 7.

That’s about all I have for Game 7. This has a good argument for being the most important game in Clippers history. With all luck, the team shows up for it, and the Clippers can advance past the Nuggets in Game 7 to take on the Lakers in their first ever Western Conference Finals.

Clippers vs Nuggets Game 7 Preview: Win or Go Home
Robert Flom

Despite being up 3-1 in the series at one point, the Los Angeles Clippers Western Conference semifinal clash against the Denver Nuggets has taken yet another twist. With comeback victories in games five and six, Denver has battled back to force this series to a seventh game. As the favorites, the pressure is on the Clippers to win this game. They’ve had numerous chances within the past week to finish off the Nuggets, but just haven’t done it. LA came into this season with championship aspirations, and now are facing their toughest test yet. This will be Denver’s second winner-take-all game in as many rounds as they have continued to show no quit. With their brilliant shotmaking, they have pushed the Clippers to the brink. There have been many storylines developed over the first six games so as we head towards the finale, here are five things to look for in Game 7. 

Montrezl Harrell Minutes Watch 

It’s been a tough series for Montrezl Harrell. The Nuggets have picked and gone at him on defense, creating a big decision for the coaching staff in terms of how many minutes to play him. Harrell was a whopping -19 in game six and hasn’t recorded a positive plus/minus since game one when he dropped 15 points. Denver just continues to go at him when they have the ball, especially when he’s matched up against Jokic.

The Nuggets running a Murray-Jokic pick and roll is forcing Harrell to choose between cutting off the drive from the ball handler or chase the roll man when he pops out to the three-point line. He’s caught in no mans land and in the times where LA switches, he can’t seem to stay in front of Murray. Harrell brings a lot to the Clippers in terms of inside scoring and energy, but he’s been a major net negative when on the court during this series. Against Denver, the Clippers have a defensive rating of 108.2 and a paltry offensive rating of 96.9 (net rating of -11.3) when Harrell is on the court. This completely changes when he is off it, as the offensive rating jumps up to 116.7. The defense doesn’t have that drastic of a change but it does fall to 104.5 which gives a net rating of 12.2, the highest of any Clipper when they are off the court. While Harrell might not be directly responsible for the big difference in the on/off numbers, it does show that he is a bad matchup against Nuggets, especially when Jokic is on the court. 

In the playoffs, every substitution and lineup combination is key. Having the wrong lineup out on the court or sticking with one that isn’t working for too long is the recipe for disaster. Doc Rivers and the coaching staff now have a decision to make when it comes to lining up Harrell’s minutes and how much they play him. He has played 19, 17, 21, 18, 15, and 15 minutes in the series six games so far. If LA wants to maximize his value against Denver, he can’t be out there for too long or at all against Jokic. The Clippers can’t afford to go through those defensive sequences again, as it will result in them leaking points. One storyline to watch for game seven will be how many minutes LA gives Harrell and when in the game they do so. Putting a guy in for too long or waiting till too late to make changes can be disastrous, as one bad run can mean the difference between advancing or going home. LA needs to be cautious as to how they approach their rotation minutes, especially with Harrell. 

Michael Porter Jr. Causing Havoc

Along with the play of Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. is another member of Denver’s core who has put up some stellar performances in this series. He recorded a double-double in game three and despite only scoring seven in game five, he still made a difference. Porter Jr. knocked down a clutch basket in the waning moments to extend Denver’s lead while also coming up with a key block on Ivica Zubac as well. During game six, Porter Jr. was again a decent contributor off the bench with 13 points on four of seven shooting while chipping in seven rebounds. If he can shoot efficiently in game seven, he will again be a problem for the Clippers.

He’s given LA’s bench unit fits on defense with his shot-making and size. At 6’10, MPJ offers Denver another forward who can take advantage of mismatches when the opportunity presents itself. If he has the size advantage, he can drive into the lane towards the rim, and his ability to shoot off the dribble has come into play against bigger defenders who aren’t as quick. 

He’s a guy who once he gets hot from the field, can torch any defense in front of him. LA has to continue to keep forcing him to take contested jumpers and live with the results. Porter Jr. is a threat to score anytime Denver is on offense and also is a big body who will fight for rebounds. What they cannot do is give him matchup advantages during the times when both reserve units are out on the court. While LA surely has to focus on stopping Jokic and Murray, they have to continue to be wary of Porter Jr. too. He has made some ridiculous shots in crunch time during this series and could be a pivotal figure in game seven. 

Clippers Superstars Need to be More Efficient 

There is no doubting the offensive impact Kawhi Leonard and Paul George had during game six. The duo combined for 58 points and stuffed the stat sheet all around. But the problem wasn’t their lack of scoring, it was how they got it. Leonard went eight of 18 from the field while George shot nine of 21, which equates to shooting percentages of 44 and 42 respectively. These numbers combined with the lack of offense from the rest of the Clippers starters was the main reason behind the team shooting 41 percent from the field as a whole. While it’s certainly great to see two of your stars get their points and lead the team in scoring, it has to be done efficiently. If not, then possessions are being wasted and the right shots are not being sought nor taken. This doesn’t mean Leonard and George shouldn’t be taking the reins of the offense when they are on the floor. It indicates the duo shouldn’t be forcing anything and LA needs to continue to find ways to get them easier shots. 

With the season on the line, game seven is going to be tense and possessions will be at a premium. The Clippers are going to put the ball in the hands of their two best players and let them go to work offensively. Leonard and George will certainly have ample opportunities to get their points. We have seen from both, especially Kawhi, that they can have big offensive nights while being efficient. If they are working from the field, it opens up the floor for everyone else. Catch and shoot opportunities for others will be there when the defenses collapse on either Kawhi or George. It’s just a matter of not taking bad shots, which may mean sometimes passing it off to someone else and calling plays to get them the ball with space to operate. 

Pat Beverley Staying Disciplined

It was a disappointing game six for Patrick Beverley, as he only scored a mere two points and fouled out early in the fourth quarter. There is nothing wrong with Beverley being aggressive on the defensive end: his willingness to hound opposing guards is part of what makes him a great perimeter defender. But there are times where you just cannot afford to get a foul called on you, and yesterday was one of those moments. Beverley getting into foul trouble had numerous effects, as it scrambled the Clippers rotation along with taking away someone who could match up against Murray. He is by far LA’s best defensive point guard, and him not being on the floor during key moments is a huge loss for the Clippers. The lack of replacements in terms of defensive guards leaves them open to their opponent’s lead guards having a field day offensively. This was on display during the Mavericks series, and is happening in this one as well. When Beverley isn’t on the floor Denver attacks whoever the point guard is for LA, whether it’s running them through a PNR or having them go isolation against Murray.

For game seven, Beverley needs to do a better job of staying alert when it comes to picking up fouls. He has to find a balance between forcing Denver’s guards out of their offensive comfort zone and being cautious. Otherwise, he’s going to be sitting in situations where he should be out there. The fewer minutes Beverley is out there, the more strain it puts on the rest of LA’s better defenders to pick up the slack. 

Shutting the Door on Opponents

If the Clippers lose game seven, they surely will regret the ample missed chances they had to end the series. They were up 15 points in the third quarter of game five and were up by as much as 19 in game six but still couldn’t finish the job. They have suffered brutal cold stretches from the field after getting these huge leads. They scored a mere combined 34 points in the second half of game six, a major contribution to their collapse. To the Nuggets’ credit, they have generated big scoring runs in these games, and have never backed down when facing a huge deficit. 

In the playoffs, you can’t let teams back into it. All it takes is one comeback to flip the momentum of a series and put the other team in a bind. When a team looks to be done and out, you have to keep pushing and not let up. Denver has shown that all they need is a couple of shots to go through the hoop to start believing. If the Clippers get another big lead tomorrow, they have to keep their foot on the pedal and keep attacking the Nuggets defense. They can’t let Denver back into the game cause if the lead starts to get trimmed, then the pressure will really be turned on LA.

Continuing to be aggressive offensively is a way to keep Denver off their heels. If the Clippers have learned anything from the past week, it’s that the Nuggets or anyone they face are never truly out of it if given a chance at redemption. When the contest looks to be teetering on the brink of becoming a blowout, LA needs to shut the door on any hope of a comeback. Leaving the door open always leaves a chance for another game to end in heartbreak and disappointment. 

Well, those are five things I will be looking forward to in Game 7. Leave comments below on what other crucial matchups or performances will be most important to you.

Five Things to Look Forward to in Game 7
Vijay Vemu

The Clippers take on the Nuggets in Game 5 up 3-1 with a chance to move to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.

Game Information

Where: Disneyworld, Orlando, Florida

When: 3:30 PM PT

How to Watch: TNT

Projected Starting Lineups

Nuggets: Jamal Murray – Gary Harris – Jerami Grant – Paul Millsap – Nikola Jokic

Clippers: Patrick Beverley – Paul George – Kawhi Leonard – Marcus Morris – Ivica Zubac

Injuries

Nuggets: Will Barton Out, Vlatko Cancar Out

Clippers: None

The Big Picture

The Clippers are up 3-1, and have won each of their three games in a different way. Game one was an onslaught against a tired and ill-prepared Nuggets team which quickly became a blowout. Game three was a gusty, come-from-behind victory where the Clippers were outplayed most of the evening but found a way to pull out the win. And Game four was a grind-it-out defensive matchup that saw the Clippers shut down a talented Nuggets’ offense and win handily in a game where their offense struggled mightily. That has to give the Clippers’ confidence, because when you can win games in a variety of ways, you’re generally pretty damn good.

The Clippers have also won with a mostly mediocre series from star Paul George offensively (though he’s been far better than he was against the Mavs), and with poor shooting from supersub Lou Williams. The fact that most of their shooters (outside of Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson, who have sizzled) have been cold and they’ve still dealt with the Nuggets is yet more promising news. If those guys start hitting more outside shots in Game 5, the Clippers could start to look like the juggernaut they were projected to be – and finish off the Nuggets in the process.

The Antagonist

The Nuggets have played hard. And they have, for the most part, executed well. However, they have had two huge issues. First, Game 2 aside, they’ve been completely unable to stop or even slow Kawhi Leonard, who was taken over at will against the relatively strong defense of Jerami Grant. The second, and perhaps bigger problem, is that nobody outside of Nikola Jokic has proven able to consistently create offense or score the basketball. Jamal Murray, their breakout star against the Jazz in the 1^st round, has been completely locked down by Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Patrick Beverley. Michael Porter Jr. got hot in the first half of Game 4, but as soon as the Clippers started paying real attention to him, he quieted down. The rest of the Nuggets, like Grant, Gary Harris, and Paul Millsap, have made open shots, but have not really been able to punish the Clippers in any real way on mismatches. Torrey Craig has been ignored on offense. Mason Plumlee has been invisible on that end as well. Overall, the Nuggets’ high-powered offense just hasn’t been able to get into gear.

What adjustments can the Nuggets make? Well, they could try starting Michael Porter Jr. over Paul Millsap to juice the offense a little bit. That would make the defense even worse, as Porter has been repeatedly targeted by the Clippers on that end, but Millsap hasn’t been very effective on that end either, and has done nothing on offense outside of Game 2. Malone could also bench Torrey Craig, who’s a good defender but has made little real impact, in favor of PJ Dozier, who is somewhat more capable offensively. On offense, rather than running through the locked down Murray, the Nuggets could try shifting their creation elsewhere. Still, those aren’t great answers.

Notes

Will Doc Keep a Short Rotation: Doc Rivers cut the Clippers rotation from 10 to 9 players in Game 4 by removing Reggie Jackson and giving more of his minutes to Patrick Beverley. As Beverley gets back into game shape he will demand more minutes, which will probably come from Landry Shamet (and Lou Williams to a lesser extent). Still, the effects of removing Jackson were evident in the Clippers’ defense, which looked much better without its weakest perimeter defender. Expect Jackson to be out of the rotation moving forward barring foul trouble, but it’s possible Doc gives him at least a few minutes in this one to keep him fresh and ready down the line.

Defending Jokic: The only player who the Clippers have had any real difficulty with this series has been Nuggets’ superstar Nikola Jokic. Even though the Clippers did a very good job on him in Game 4, he still put up 26 points and 6 assists. The key for the Clippers was forcing Jokic into 11-23 shooting and giving him just two free throw attempts. While he will probably shoot better than 2-7 from three, the Clippers are winning their battle against him if he’s taking that many shots from deep and operating outside the paint. Credit to Ivica Zubac for his defense on Jokic, and the rest of the Clippers for their smart double-teams, hedges, and rotations. Their defense on him was phenomenal, and if they can pull that off again in Game 5 they should be able to seal the series.

That’s about all I have for Clippers-Nuggets Game 5. Check out Sanjesh’s article on the struggles of Montrezl Harrell and Lucas’ piece on rooting interests. Comment on the game and Raptors-Celtics Game 7 below!

Clippers vs. Nuggets Game 5 Preview: Moving On
Robert Flom

When it comes to competing for championships, the most successful teams usually possess the fewest amount of weaknesses. From a player personnel standpoint, those teams are able to exploit favorable matchups without being exposed in return. Even teams with the greatest offensive and defensive players run the risk of being schemed out of wins by playing guys who are liabilities on one end of the court. Being forced to play 5 vs 4 for portions of a playoff game can shift the momentum of a series. Playoff basketball isn’t usually the place for one-trick ponies, as the value of one-way players are diminished.

The Defensive Liability

Each season we witness contending teams be exposed for having a weak link in the lineup. Efficient scorers are always needed, so the valued offensive specialist who struggles defensively usually gets a bit more of a leash for his shortcomings. However, that player presents complications. The most recent examples of this that come to mind are the Cavs-Warriors NBA Finals matchups. The weak (by comparison to Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala) on-ball defense of Steph Curry was continuously hunted by LeBron and Kyrie through pick & roll switches throughout those series’. He was largely ineffective guarding the ball, and his poor defense hurt his team quite often, but a guy with his offensive significance to his team wasn’t ever going to be played off the court. Not the same can be said about a guy like Kyle Korver, who was also a participant in a couple of those NBA Finals. Like Curry, he was targeted repeatedly and couldn’t provide any positive impact on the defensive end. And, while his shooting and floor spacing was desperately needed in a LeBron-style offense, his volume was limited and his contributions weren’t nearly as valuable as Curry.

In just the few weeks of playoff basketball that have been played in 2020, it’s evident that the Clippers have multiple guys out there who fit that Korver mold. Lou Williams, Reggie Jackson, and Montrezl Harrell all bring necessary scoring, shooting, and playmaking off of the bench, which is especially useful when Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are out of the game. However, those same three have struggled throughout the regular season, and mostly throughout their careers, to bring much to the table defensively. Of course, it might be that those guys could be more playable if they weren’t always on the court at the same time, but that’s a different conversation for a different day. All of this is matchup dependent, but the lack of intimidation, one-one defense, pick and roll defense, and help-side defense are big problems regardless of who they are defending. But at this stage of the season, most teams have good enough coaching staffs that can put together gameplans and throw in wrinkles that will expose those bad defenders on a consistent basis. Playoff basketball just reveals the deficits of one-way players much more than regular season basketball does.

The Offensive Liability

While guys with defensive limitations sometimes get passes for their ability to put points on the board, it’s much harder for offensively challenged players to stay on the court. In today’s version of basketball, you must be able to shoot, no matter how great you are defensively. In the seven-game first round playoffs series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets, rookie Lu Dort experienced what his teammate Andre Roberson had experienced for years. Over the six playoff games he played in, Dort was successful in guarding James Harden perhaps better than any single player has been able to since Harden was traded to Houston back in 2012, which is unthinkable for a rookie to be able to do. But even with how great he was defensively, he was completely disregarded on the offensive end, with the Rockets leaving him wide open on the perimeter and daring him to shoot jump shots. His 26 percent (13/50) three-point shooting made life ten times harder for Chris Paul, Dennis Schroder, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to have the necessary space to penetrate the lane, and left little room for Danilo Gallinari isolation post-ups. Again, Dort’s defense was textbook, but there were just too many lost opportunities to either extend leads or cut into deficits while he was on the court. 

Even just a single wasted offensive possession could be the deciding factor in determining the outcome of a game, which is why it is a tough coaching decision to make when you have to rely on poor offensive players to rise to the occasion. The Clippers had one of those guys this season in Moe Harkless. While Moe was a good cutter and was shooting decently from behind the arc, the Clippers’ front office was well aware of how his inability to draw the attention of defenders had hurt his teams offensively during previous playoff runs in Portland, so they shipped him off to New York for someone who is a bit more multi-dimensional. Now with Marcus Morris filling in, the Clippers don’t really have guys who are liabilities on offense. Sure, you might consider Terance Mann and Rodney McGruder to be offensively challenged, but, realistically, they aren’t cracking the playoff rotation unless there are some injuries or extreme foul trouble. 

Accepting The Challenge

It may go without saying, but each game of basketball has the potential of playing out differently to the one prior. Although you shouldn’t bank on it, guys have the ability to outperform their usual contributions. Whether it be confidence or strategic adjustments, the tables can turn. In game 3 of this Clippers-Nuggets series, Lou Williams accepted the challenge. For Lou, it was simple: he locked in and competed. He put together an incredible defensive stretch during the final minutes of the second quarter while the Clippers were on the ropes. His on-ball and off-ball defense was key in sparking fast-break points, allowing the Clippers to trim the deficit to two points before the half. Simply put, his second-quarter heroics might have saved the team from digging too deep of a whole to climb themselves out of.

Throughout the regular season, in mostly low-significance games, the on-court struggles of the one-way players weren’t as significant for the Clippers. As the stakes get higher and each game has more implications, it will be interesting to observe which of the aforementioned players will benefit from making the necessary adjustments. Doc will have to play his cards in order to win big, and that might mean foregoing those aforementioned one-way players for more two-way balance. Or, instead, those players need to rise to the occasion of playoff basketball, as Lou Williams did yesterday, and shed their reputation as one-way players. If the Clippers’ offense-only players can add even some value defensively, their path to a championship is much clearer.

Playoff Basketball Isn’t Kind to One-Way Players
Cole Huff

Well, it looks like it’s time to bring out the post-loss specialist that Denver certainly won’t scheme for—me!  Both times that I have previously covered the Clippers for 213Hoops they were coming off of losses, but thanks to my inspirational previews, they were able to bounce back with some very big wins.  So, while the Clippers are coming off of a disappointing loss against the Nuggets, let’s see if this preview winning streak can be extended in Game 3.

Game Information

Where: The Most Magical Place on Earth (Orlando, Florida)

When: Monday, September 7th @ 6:00PM PT

How to Watch: TNT

Projected Starting Lineups

Nuggets (Home) : Gary Harris — Jamal Murray — Jerami Grant — Paul Milsap — Nikola Jokic 

Clippers (Away): Patrick Beverley — Paul George — Kawhi Leonard — Marcus Morris Sr. — Ivica Zubac

Injuries

Nuggets:  Will Barton Out (Knee), Vlatko Cancar Out (Foot), Nikola Jokic Questionable (Wrist)

Clippers:  None 

The Big Picture

Contrary to Kenneth’s advice in the Game 2 preview, the Clippers unfortunately did let up a bit (or a lot) in Game 2.  While there were many takeaways to be had, the game was really lost in the first quarter where the Nuggets scored 44 points on 72% shooting.  Falling behind by 19 points is obviously not an ideal situation, and while you can certainly point to areas that the Clippers needed to improve on, this was one of those instances where one team was in the zone and the other one wasn’t.  

The one bright spot that I saw throughout the otherwise painful-to-watch game was that the Nuggets are certainly prone to stretches of stagnation as well, which means that no lead is insurmountable for the Clippers.  In fact, the Clippers actually outscored Denver 76-66 after that 1st quarter massacre, but they were just never able to get over the hump due to unforced turnovers, missed free throws, and Denver (and by that I mean Gary Harris) making big shots to kill Clipper momentum.

That may all seem like a long winded way to say “the Clippers have to play better to start the game,” which is true, but it’s important to keep in mind that Denver also came out of the gates hot in Game 1 (only that time, the Clippers matched them blow for blow then proceeded to run away with it).  

We’ve seen stretches where the Clippers are absolutely locked in defensively, and it’s clear that when their defense is organized and sharp the offense flows much better.  I imagine the Clippers aren’t too happy with their Game 2 performance and will come out with more intensity.  Kawhi had 0 points in the 4th, PG struggled to get things going to close the game, and Bev was ejected on what was likely just an outburst of anger at how the game was generally going. 

Matchup wise, the key factor to keep an eye on is Jokic’s aggression on the offensive end.  He started Game 2 looking to score, and he absolutely punished Zubac in the post or from the perimeter due to some lethargic close outs.  This opened up the floor for others to operate and get to their spots.  I’d also keep an eye out on Kawhi, who struggled to find his shot throughout the game as indicated by some uncharacteristic misses near the rim as well as missed free throws.  Ultimately, I don’t think the gameplan has to change drastically, the Clippers simply have to make more shots and play with more intensity. 

The Antagonist

It’s important to acknowledge something that many Clipper fans didn’t after Game 1—the Nuggets are a good team.  They have solid defensive and offensive depth, and Jamal Murray and Jokic are truly fantastic players.  Defensively, Harris and Grant are menaces with active hands, high defensive IQ, and the latter has the strength to challenge Kawhi for positioning.  

While I firmly believe the Clippers are the more talented team, the success of either team is highly influenced by the role players.  Yesterday, all the Nuggets players stepped up.  Murray and Jokic were fantastic in the first half, and Monte Morris kept the momentum going by playing a lot like Trey Burke did in the first round.  Millsap and Harris proceeded to make big 3s in the 2nd half that kept them at a safe distance from the Clippers.  Grant and Harris defended Kawhi well, and while we can point to him missing shots that he usually makes, they played a big role in making him uncomfortable on the court.  The Nuggets role players were instrumental in their win last night, just like the Mavericks role players were instrumental in both of their wins against the Clippers.

We know the Clippers 2nd unit struggles defensively, but much of the success the Nuggets role players had was also against the Clippers starters. Like I said, the Nuggets are a good team, and the Clippers need to have a consistent team effort if they want to win Game 3 – and the series as a whole.

Notes

• Montrezl Harrell:  Don’t get me wrong, Trez absolutely deserved the Six Man of the Year Award.  That recognition is, however, a regular season award, and it’s starting to look really hard to justify his ~19 minutes a game in these playoffs.  He’s simply not good enough defensively or dominant enough offensively to keep getting those minutes.  He needs to turn things around if Doc wants to use him as significantly as he has throughout the season.
• Kawhi’s worst playoff game:  It’s already mentioned in the write up, but Game 2 was likely Kawhi’s worst game in the playoffs in a long time.  While Grant and Harris absolutely deserve credit for doing a good job, let’s not crown them Kawhi stoppers yet.  Kawhi has proven that he’s one of those players that you just can’t stop no matter what the defense throws at him.  Keep in mind that he averaged 35 PPG against Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler, as well as 30 PPG against current DPOY Giannis Antetokounmpo.  If Grant and Harris turn out to be more effective Kawhi stoppers than the handful of elite defensive players that have tried their best to stop Kawhi in the past, then Denver absolutely deserves to win this one.
• Jokic: It’s hard to really put how mesmerizing Jokic is in words, but WOW.  He hits rainbow 3s with ease and he just throws up wild hooks and jumpers that seem to go in through the power of some magic.  He’ll be hard to stop, but it goes back to slowing down everyone else, because there is not a single defender in the league who can guard some of the shots that he manages to make.

Well, that’s about it for Clippers-Nuggets Game 3. Comment on the game and the other playoff contests below!

Clippers vs. Nuggets Game 3 Preview: Time to Bounce Back
Niels Pineda

The Clippers’ series against the Nuggets is knotted up at one game apiece, but through 96 minutes, it’s been tough to find any major takeaways that might hold through across the duration of the series.

After Game 1, Clippers’ fans were riding high. The Clippers crushed the Nuggets 120-97, and the score was honestly closer than the game had been. After an even first quarter, the Clippers took control, and imposed their will in almost every way. They did a fantastic job defending the Nuggets’ two best players, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic. On offense, they moved the ball around well (23 assists) without giving it away much (14 turnovers). And, most importantly, they just made their shots. The Clippers shot an incredible 57% from the field in Game 1, also hitting their threes at 41.7% and their free throws at 82.4%. It was a dominant display, especially by Kawhi Leonard, who looked unstoppable. On the other end, the Nuggets’ offense ran cold, especially from deep (25%) and from the line (66.7%).

In game 2, the script flipped. The Nuggets came out on fire while the Clippers stumbled, swiftly gaining a double-digit lead which they pushed to nearly 20 by the end of the first quarter. While the Clippers fought valiantly the rest of the game, they were never able to close the deficit to less than five, and the outcome was never really in doubt. In almost every facet of the game, the role reversal was absolute. The Clippers struggled shooting, hitting just over 40% of their shots from the field while connecting on a mere nine out of 32 threes (28.1%). They even flailed at the line, making just 69% (nice) of their free shot attempts. Meanwhile, the Nuggets sharpened up, hitting 45.1% of their shots and 37.5% of their threes.

There is plenty to talk about regarding the ins and outs of the defensive coverages both teams employed. But that is not really the point. Basketball is a simple game, and very frequently is dominated by the simple input of whether a team is hot or cold on a given night. In Game 1, the Clippers were hot, and the Nuggets were frigid. In Game 2, it was the Nuggets who scorched the nets, and the Clippers who were unable to buy a bucket. While there were strategic decisions in both games that effected the outcome, the difference in each really comes down to shotmaking.

This is great news for the Clippers, given that they mostly hung around in Game 2 despite their poor shooting while the Nuggets got utterly blown out in Game 1. The Clippers’ defense notably tightened in the second half of Game 2, and while the Nuggets were able to score enough points to win, they were helped by the Clippers’ poor shooting too. The Nuggets played great defense yesterday, but Kawhi Leonard is not going to go 4-17 again on the shots he was taking yesterday, no matter how superb the coverage. The same goes for Lou Williams, who was effective overall, but 0-6 from three. Those guys will hit shots at a higher rate, and when they do, defense won’t matter. If the Clippers are not able to hit shots against the Nuggets, they are probably going to lose the series even if they play well in every other facet. Such is basketball.

All this is to say that almost everything went right for the Clippers in Game 1. They were hot, the Nuggets were not, and their best player was absolutely on fire. In Game 2, almost everything went wrong, with cold shooting, lots of turnovers (17), an extremely poor Kawhi Leonard performance, and a lethargic defensive start dooming the Clippers from the jump. In Game 2, just about everything went the Nuggets’ way, with hot shooting, great star performances, and (for them) extraordinary defense. In essence, both Games 1 and 2 were perfect storms for each team.

It’s very unlikely that the series will continue like this, with such vast differences in play on a game by game basis. The first two games can’t be entirely written off, but it’s fair to think that neither the Nuggets nor Clippers will shoot as badly as they did in Games 1 or 2 respectively. Perhaps in Game 3, both teams will play excellently and shoot the ball well. Maybe in Game 5, both teams are cold the entire night and sloppy with the ball in their hands. Either way, those types of contests will inform us much more about the outcome of the series than the first two games.

The series is now a best of five, with plenty of basketball still to play. The Nuggets punched the Clippers in the mouth to start Game 2, and while the Clippers battled back, that swift jab effectively took them out. Game 3 will be a completely fresh game, and the Clippers should be looking to take it to the Nuggets to regain the edge in the series. With some better shooting from the basketball gods, and more energy to start, they should be in a fairly good spot to do so.

Clippers-Nuggets Series Leaves Few Takeaways in First Two Games
Robert Flom