![]() ![]() His career postseason scoring average of 27.5 points per game ranks sixth all time (minimum 25 playoff games). Of course, Mitchell has proved to be more than capable of carrying the Jazz offensively in the playoffs. That puts an even heavier burden on Mitchell's shoulders, especially if Conley isn't available. The Utah big man doesn't have the post-up game to punish opponents for putting a smaller defender on him, so the Jazz tend to end up in more isolation situations than they'd prefer against switch-heavy defenses. Having five starters who can switch defensively also throws a wrench into the Jazz's offense, which relies heavily on pick-and-rolls featuring Gobert screens. It would make sense for LA to stick with it because playing five perimeter shooters forces Gobert to leave his comfort zone of the paint, mitigating the biggest strength of the Jazz's defensive anchor. The Clippers switched to that lineup midway through the first round against the Mavericks because it was their best chance to defend Doncic. Series keys: How will Rudy Gobert and the Jazz handle the Clippers' small lineup? Leonard was also the Clippers' only good option to guard Mavs star Luka Doncic, holding him to 0.8 points per possession when Leonard was the primary defender. He became the first player since Shaquille O'Neal in the 2000 NBA Finals to average at least 30 points while shooting better than 60% from the floor in a series, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard had perhaps the best playoff series of his career. In doing so, the Clippers answered questions about their ability to respond to adversity that had loomed like black clouds since LA's bubble collapse after building a 3-1 lead over the Nuggets last postseason. Teams that fell in an 0-2 hole at home to open a best-of-seven series have now advanced only five out of 32 times. How the Clippers got here: The Clippers survived despite losing their first three home games of the series against the Dallas Mavericks, winning Game 7 at Staples Center. Conley missed nine games late in the season due to tightness in that hamstring. However, his availability for the second round is uncertain after he suffered a mild strain in his right hamstring during Game 5. ![]() Point guard Mike Conley was phenomenal against his former team, averaging 17.6 points and 8.6 assists per game while shooting 54.8% from 3-point range. He averaged 28.5 points and 5.8 assists as the Jazz swept the games he played, capped with his 30-point, 10-assist performance in the closeout game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Mitchell didn't show much rust once he was cleared. Utah made Mitchell a late scratch for Game 1 - much to his displeasure - and that was the Jazz's lone loss of the series. How the Jazz got here: The biggest obstacle the top-seeded Jazz had to clear in the first round was getting All-Star Donovan Mitchell back on the floor after he missed the final five weeks of the regular season with a sprained right ankle. MORE: Full NBA playoffs schedule, results and news WESTERN CONFERENCE In the Western Conference, the LA Clippers needed seven games to overcome Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, while the Phoenix Suns stunned the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers to secure a second-round meeting with the Denver Nuggets. NBA playoffs 2021: What could shift Jazz-Clippers and every conference semifinal seriesĮSPNDB NBA, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, LA Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Utah JazzĪfter no first-round series in the Eastern Conference went more than five games, here we are in the second round with two star-studded matchups.Ĭan two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks get past the Brooklyn Nets' Big Three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden? How much will the Philadelphia 76ers get out of All-NBA big man Joel Embiid, who is day-to-day with a knee injury? What does Trae Young have for an encore after the Atlanta Hawks knocked out the New York Knicks? You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser ![]()
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