6 methods they’ll flip the script

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Sunday, June 20, 2021, Phoenix, Arizona - The LA Clippers and the Phoenix Suns in Game one of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue (second from left) talks to assistants throughout a timeout in Sport 1 towards the Suns on Sunday in Phoenix. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Occasions)

An important factor you might want to know in regards to the Western Convention finals is that it’s happening in a metropolis that seems like a large pizza oven.

The second-most vital factor you might want to know is that for the third consecutive collection, the Clippers did not win Sport 1. With L.A. star Kawhi Leonard out and Suns star Chris Paul possible on the way in which again prior to later, the Clippers don’t have as a lot time to regulate.

Listed below are six issues they’ll do to flip Sunday’s 120-114 loss right into a win:

1) Work out Devin Booker

Simpler stated than performed, proper? Yup.

Whereas Booker’s 40 factors are an issue the Clippers definitely need to tackle, his 11 assists should be extra troublesome. Booker has performed level guard for the Suns throughout stretches, and he’s adept at getting others concerned — and might be requested to take action whereas Paul works by means of COVID protocols.

However you’ll be able to’t let him rating and dish, at the very least not on the degree he did Sunday throughout his triple-double of 40 factors, 13 rebounds and 11 assists.

“It will be a tricky problem for us,” coach Tyronn Lue stated, “guarding him and seeing how we need to guard him and defend him and what we need to take away and then you definately sort of go from there.”

2) Win the bench minutes

When the Suns have Devin Booker out of the sport, the Clippers should take higher benefit. A part of this adjustment may very well be so simple as enjoying Patrick Beverley extra and Rajon Rondo much less.

Rondo made a pair of threes within the second half and spent some defending Booker, however the Clippers had been outscored by 14 throughout Rondo’s time on the court docket. His minus-14 worst on the group.

3) Assault the paint

The Clippers shot the ball effectively sufficient from three-point vary to have gained Sunday, making 20 threes. That’s not at all times ok — ask the Utah Jazz.

Lue wants to seek out methods to get the Clippers guards and wings slashing extra and attending to the rim, drawing fouls and scoring simple buckets. The Suns’ perimeter protection is a lot better than Utah’s, however the Clippers want to seek out the matchups they need to hunt.

4) Get out and run (and get again)

The Clippers scored solely 4 factors on the fastbreak Sunday — an impossibly low quantity for a group that has so many gamers able to scoring in transition. It was even worse that the Suns scored on all of their seven fastbreaks — these 16 factors greater than protecting the ultimate deficit.

A method this will get higher? Rating extra.

Clippers forward Paul George is pressured by Suns forward Mikal Bridges during Game 1.
Clippers ahead Paul George is pressured by Suns ahead Mikal Bridges throughout Sport 1 on Sunday in Phoenix. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Occasions)

“Simply make some pictures, I feel,” Lue stated when requested about correcting the transition hole. “Make a pair extra pictures, make them take it out of the basket and get [into] our half-court protection.”

5) Elevate their degree

As you retain advancing within the postseason, you retain enjoying higher groups. Whereas the Clippers had been in a position to determine issues out towards Dallas and Utah in earlier playoff collection, Phoenix is best.

“We have to discover a approach to modify. It is a completely different caliber group than the opposite two groups we confronted,” Paul George stated. “A bit bit extra guard play. And so we simply have to determine find out how to counter, which we’ll. We’ll work out one other sport plan. As a lot as we wished this one, I feel this was a great feel-out sport to see changes. We have been nice adjusting, and you already know, we have been nice at enjoying higher because the collection goes on.”

6) Cross their fingers

A part of that is luck. Getting Marcus Morris’ injured knee feeling higher, getting a few extra open appears to fall and staying composed will all be keys.

Clippers-Suns finals schedule

Clippers-Suns finals schedule (Tim Hubbard / Los Angeles Occasions)

This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Occasions.

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