The Los Angeles Clippers did many things right in Game 1 in their Western Conference Quarter final series, but an area cost them the victory against Denver Nuggets.
Los Angeles had 20 sales on Saturday, including seven of Kawhi Leonard, in a loss of 112-110. Since it was just one question, the team is encouraged and not deterred into Monday night’s game 2 in Denver.
“We’re in good shape. We just have to do what to do,” said Clipper’s coach Tyronn Lue.
Lue does not plan to make any adjustments to his rotation after his team dictated pace and held Nuggets to 49 points during the first half.
“We have another half of what we did (Saturday),” Lue said Sunday. “If that doesn’t work, something will be done.”
What worked was James Harden’s Play, Ivica Zubac’s presence inside and Leonard’s 22 points on 9-for-15 shooting. Clippers attacked the edge early in the game and produced 36 points in color at half time, but went away from that strategy sometimes during the second half.
These mistakes have not shaken their faith. They know a victory Monday night means they go home with control of the series.
“It’s trust, trust will always be there,” Harden said. “It’s a bit frustrating just because it’s self -destroyed and it’s something we’ve been really good in recent weeks. It’s even, we’ll be back in Game 2 and get even better.”
Denver is also safe after playing a somewhat chaotic game, but still sanded the profit. Nikola Jokic (27 points, 12 assists and nine returns) made its part, but the key was Russell Westbrook. He met a big 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter and made a big defensive game during the last seconds of overtime.
Westbrook was on the floor in the last 13-plus minutes of the game while Michael Porter Jr. Be on the bench. Porter met a 3-pointer on Nugget’s first possession, then only took three shots the rest of the game and did not score again. His struggles to find space on crime led Interim’s head coach David Adelman to distribute a better defensive range to close the game.
“I think the five guys who quit did their job and we won this game defensively,” said Adelman.
While Porter is a better shooter, he sat for a long time and would have been cold for overtime.
“There are two ways to look at it,” Adelman said not to suck in Porter during the final minute. “You can say, yes, I chose not to play Michael. Or, you could say – would I put Michael in a really unfair situation? Should I do it against him? I don’t think so.”
Los Angeles Defense had something to do with Porter not given many opportunities. Should go on in game 2, that means the clippers will see more of Westbrook.
“If Mike comes out, and he is playing, and he is engaged defensively, he will hit the shot – Michael will be out there,” Adelman said. “Just like everyone else in that dressing room.”
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