What’s up Clipper Nation??!! I don’t know about all of you but this series is really giving me anxiety and grey hair! The series is currently 3-2 Utah so someone is either going to close it out next game or we are going to game seven people!! Here’s a quick look at the rest of the series:
Once again, Joe Johnson has been a thorn in the Clippers’ side as he went 12-17 from the field for 28 points in game four. The 15-year veteran has single handedly kept the Jazz in the series and with their young star Gordon Hayward on the bench for much of game four with food poisoning, the team once again turned to Joe for much of their offensive production during crunch time. The return of their center Rudy Gobert also had significant impact on limiting DeAndre Jordans’ effectiveness in the paint. The Jazz also got solid production across the board from Joe Ingles, George Hill, Derrick Favors and Rodney Hood who combined for 56 points.
Now in game five, the Utah Jazz continued to produce. They had six players in double figures led by Gordon Hayward’s 27 points and eight rebounds. On the other hand, in game five the LA Clippers had just three guys in double figures with Chris Paul and JJ Reddick going for 28 and 26 points. After game five, Doc Rivers explained how Chris Paul was really the only ball handler and if they want to take this to game seven, he will definitely need more help from the rest of the team. But, I do think that Chris Paul is the one player who can carry this team and definitely take the Clippers to a game seven!
With Blake on the floor, the Clippers are a dominant offensive and defensive low-post team, but with Blake out for the rest of the playoffs, the team needs to adapt quickly. The rest of the team is built on perimeter wing players and shooters, so the absence of another big body in the middle of the floor SHOULD make it easier for players like JJ Reddick, Raymond Felton and Paul Pierce to get open shots, but that has yet to really happen. Jamal Crawford picked up some of the offensive slack, but it’s going to take far more than Chris Paul and 16 year veteran Jamal Crawford if they want to make a deep run in the 2017 playoffs.
You will have to watch the video to hear my game prediction and if I think the Clippers are going to take this to seven! Go Clippers!
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