Kawhi Leonard and the LA Clippers will return to Los Angeles for Recreation 3 with a 1-1 cut up towards the Phoenix Suns. Regardless of coughing up a 13-point lead and shedding the sport, LA’s celebrity ahead wasn’t involved with the loss.
Right here’s what the two-time NBA Finals MVP needed to say when requested by the media concerning the Clippers’ mindset:
“We’re in a superb place. We cut up on the highway. Gotta go house and shield our house ground.”
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Kawhi Leonard: “We’re in a superb place. We cut up on the highway. Gotta go house and shield our house ground.”
Kawhi Leonard: “We’re in a superb place. We cut up on the highway. Gotta go house and shield our house ground.” https://t.co/dQbJxoAyb1
The Clippers had a 23-18 report at Crypto.com Area throughout the common season. Two of these losses have been inflicted by the Phoenix Suns.
Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers stay assured that with the stakes greater, they are going to be simply effective in dealing with their enterprise towards the Suns. Even with out Paul George, nobody in LA’s roster is fazed by what they’ve encountered in Phoenix.
Clippers coach Ty Lue shared the identical sentiment because the collection shift to Los Angeles:
“We consider we will win the collection.”
“We consider we will win the collection.”
– Ty Lue
“We consider we will win the collection.” – Ty Lue https://t.co/OzeproguHD
LA will likely be knocking on the door for a semifinal look if they will defend their homecourt within the subsequent two video games.
Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook want their teammates to step up
The LA Clippers failed to present their superstars the assist they wanted in Recreation 2 towards the Phoenix Suns.
After a jaw-dropping efficiency in Recreation 1, Kawhi Leonard lit up the Phoenix Suns once more in Recreation 2. He completed with team-highs in factors (31), rebounds (8), assists (7) and steals (3). “The Claw” made 11-20 subject targets regardless of the fixed double groups and in addition hit 3-5 3-pointers.
Russell Westbrook ably backed him up. After a horrific 3-19 taking pictures within the collection opener, Westbrook went 9-16, together with 2-3 from behind the arc. He completed the evening with 28 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. The previous MVP’s vitality, protection and hustle have been vivid spots within the first two video games of the collection.
The remainder of the LA Clippers, nevertheless, mixed for simply 50 factors. Norman Powell and Eric Gordon struggled to persistently punish the Suns’ protection for all the eye they gave Kawhi Leonard. Bones Hyland made an impression for a couple of minutes within the third quarter however completed with simply six factors, lacking all 4 of his 3-pointers.
The LA Clippers are in a superb place heading into Recreation 3 after going house with a cut up. Nevertheless, they are going to rapidly discover themselves in bother if no different participant aside from Leonard and Westbrook steps up.
The Clippers obtained dominant performances from Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook, and near nothing from everyone else.
The Clippers obtained dominant performances from Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook, and near nothing from everyone else.
LA’s perimeter gamers should dig in and do a greater job of defending Devin Booker. “Ebook” had one other spectacular recreation, ending the evening with a game-high 38 factors and 9 assists.
Kawhi Leonard spends his time on protection, taking over Kevin Durant. With every thing else he does on offense, he can’t be requested to place the clamps on Booker as properly.
The Clippers can’t go toe-to-toe with the Phoenix Suns in offensive firepower. They’ll need to be a lot better on the defensive finish to defend their house courtroom within the subsequent two video games.
You might need to learn: What did Kawhi Leonard say about beginning postseason with out Paul George?
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Edited by Michael Macasero