NBA Playoffs 2017: Clippers vs. Jazz: 3 takeaways from Game 6
By Connor Learn
The Clippers earned a 98-93 victory in Salt Lake City during Game 6. Chris Paul led a winning effort, as Los Angeles refused to allow their season to end.
The Clippers tried out a new starting lineup, electing to go small with their backs against the wall. The first half of play was slow; the 47-45 score after two quarter was usual for a Jazz game. Chris Paul led all scorers at half, with 15, but failed to push towards Los Angeles’ normal pace. They gained a lead as play sped up in the second half, which continued a trend during this series. The Clippers then withstood a Jazz run on the strength of a couple of clutch Austin Rivers 3-pointers to close the game.
Paul led Los Angeles in scoring with 29 points; he added 8 assists as well. Four other members of the Clippers scored in double-digits to add to their team effort. Gordon Hayward scored 31 points for Utah, and George Hill chipped in 22 as well. The Clippers executed better in the second half and looked like the better team in this victory. Game 7 will now take place in Los Angeles on Sunday, and this series will indeed go the distance.
Takeaways
Rudy Gobert is progressing: The diagnosis for Rudy Gobert’s injury was initially somewhat bleak. He went down early during Game 1 with a hyperextended knee that also resulted in a bone bruise. Gobert returned for Game 4 and was limited and cautious with his movement. Now nearly two weeks removed from the injury, his movement looks more comfortable. DeAndre Jordan only scored two points in the first half as a result of this. Gobert scored 15 points and grabbed 9 rebounds. Furthermore, his activity on defense suggested that he generally felt better.
Moving forward, this bodes well for the Jazz. They need everything they can get in Game 7. If they are successful there, the odds are stacked against them against Golden State. If they are to compete, they need Gobert dialed in a the highest level possible. They need him to be a major presence around the rim; it is the key to their defense. The fact that his movement is improving helps Utah’s chances dramatically. Gobert won’t near 100 percent in these playoffs, but he should continue to improve as time goes on.
Austin Rivers’ return helps Los Angeles: Jokes were everywhere when Doc Rivers made the move to acquire his son in 2015. Over two years later, it’s looking like it may be the best personnel move that he’s made in Los Angeles. The younger Rivers played many different roles this year, as he can thrive both on and off-ball on offense. Defensively, he’s made massive strides during his career.
The Clippers missed Rivers when he was out with injury during the first four games of this series. He was somewhat limited during Game 5, but he allowed them to play smaller with Luc Richard Mbah a Moute at the four during his time. That lineup started Game 6 and was key to victory for the Clippers. Rivers helped hold Gordon Hayward to six points at halftime and his scoring was timely tonight. His return helped compensate for the loss of Griffin and is a big reason why they made it to a seventh game.
The Clippers can win without Blake Griffin: Succeeding without Blake Griffin isn’t new to the Clippers. They have a 41-23 record without him since 2015, according to StatMuse records. Chris Paul becomes even more important without Griffin, and that has been evident in his performance this series. But for as much as the Clippers’ supporting cast is doubted, they still find a way to win sans Griffin. They were prepared for this happening, and this game demonstrated that.
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Chris Paul’s 29 points is fairly consistent to his output from the series. What was vital to their success was what they may get from others — a factor in their Game 4-5 losses. They got enough tonight though. DeAndre Jordan, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and Austin Rivers all scored 13 points. Jamal Crawford added 12 and Marreese Speights chipped in nine points as well. Tonight’s win was a team effort, and they will need another one in Game 7 at home.