3 adjustments the Clippers need to make without Kawhi Leonard

2. The Clippers will need to take advantage of their defensive stops and turn them into fast-break opportunities against the Jazz

Aside from having one the league’s most efficient offenses and the best record in the NBA this season (52-20), the Jazz feature a lethal defense that held opponents to just 107.2 points per game (3rd lowest-NBA) on 44.7 percent shooting (2nd lowest-NBA) in the regular season. Losing Leonard will make scoring opportunities more difficult than they already are, so the Clippers will need to take advantage of any and all fast-break opportunities they have.

Letting the Jazz get set in a half-court defense is trouble. The Clippers will find it more difficult to penetrate their perimeter defense without Kawhi, and even if they do manage they’ll have Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert waiting for them by the basket. That’s not to say they shouldn’t try, they’ll need to attack the paint if they want to find success, especially given how hard it will be to knock down shots in a hostile Utah crowd.

In the last two victories for Los Angeles, they’ve outscored the Jazz 21-9 on fastbreak points. It’ll start on the defensive end for the Clippers, but if they can consistently turn stops into scores, it’s going to take the burden off having to beat Utah in the half-court contest throughout the game.