Clippers vs. Jazz playoff preview: L.A.’s small-ball approach, Mike Conley’s health among top storylines

The one bummer about this Western Convention semifinal collection between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Clippers is that this isn’t the Western Convention finals, as a result of that’s how good this matchup goes to be. The highest-seeded Jazz will get pleasure from relaxation as they took care of the Memphis Grizzlies within the first spherical in 5 video games, whereas the No. 4 Clippers could have been battle-tested after going seven video games with the Dallas Mavericks earlier than advancing to the second spherical.

Each of those groups have one thing to show. The Clippers had been bounced within the second spherical a 12 months in the past after they fell properly in need of their championship expectations. The Jazz made an excellent earlier exit within the postseason, shedding within the first spherical to the Denver Nuggets, who went on to beat the Clippers within the subsequent spherical after getting back from a 3-1 gap. Each of those groups can be hungry to show that final season’s early playoff exits had been only a blip within the grand scheme of issues, however on the finish of the day just one staff can advance. 

Earlier than Sport 1 ideas off Tuesday night time, right here’s all the things to know concerning the matchup between the Clippers and Jazz. 

Each sport on NBATV, ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC will be streamed by way of fuboTV (attempt without spending a dime).  

(1) Utah Jazz vs. (4) Los Angeles Clippers 

Sequence tied 2-2

• Sport 1: Jazz 112, Clippers 109
• Sport 2: Jazz 117, Clippers 111
• Sport 3: Clippers 132, Jazz 106
• Sport 4: Clippers 118, Jazz 104
• Sport 5: Wednesday, June 16, 10 p.m. ET | TV: TNT
• Sport 6: Friday, June 18, 10 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN
• Sport 7*: Sunday, June 20, TBD | TV: TBD

*If essential

1. Clippers small ball vs. Rudy Gobert

The most important adjustment the Clippers had been compelled to make within the first spherical towards the Mavericks was rolling out a small-ball lineup that featured Nicolas Batum at middle. Dallas guard Luka Doncic made L.A. massive man Ivica Zubac unplayable after the primary two video games of the collection. Ty Lue’s adjustment ended up being an excessive amount of for the Mavericks, because the Clippers had three shooters surrounding Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, which resulted in numerous made 3s within the remaining two video games, and clutch performances from the likes of Marcus Morris and Reggie Jackson. 

Whereas the Jazz don’t fairly have somebody who can exploit Zubac on pick-and-rolls on the identical degree as Doncic may, going small may make life tough for two-time Defensive Participant of the Yr massive man Rudy Gobert. At first look it might make sense for the Clippers to play Zubac to match up with Gobert in hopes to comprise him, however it could possibly be way more helpful for the Clippers to return to that small-ball lineup and power Gobert to have to protect out on the wing. 

It could not yield fairly the identical outcomes because it did from Dallas, because the Mavericks are a way more porous defensive staff — they had been compelled to play zone protection! — and Gobert remains to be very a lot a strong defender when he’s pulled away from the basket, however it’s the kind of game-planning and changes that we may see all through this collection between two evenly matched groups. Given Serge Ibaka’s well being can be nonetheless an enormous query mark getting into the collection, and he doubtless has the perfect shot at checking Gobert, going small may additionally be out of necessity for the Clippers.

Conley is coping with what the Jazz have identified as a gentle hamstring pressure, which saved him out of the vast majority of Sport 5 within the first spherical towards the Grizzlies. Fortunately, Utah didn’t want Conley’s companies to place Memphis away in 5 video games, however they definitely want him at full energy towards a defensively robust Clippers staff. Conley was introduced in to be a secondary playmaker subsequent to Donovan Mitchell to ease a number of the workload off the franchise’s younger centerpiece, and after a tough go at it final 12 months, Conley made a huge effect on Utah’s offense, which earned him his first All-Star nod. 

His potential to attain off the dribble, discover his teammates out of a pick-and-roll and shoot a career-high 3-point share this season (41.2 p.c) make him completely important to what the Jazz do on offense. With out him, Mitchell can be tasked with extra offensively whereas having both Leonard or George glued at his hip for a majority of the collection. 

The profit is that Conley could have had 5 full days to relaxation and get well from that hamstring pressure earlier than Sport 1 on Tuesday, however there’s no telling what his degree of well being can be. Nets guard James Harden missed 20 video games in the course of the common season with a hamstring pressure, and simply re-injured it in Sport 1 towards the Bucks. Hamstring strains are difficult, and whereas Conley would absolutely wish to be on the market for Sport 1, it could possibly be detrimental to the Jazz if he’s not totally wholesome. Both manner, if Conley performs and isn’t at one hundred pc, or sits out with the harm, it’s going to trigger issues for Utah.

3. A matchup of two elite 3-point-shooting groups

This collection matches two of the perfect 3-point-shooting groups this season, with the Clippers deploying the perfect group of long-range shooters in league historical past after making a ridiculous 41.1 p.c of their photographs from deep within the common season. The Jazz ranked not too far behind at fourth within the league (38.9 p.c), however that doesn’t robotically imply we’re going to see some high-scoring contests. Utah does try probably the most 3s per sport (43) of any staff within the league, however the Clippers had been a league common at 14th by taking simply 34.7 makes an attempt an evening. 

With how defensively stout each of those groups are (Utah ranks third in protection, L.A. ranks eighth), I anticipate the scores to fall on the decrease facet on this semifinal matchup. We’ve seen each of those groups get sizzling from deep earlier than, and we’ve additionally seen them go ice chilly. This could possibly be probably the most thrilling matchup within the postseason due to the effectivity on either side of the ball by every squad. There could also be one sport the place the Jazz hit clutch 3s down the stretch, whereas in one other the Clippers go on a rampage from lengthy vary to get a win. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see which facet is ready to have the extra constant taking pictures all through the collection, as a result of that might find yourself being the difference-maker.