Thread by @presidual

Jazz - Clippers, Game 4 Thread:

LA has finally found the quick start that’s largely been eluding them during the playoffs. Defensively, the switches and rotations have been crisper than in the first three games. Note how they play this pick-and-roll to get the steal.

Another excellent defensive possession for the Clippers. They switch the first action well and are in great position, particularly Nicolas Batum, who’s between the slot and the corner on the weakside. He’s able to disrupt and force another live-ball turnover.

If the Clippers are going to go mismatch hunting, they’ll need better looks than what they got here. Marcus Morris Sr has Jordan Clarkson in the post yet settles for a fadeaway. That’s a bad shot, especially with such little ball and player movement throughout the play.

What’s notable about this play is the Clippers’ pace in transition. The layup attempt by Terrance Mann is deterred, but rather than slowing down into a halfcourt possession, LA keeps moving the ball quickly. Utah never gets settled on defense. That leads to a shot at the rim.

This is when Paul George is at his best. Again, before the Jazz defense gets set, he’s already on the attack, with a mindset of reaching the cup.

Noteworthy example of the Clippers’ defensive excellence in the first half. They switch twice at the point of attack, as Utah sends two screeners. They stay home elsewhere. Toward the end, they pressure Donovan Mitchell and induce a contested jumper at the end of the shot clock.

Kawhi’s not messing around. Wow.

We see in this subsequent play the benefit of Kawhi’s dunk (see the previous tweet). In the exact same situation, Utah ends up with an extra defender in the paint, freeing up Marcus Morris Sr for the corner 3.

Apart from their efficient shooting, the Clippers committed just 2 turnovers. The Jazz took 60% of their shots from 3-point range, with Donovan Mitchell attempting 10 of his 14 shots from deep.

The Jazz won just one stint of meaningful size in the first half. That was with Bogdanovic, O'Neale, Mitchell, Favors, and Clarkson on the floor.

This is how the Clippers get themselves into predicaments. They concede Reggie Jackson onto Donovan Mitchell without any resistance. Mitchell sees the double coming easily and goes to his left instead.

Fantastic little cat-and-mouse game here. Kawhi gets to the paint, but is deterred by Rudy Gobert, who blocked him in a previous possession. So Kawhi retreats to try to get downhill. Gobert deters him again, so he passes to Paul George, who attacks the rim instead of settling.

Kawhi denies Bogdanovic at the rim. That’s one way to stop the bleeding.

Nice simple little action here from the Clippers, ideally suited for Luke Kennard. Out of Horns, Paul George gets the ball to Ivica Zubac at the elbow. Kennard steps up with a ghost screen, receives the handoff, and drills the open 3.

With 6:00 left in the 4th quarter, the Clippers have 11 corner-3 shots. That’s a third of their 3-pointers and 15% of their field goal attempts.

The series is now tied at 2-2. The Clippers have outscored the Jazz by a combined 31 points in the first 4 games.