Thread by @stevejones20

You know what, let's watch some Jazz/Clippers Game 4.

Utah has got to get their flow back offensively and tighten things up defensively. Have to put the doubt in the Clippers mind, get back to your ball movement, get back to your drives.

Clippers, you found something and now you have to sustain it on both ends. Small lineup has been effective in bogging Utah down but you can't let your foot off the pedal.

Again...I'm concerned with Rudy Gobert's impact defensively against this small lineup. Kawhi pushes in transition, Rudy getting back but he can't just sprint right back to the paint. Now he's in space. Sees Kawhi drives and he goes with it. Wide open 3 for Morris.

Clippers small lineup has been locked in defensively and this group has been able to mix coverages *and* help/recover. Mitchell comes off the screen, Morris jumps out. Two on the ball, PG eventually recovers. Mitchell trying to hit Rudy late, Batum steals it.

Clippers being able to be this active but also throw multiple coverages at Mitchell is key.

Clippers are keeping the ball in front, showing help and playing the passing lanes. I don't know what Utah does if the Clippers keep *that* up defensively.

Utah trying to get LAC in rotation and play out of it and the Clippers keep mixing things up. This screen for Bogie is supposed to get Gobert rolling to an empty corner. Clippers switch so that's done. Now watch on Bogie's drive how Kawhi/Batum are showing help/playing lane

This is very much an "I don't care about him. Next question" type of shot from Paul George.

My concern with Utah is when they can't generate quality looks and this first quarter is the first time I've been concerned with Utah in a minute.

Mitchell comes off the screen from Gobert. Clippers again put two on the ball which *should* open everything up for Utah. Pass to O'Neale, he drives, but the lanes aren't there. Morris recovers to Bogie, PG at home, Batum shows help but plays the pass to Gobert.

Clippers are playing traditional coverages with a non-traditional lineup which is allowing them to recover/rotate to take away what Utah is trying to do. Utah has to fix that.

The other thing is...Utah doesn't have the budget defensively to have Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris doing this kind of stuff over the course of the series shooting wise.

Donovan Mitchell gets a screen from O'Neale. Clippers give the switch and put Reggie Jackson on him. He drives, PG has to help, skip to Bogie. That's what Utah wants/does. Bogie drives the closeout but notice guys recovering for the kickout. Kawhi recovers. Contested shot.

Clippers mixing coverages just doesn't give Utah an easy out to exploit. Here Mann just switches on to Mitchell. He drives, Morris helps, Kawhi able to recover on the kick. Nothing gained. Good drive from Clarkson and dish to Favors but they are having to work for it.

Clippers have Zubac in and now go to a drop. Zubac starts at the level thought and drops back. Big key to a drop in today's NBA is having the guards to navigate those actions. Mann fighting allows Zubac to release. Good effort from Mann.

6 field goals from Utah, 2 assists in the first quarter.

Utah had Gobert in a drop vs. Kawhi, turns into a late switch. Kawhi just backs up and hits a pull-up 3.

Just look at the attention the Clippers defense is giving Donovan Mitchell. Pushes in transition and here come the black jerseys. Has three guys in front of him. Before he can even look to size PG up, Jackson is showing help at the nail.

*whispers* Chauncey Billups been helping a whole lot of guys out here lately *takes notes* *opens eyes*

Paul George have been very important for the Clippers in these playoffs. Pick and roll, Favors is now at the level (after switch/drop...yeah) and PG just turns the corner and draws a foul on Niang. Utah has to take away the paint touches/drives.

Look at how locked in the Clippers defense is right now. Clarkson comes off Gobert and the Clippers switch it. Jackson holds to help on the drive. Gobert is right at the dunker but notice PG splitting two on the weakside.

Good stuff from the Clippers D here. Mitchell comes off Gobert, Batum shows, looks like a switch but Kawhi *keeps* coming. Now it's a double and now Gobert's roll isn't open. Beats the double, Jackson standing right there, kick to Clarkson who misses.

Clippers defense just flying around. Mitchell has it low clock and you know the Clippers have been doubling but you're not even sure where it's coming from. PG and Jackson showing help on both sides. Jackson doubles, Batum rotates.

On the other end it's the Clippers with the ball movement, dribble penetration, getting the Jazz in rotation.

Most important thing for Utah is getting their flow/tempo back. Have to find something.

Alright, man.

Ok, then.

First time Utah looked like Utah. Batum doubles Mitchell, kick to Ingles, he drives the closeout, quick skip, swing to another drive and kick for a 3. That's the movement Utah has had all season. That's what Utah has to get to. Have to get the Clippers in rotation and find looks.

14 field goals, 6 assists for Utah in the first half. They can't win that way. Donovan scoring is great but they need that *and* the movement. Clippers are locked in and Clippers have found a way to take away multiple things/Utah's rhythm.

Clippers played some great defense in the first half. Multiple coverages. Throwing bodies at Mitchell. Recovering to passing lanes. Taking away the easy outlets, reads and kicks. Kawhi is going, PG is there. They've found something.

I was going to go to bed but then the Clippers may have taken their foot off the pedal.

This is what Utah needs. Mitchell/Gobert P&R. Morris jumps out again but Mitchell with a quick decision to split instead of dragging and allowing a double. Jackson pulls over to help, kick to O'Neale for 3. Quick decisions, make the Clippers rotate.

Donovan Mitchell has the match up vs. Reggie Jackson. Clippers have been either doubling or showing help. You see Mitchell attacks middle and PG is lurking but gives arm help instead of cutting off the drive. Mitchell draws a foul.

Clippers switch Jackson on Mitchell again. That's been a double from the Clippers. Mitchell has Gobert dive, Morris still comes, Mitchell just drives the other way and finishes. Quick decisions, flipping the coverage.

Clippers can't find the pedal.

Look at what the small lineup from the Clippers is doing to Rudy Gobert. This is good multiple efforts but he has to show, recover to the pop. Help on PG's drive, recover to the pop. Help on Jackson's drive, wide open 3.

I'm giving Rudy Gobert credit man big guy is working.

Just watch Gobert on this possession. Kawhi rejects, Gobert cuts off the drive and switches. Contains the drive and meets him at the rim. Ingles can't gamble on this kick, Gobert has to exit the paint and there's no help on the drive. Impact goes both ways.

Considering where the game was going momentum wise...this was a big block from Batum in transition. One thing was interesting is the "wall" wasn't the same as Mitchell attacked as it was in the first half.

What a block from Kawhi.

Haven't had too many examples but don't forget it's *automatic* for the Utah Jazz once they get you in rotation. Zubac at the level, PG holds, Mitchell with a great skip pass and off to the races. Swing, drive the closeout, kick, 3.

Rudy Gobert showing help on a Marcus Morris Sr post up like he's not going right to the jab and J.

Quick decisions helping Utah out. Clippers not as locked in defensively. Mitchell sets a screen for O'Neale, Clippers just automatically switch that. That leaves Zubac on Mitchell. Beverley tries to double right away, Mitchell attacks before it comes, forces help, dump to Rudy.

I like this pass/cut action from guards in generally, really like it as a counter for how the Clippers have thrown coverages at Mitchell. Way to get to a pick and roll without giving it away. Beverley goes under, Morris stays with his, MItchell hits a 3.

Hey a Rudy Gobert roll to the rim. Double P&R, Ingles coming off. We've seen Zubac switch on to Ingles. Looks like he's doing it again but watch Gobert. Slips out so Kennard can't get in front of him. Mann hugged up vs. Clarkson on the weakside.

This is the back and forth right now. Clippers switch Kennard on to Mitchell. They do that so they can double. Mitchell drags it out and then attacks the other way so the double can’t come. Clippers still locked in, Zubac able to help from the dunker.

The balance for Utah outside of pace/movement is getting Mitchell loose but also getting everyone involved/taking advantage of help. Conley being an initiator would really help with that portion.

Mitchell’s going to have to balance between scoring and opening things up with the amount of attention the Clippers are showing him. Has the drive but you see the black jerseys swarm into the paint.