The Denver Nuggets gave the Los Angeles Clippers everything they could handle in Game 3, but after a fourth quarter back and forth, this series is pretty much where we expected after three games. The Clippers lead the Nuggets 2-1 after a 113-107 win on Monday behind their two superstars. Paul George led the offensive load with 32 points per shot to 12/18, but it was Kawhi Leonard who closed the defense deal with a crucial block from Jamal Murray with his middle finger.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, squandered a dominant outing from Nikola Jokic, as their All-Star center ended the match with 32 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. Murray’s inability to provide a secondary score was the difference, as he went off the field 5 for 17 with Patrick Beverley stalking him for all series. The pressure is now on the Nuggets. If they fail to answer in game 4, they may be completed as soon as in game 5.
The Nuggets need Dr. Jekyll, not Mr. Hyde
Jamal Murray has always been hot and cold, but this postseason has been ridiculous. He has four games between 36 and 50 points, but four games under 15. Game 3 against the Clippers was yet another clunker. He shot 5 of 17 from the field, taking him to 37.7% shooting against the Clippers. Patrick Beverley is at least somewhat responsible. He played in block defense on Murray for much of the series. There is also the thigh injury which seemed to aggravate the last round.
But after Denver’s first-round streak against Utah, it looked like Murray had gotten over his long streak. He looked like a superstar when the Nuggets needed him most. Well now they need him again and he disappeared on Monday. If that happens again on Wednesday, this series is over.
Welcome back, Playoff P
Paul George’s playoff story has been dismantled ad nauseam, especially since his slow start against the Dallas Mavericks. But in his last five games? George averages 24.6 points with 49.4% of shots from the field and 43.6% from behind the arc. On Monday he scored 32 points in a game in which his best teammates struggled. While Kawhi Leonard made a lot of great plays, he finished with just 23 points out of 1 in 6 shooting from behind the arc. Lou Williams was discreet at 4 of 11 from the field, but these are the two main strike makers for the Clippers. When I’m out, the whole team should be out.
They weren’t because Paul George is finally starting to look like Paul George again. This was true on both ends of the floor. His helping defense was instrumental in slowing Murray down and also offering symbolic resistance to Nikola Jokic, who made mincemeat of the great Clippers men. George’s first four playoff games were disastrous, but he’s been the companion Kawhi needed to become Clippers’ champions ever since.
How easily can the switch be activated?
The Clippers are, on balance, where they should be. They are leading an inferior opponent for three games in a series of second rounds. But what happened in the first half of this series, and what happened against Dallas in the first round, should worry the Clippers. Their effort is not consistent enough. Supporters of the Clippers would argue that they are talented enough to flip the switch easily and dominate anyone, but it took most of the second half to right the ship against Denver.
Historically speaking, some contenders have been able to get away with inertia until maximum effort is absolutely necessary. But those teams, like the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat of the last decade, had league experience and years of chemistry to fall back on. When effort is all that’s missing, correcting the course is simple enough.
But effort isn’t all the Clippers lack. They lack the muscle memory that made the best versions of the next-stage Celtics or LeBron James teams special. Even when playing at full speed, not knowing instinctively what your teammates will do can lead to an attack stall and easy buck on the other side. The Clippers haven’t arrived yet. Their starting line-up played less than 150 minutes together during the regular season. LeBron James and Anthony Davis played 1,456 minutes together during the regular season. Leonard and George were under 900.
This is not a list of cookie cutters. George and Leonard are not inherently complementary players. They have a number of other ball managers who are still adapting to supporting roles. Now they have had to play two somewhat unique offensive opponents, putting aside schematic consistency in defense. The Clippers can’t just assume their talent will sweep the field. They can’t afford to jog through quarters and games, because while the Nuggets may not be good enough to capitalize on them, the Lakers, the Rockets, and anyone out of the Eastern Conference certainly are.
