Key #2 – Disrupt LA’s Offense
While the points in the paint have been a major contributor to the Clippers’ high-octane offense, it’s been far from the only way they’ve found success. They’re currently third in the league in scoring at 119 points per game as well as fourth in the NBA in three-point shooting at 40.7 percent.
Not only that, but the Clippers offense has been able to hum thus far because they have taken exceptionally good care of the ball at just 13.5 turnovers per game. Everything has seemed to click for LA in their first two contests of the 2017-18 season as neither team they’ve faced has been able to put up much resistance.
But given that they’re about to face a relentless Jazz squad, that’s likely all about to change. The Jazz have been pesky and gritty on defense all season long and they’ll absolutely have to continue that trend by disrupting LA’s seemingly flawless offensive flow and forcing them to work for every shot.
https://twitter.com/LAClippers/status/922183283575844865
They’re well equipped to do just that as they’re averaging 10 steals per game, good for fifth in the league, and are forcing their opponents into 18.3 giveaways per contest, also fifth in the league. Between Ricky Rubio, Joe Ingles, Thabo Sefolosha, Donovan Mitchell, Ekpe Udoh and of course Rudy Gobert, Utah’s relentless defensive attack is more than capable of making LA’s offensive rhythm sputter.
As I mentioned previously, the Utah Jazz’s defensive effort against the Oklahoma City Thunder was nothing short of mind-blowing, and if that kind of play can become the rule rather than the exception, than even high-flying offenses like that of the Clippers are going to struggle mightily against the Jazz.