Booker & Paul Struggle Again! Can The Clippers Comeback Again? 6.24.21
It’s a Thursday night and we have Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals between the Suns and Clippers.
(2) Phoenix Suns vs (4) LA Clippers
Phoenix Suns (2-1)
The Suns just looked off. Maybe it was adjusting to playing with CP-3 again, maybe it was fatigue, I don’t know what it was, but they were off. That first half was ugly, bad shooting but the Clippers were taking awful shots and the game remained close.
But the Suns lost Cameron Payne with an ankle injury for the entire 2nd half and for the first time all playoffs, the Suns looked gassed. There were breakdown defensively leading to easy shots, bad shot selection, they looked human for the first time all postseason long. The Clippers went on a 21-3 run at one point and the lead ballooned to 15 at one point. The Suns made an attempt to comeback, but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Suns got dominated and their series lead is 2-1.
Devin Booker was awful. He was getting constantly pressured by Beverley in the frontcourt and even when he got good looks, he missed. 5/21 shooting, 1/7 from 3, 15 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, but 4 fouls and 4 turnovers. Another abysmal game for Booker who needs to be a lot better.
Chris Paul played for the first time in nearly two weeks and looked rusty. He hurt his hand or something in the first half, kept bothering him. He was just 5/19 from the field, making him and Booker a combined 10/40 shooting, which is just horrendous.
The rest of the role players were ok, nothing special. Losing Cameron Payne to that ankle injury was unfortunate, don’t know how serious it was, waiting for that verdict. Cam Johnson, Bridges, and Crowder were solid. Crowder fouled out of the game and Bridges dealt with early foul trouble as well.
The Suns looked slow, they played at a slower pace and they took bad shots. The ball movement wasn’t there even with Chris Paul coming back and Devin Booker continued to struggle shooting the ball. The Suns struggled to defend the Clippers who moved the ball really well, as guys like Jackson and Mann were real problems for the Suns.
The Suns have to come out with more energy and focus on both ends. Can’t have 19 fouls and allow 24 free throws in a playoff game, just can’t happen. The Suns have to either hit their 3’s (10/32) or shoot less of them and attack the paint more, one of the two. Chris Paul and Devin Booker have to attack those pick and rolls and put pressure on the Clippers defense, leading to better shots for everybody. The Suns have to overall play a lot better in Game 4 to regain their grasp on this series.
LA Clippers (1-2)
The 0-2 Clippers are the greatest team ever. With their backs against the wall again, they responded, again. They were very good from the jump and then they dominated the 2nd half. Their defense against Booker and Paul was great, especially in that 2nd half. The ball movement led to great looks and the role players stepped up to put the game away as the Clippers now trail 2-1 in this series.
Paul George had 27 points, 15 rebounds, and 8 assists. Sure he only shot 35% from the field, but he made some great passes to Zubac down low and to open shooters. Paul George with a great bounce back game after those missed free throws in Game 2, going to need similar things from him in Game 4.
Reggie Jackson had 23 points and timely 3’s late in this game. He continues to be great, his defense in the 2nd half was also very good. Zubac had a double-double with 6 offensive rebounds, he also was 9/10 from the free throw line. Really good game from Zubac.
Terrence Mann played great defense and chipped in 12 points. Beverley put Booker in prison again with his pressure, Marcus Morris played off the bench and at center at times, he was good. Kennard and Batum played well, this was a complete game on both ends. Now can the Clippers do it again?
They need Beverley to stay out of foul trouble like he did in this game, to just bother Booker. Booker didn’t make any shots he normally made and Beverley made a lot of them tough shots. Guys like Jackson and Mann have to fight over screens, take away airspace from CP-3.
Zubac has to be active down low like he was tonight, grabbing offensive rebounds and drawing fouls. PG has to be aggressive getting to the rim and also looking for teammates. Then the role guys have to step up, Jackson, Mann, Morris, Kennard, Batum, they have to hit some 3’s and timely shots. The ball movement has to make the Suns defense work.
The Clippers showed that they can win this series if they play like a team. If they play with this type of intensity in Game 4, they put themselves in a great position to try and tie this series up 2-2.
What Are Your Thoughts From Game 3? Leave A Comment Down Below!
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