The ultimate stats from Dallas’ dynamic backcourt of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving from Sport 1 of the playoffs Sunday advised one story of how they carried out at a excessive degree with a mixed 64 factors, however the protection the Clippers performed in opposition to the sensational pair advised a narrative of stick-to-itiveness that resulted in an important factor:
Successful.
And due to Terance Mann and Amir Coffey, who began in place of Kawhi Leonard (irritation in his proper knee), the Clippers took a 1-0 lead within the best-of-seven collection as a result of these two adopted the defensive recreation plan all of the whereas understanding that Doncic and Irving may erupt at any time.
Doncic completed with 33 factors, however he was 11 for 26 from the sphere and 4 for 12 from three-point vary. Irving completed with 31 factors on 10-for-18 capturing that included him going three for six from three-point vary.
The duty now could be to strive to decelerate Doncic and Irving once more in Sport 2 on Tuesday evening at Crypto.com Area.
“It’s very difficult,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue stated earlier than his group’s follow Monday. “You bought two of the perfect scorers within the league on the identical group. So, once they’re each on the court docket on the similar time, it’s form of exhausting to double-team one man and go away the opposite man. So, you bought to select your poison. I assumed for probably the most half our guys did a superb job with executing the defensive plan. We nonetheless had I believe 26 factors that we gave up on game-plan errors, which goes to occur all through the course of a recreation. However I assumed we did it exhausting, and I assumed we tried to do it our greatest. We simply made some errors and so we received to be higher with that.”
The Clippers have been at their finest defending Doncic and Irving within the first half.
Doncic was 4 for 13 within the first half, one for seven from three-point vary and scored simply 11 factors.
Irving was one for six within the first half, missed all three of his three-pointers and had 6 factors.
However Irving heated up within the third quarter, scoring 20 factors on 8-for-8 capturing.
Doncic received going within the fourth, scoring 12 factors on 4-for-6 capturing.
“They’re going to do no matter they really feel like doing,” Mann stated. “They each play at their very own velocity, at their very own tempo. So similar to you stated, simply play robust, be aggressive and attempt to hold them in entrance as finest you may.”
Irving joked after Sunday’s recreation that Lue gave Mann and Coffey cues on learn how to defend the purpose guard.
Lue and Irving gained an NBA title with Cleveland in 2015-16, making the 2 accustomed to one another.
“You going to get a cue after which he’s going to do one thing else,” Mann stated. “So, he’s a wise participant and superb participant, so I’m certain he picked up on that and began doing the counter.”
“Kyrie is a participant that may rating in any respect three ranges,” Coffey stated. “He may go left, he may go proper. So, even together with his tendencies, it form of appears he’s received a counter to every little thing. So, like I stated, simply us attempting to make it extraordinarily robust for him. Throw some totally different coverages at him and simply make it robust and make ‘em work for each basket.”
Coffey could get the job once more and should begin once more with the uncertainty Leonard will play within the second recreation.
The plan was for Leonard to follow Monday, however Lue stated they have been “not doing contact.”
“He’s going to undergo follow as we speak and we’ll see,” Lue stated.
