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Fansided

Three takeaways from the LA Clippers’ Game 3 defeat

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts to his foul on Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Two of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 18: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers reacts to his foul on Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Two of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 18: Andrew Bogut #12 of the Golden State Warriors grabs a rebound against Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center on April 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 18: Andrew Bogut #12 of the Golden State Warriors grabs a rebound against Montrezl Harrell #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center on April 18, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /

Rebounds kill the LA Clippers

The LA Clippers started Game 3 off on the wrong foot, trailing the Golden State Warriors by 17 points after the first quarter. In addition to that big difference, the Clippers were being outdone in another area of the game as well: Rebounding.

Through the first 12 minutes of the game, the Clippers were out-rebounded 3-13 — a poor mark considering they ranked 13th in the league this season in rebounds per game. At night’s end, the Warriors had only won the rebounding battle by seven, but the damage had already been done by then. Add to it that the Clippers had 20 rebounds in the fourth quarter to Golden State’s 12, and it’s easy to see how lopsided this was.

Andrew Bogut, starting in place of the injured DeMarcus Cousins, was particularly effective on the boards for Golden State. According to Basketball Reference, he registered a total rebound percentage of 28.8 in 25 minutes on the floor, and a 20.7 percent mark in offensive rebound percentage. His 14 rebounds were a team-high, and one off from Ivica Zubac’s game-high 15.

Part of LA’s problem here is size. Golden State’s smallest starter is Stephen Curry, who stands a few inches over six feet. After him it’s Klay Thompson, who stands 6-foot-7. The Clippers just don’t have the size to keep up.

And where the Clippers do have size, they have other issues. Zubac hasn’t been great in this series so far, and has been completely unplayable against Golden State’s starting five. A better idea could be to slide JaMychal Green in as the starting center, since he’s played with plenty of energy and has been a solid rebounder through the first three games.

Green could also help the starters get going by giving the defense one more man to focus on, and he’d open the paint up for his teammates with his three-point shot.

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