Three takeaways from the LA Clippers’ gutsy Game 5 victory

Danilo Gallinari is starting to look more familiar

Prior to Game 5, Danilo Gallinari had been one of the biggest letdowns of the entire series. A 43 percent shooter from deep and 46 percent shooter overall during the regular season, Gallinari entered Wednesday night’s contest shooting 28 percent from three-point land and 29.6 percent overall.

Those are especially disappointing marks for Gallinari, who was a legitimate All-NBA caliber forward this year, and it’s fair to wonder if this series would be in LA’s favor right now had he shot better in the first few games.

None of that is entirely his fault, though. Gallinari isn’t meant to be a team’s number one option, and certainly not in the playoffs against the Golden State Warriors, of all teams. It doesn’t help Gallo’s doing that the Warriors have treated him as such, either. Even with his poor shooting, he’s found himself in numerous double-teams and difficult situations that have resulted in empty possessions.

But in Game 5, the tables started to turn — if only a bit.

Gallinari went for 26 points and seven rebounds in Wednesday night’s win, shooting 41 percent from the floor and connecting on three of his 11 three-point attempts. He also connected on five of his six free throw attempts, matching his most for any game so far this series.

Gallo looked much more aggressive in Game 5, drawing a foul on his first possession of the night and firing confidently from all over the floor. There was room for improvement, sure, but outside of LA’s historic Game 2 victory, it was by far the best he’s looked all series. And if he can score 20-30 points a night, the Clippers will have even more of a fighting chance of keeping this going.