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LA Clippers: Team Can Force Game 7 With Same Strategy

By Ryan Snellings

OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 24: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers celebrates during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - APRIL 24: Patrick Beverley #21 of the LA Clippers celebrates during the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 24: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the LA Clippers handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 24: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the LA Clippers handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Rookies

Speaking of the starting unit, the rookies both need to continue to play like they have. Both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Landry Shamet have looked beyond their years in this series. Facing one of the best backcourts in league history, neither young player has shied away from their game.

Gilgeous-Alexander is putting up 12.0 points per game in this series, while also dishing out 2.6 assists, grabbing 2.2 rebounds and getting 1.2 steals. His hot shooting from late in the season has continued into the playoffs, knocking down 43.5% of his shots, including being 50% from deep on almost 3 attempts per game. He has looked confident and is already racking up some highlight plays.

Shamet has also been great, but not in the way fans expected. Yes, he is a capable shooter and makes the Warriors defense really work to keep him in check as he darts in and out of screens, but it’s his defense that has been huge during this series.

Not known as a great defender, Landry Shamet has done a pretty solid job on Stephen Curry. No one is going to shut him down, but Shamet has made him work and deserves nothing but praise. Curry hasn’t had a game where he has truly gotten hot, so if LA is going to win again tonight, Shamet needs to continue with the excellent defensive play.

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