LA Clippers: 3 things to improve after game three victory

The LA Clippers got the win in game three but still can improve in a few ways.

Friday night’s performance from the LA Clippers was a near return to form. The Clippers beat the Dallas Mavericks 130-122 behind an absolute monster performance from Kawhi Leonard and a solid game from most others on the roster.

It wasn’t quite a perfect win but the Clippers did enough to take care of business. While this will mostly be nitpicking, there are a few spots the team can still improve heading into game four on Sunday afternoon.

1. Guarding Seth Curry

The Clippers defense looked a lot better in general (mainly thanks to some great rotation adjustments by Doc Rivers but more on that later) but Seth Curry continued to be a thorn in the side of the Clippers.

On Friday, Curry was again hot from the field, going nine of eleven from the field. He was perfect from deep, converting on all four of his attempts.

Curry’s 22 points kept the Mavericks in the game even when Luka Doncic went out after spraining his ankle. Doncic is currently listed as questionable for game four, so if he doesn’t play, Curry needs to become the team’s primary focus.

What does that mean? It means whoever is guarding him cannot, I repeat, cannot help off of him. The Clippers had issues with overhelping in both games one and two and seemingly addressed that in game three. Still, even helping off Curry for a second gives him the space he needs to shoot. If LA can limit his output, the Mavs would likely be forced to find offense elsewhere.

Part of keeping Curry in check might be something that Doc Rivers has to work on…