The LA Clippers have to make history tonight or face changes

The LA Clippers have to make history tonight or face changes.

Game Seven. Those words usually excite sports fans but for the LA Clippers and their fans, it has begun to impart a sense of dread. Tonight, the Clippers will face the Denver Nuggets in the last game of the series and have to choices -make history by advancing to the franchise’s first-ever Conference Finals or leave the bubble in Orlando and make some tough changes.

Obviously, the latter is preferable. Do the Clippers have to address some glaring holes in the offseason either way? Sure. But a trip to the Western Conference Finals (sans a sweep) probably at the minimum saves Doc Rivers‘ job for better or worse. Still, with the team never having made a Conference Finals, a loss in that round to a strong Lakers team is much more preferable to a blown 3-1 lead in the second round.

If there’s one thing above all that the Clippers need to do to win tonight, it’s this – Just play hard.

It’s honestly that simple.

In two consecutive games, LA has blown 16 point leads in the second half. Part of the issue has been playing with no intensity once up, a common problem all season. Another part of the issue has been fouling. The most talked-about issue, however, has been Doc Rivers’ rotations.

Playing JaMychal Green more might be the solution from a rotational perspective but as Doc eluded to postgame, he may have less reservation of playing guys bigger minutes. That could mean we get more of Ivica Zubac, the team’s best defender when it comes to Nikola Jokic, assuming he can stay out of foul trouble.

Superstar play will also be key. We know from last season that Kawhi Leonard is not scared of game sevens. In last year’s playoffs, he hoisted up 39 shots including his iconic buzzer-beater to win the game. While I don’t think he’ll need that amount of shot attempts tonight, we can assume he will be in peak playoff mode.

Paul George will also need to be effective on both ends. There has been much made about “Playoff P” again this postseason but George has been solid in this series, averaging 23.7 points per game on 46.5% shooting. His defense on Jamal Murray has also been great. The Clips will need more of that if they hope to seal the victory.

Production from role players will also be very important. Patrick Beverley, Landry Shamet, Lou Williams, and Montrezl Harrell have all played below their standards and one or two of them will need to step up tonight. Shamet is the easy choice if he can get minutes next to George and Leonard and actually knock down some shots but also look for Lou Will to finally get out of his offensive funk.

The Clippers have to dig deep and fight. If they don’t, players will be gone next year and head coach Doc Rivers might be as well. It is “do or die” in every sense of the phrase. Will they make it happen? Who knows. We’ll find out tonight at 6:00 PM PST.