Last night was one of the last major tests of the season for the LA Clippers.
With Head Coach Ty Lue finalizing the rotations for the NBA Playoffs, the LA Clippers needed to get through one last tough playoff-caliber team in the Charlotte Hornets before their two easy games. This was a game where we saw the true grit and tenacity of the team right before the playoffs.
After a solid 31-23 start to the game, the Clippers had a disastrous second quarter where they were outscored 24-13. The Clippers made 42.1% of their shots (16-of-38) and 36.4% from behind the arc (8-of-22). Too many turnovers (nine) and a lack of efficiency in the passing game hurt the Clippers’ offense as they were down 47-44 at halftime.
Power forward Marcus Morris Sr. and point guard Reggie Jackson both led the team at the time with 10 points. After halftime, the Clippers’ offense surged with more intensity, more careful shot selections, and more efficiency passing the ball. While all of the Clippers took charge in getting the offense back in sync, much of the praise goes to Jackson.
Jackson put the offense back on track with highly efficient three-pointers early in the third quarter. He was also key for establishing a solid passing game along with Paul George. Jackson finished with 19 points shooting 7-of-15 in field goals and 5-for-12 on three-point shots. The Clippers outscored the Hornets 40-30 in the third quarter as well as 29-13 in the fourth quarter.
By halftime, the Clippers only accounted for 10 assists but by the end of the game, they accounted for 28 total assists. They also finished with 17 total turnovers, with nine of them in the first half. Jackson was the most reliable player for the Clippers in the first half along with Morris, who found himself in foul trouble. Jackson has been electric all season, but he has been big for the Clippers while they get ready for the playoffs. In April, Jackson averaged 13.6 points per game shooting 44.2% of field goals and 49.2% from the three-point arc. He also averaged 3.9 assists per game, and 3.6 rebounds per game. He’s shown an urgency to create a more efficient shot selection and guide the offense through highly efficient passing.
Jackson has a crucial role on the bench as one of the top guards in the playoffs along with Rajon Rondo. The Clippers will rely on his leadership, high basketball IQ, and strong defensive presence for key moments in the playoffs. Rondo is a player that is better in key situations and against high-caliber teams. In the 110-104 loss to the Denver Nuggets early this month, Rondo scored 18 points shooting 66.7% in overall field goals (8-of-12) and 40% from behind the arc (2-of-5). Rondo has provided an early impact for the Clippers and he will be an even bigger role player when the playoffs start.
The Clippers will still have Patrick Beverley start at point guard going forward. Beverley has only eclipsed 20 minutes once in the five games played since his return from his fractured hand injury. Beverley gives the Clippers a dominating presence on the defensive end of the court. He will be given more minutes as he gets back into the flow of the game after being gone for almost a month. After some rough stretches against guards in the last five games, Beverley looks to get back to a high-efficiency level on defense. He will be a key player in the playoffs, especially in the first round if the Clippers have to take on the Dallas Mavericks led by Luka Doncic or Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard.
All three of these players will have a chance to finish the season strong and get into playoff form with two games left. Tonight, the Clippers (47-23) will travel to face the Houston Rockets (16-54), who has the worst record in the NBA. Even if the Rockets win their last two games of their schedule, they will have the likely top spot for the NBA Draft Lottery. The Clippers could have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George rest in the last back-to-back. This will have the team rely on the guards as well as Terance Mann and Luke Kennard contribute with the potential absence of the two superstars.