LA Clippers: Playing small ball has helped manage Serge Ibaka’s absence

Serge Ibaka missed both pivotal games of the LA Clippers-Dallas Mavericks series, but the Clippers found ways to account for the missing piece.

Being down 0-2, and then hearing the news that Ibaka would miss a couple games due to his back injury, cast a dark cloud on the Clippers chances of tying up the series in Dallas.

The LA Clippers, however, found ways to overcome the adversity that came from missing Serge Ibaka.

The chances of tying up the series at 2-2 in Games 3 and 4 looked incredibly slim, but looked particularly doubtful early in Game 3.

Ivica Zubac was getting cooked. Luka Doncic went on an 8-0 run to start the game on two three-point shots and another field goal. All three shots were made through Doncic drawing Zubac to switch onto him.

A great option to explore with Zubac struggling would be to put in Ibaka, who has been very effective in a huge sample size of playoff games throughout his career. With Ibaka out, LA Clippers Head Coach Ty Lue subbed in Nic Batum.

When Batum came in, Kawhi Leonard and Batum spent a lot of time guarding the Mavericks’ big men, which forced one of them to be switched on to Doncic if the Mavericks continued to run the pick-and-roll.

Doncic still had a great game, putting up 44, 9, and 9 on 15 of 28 shooting and 7 of 13 from behind the arc, but the 8-0 runs came to a halt, and he didn’t stay as hot as he was early in the game.

The Clippers didn’t need Ibaka to come in and provide size. They went with a 6’8″ Batum and the smaller lineup delivered results. Not having the pick-and-roll at the Mavs’ disposal was huge, and slowing down Luka in general had the Maverick offense struggling.

Would Ibaka have helped? I’m sure. It’s not like the Clippers can just go small the whole game.

Zubac did play some quality minutes later in the contest, and the Clippers possibly couldn’t have even needed to go small like that if they had a defensive anchor like Ibaka in the game. That being said, they maybe should just keep going a bit smaller regardless of if Ibaka comes back for Game 5 or not. That’s because the Clippers started a small lineup in Game 4, and it was another genius move.

Batum started in Game 4, and there was obviously no Zubac in the starting lineup. The Mavericks’ pick-and-roll game was once again much less effective, and defensively, the Mavericks no longer could have a man hang down at the rim with Zubac.

They had to follow Batum around, who spent lots of time around the perimeter, and hit two out of six three-point shots.

Now, Dallas Mavericks Head Coach Rick Carlisle was going to adjust. He made a savvy coaching move in inserting former Clipper Boban Marjanovich, who is 7’4,” so that the Clippers could be forced to put Zubac back in.

Marjanovic hit two buckets, and the Clippers did put Zubac back in. The Mavericks assumed they could go back to their offensive game that was so successful against the Clippers in Games 1 and 2, but couldn’t get it going because they shot 16.7% from three, as opposed to 50% (in total) between Games 1 and 2.

If Zubac struggled, Ibaka was supposed to be an option to come in and pick up the slack. The Clippers, however, found a different way to win. Going small and forcing Mavs’ standout big man Kristaps Porzingis to run out to the perimeter had the Mavericks off of their game.

The Clippers are a better team with Ibaka on the court, but know how to win even if he sits Game 5 and beyond. Playing small ball vs. the Mavs has worked.