LA Clippers: Clips learn from earlier playoff matchups, dominate the start

The LA Clippers have trailed by eight points within 2:36 of each game in their playoff series vs. the Utah Jazz.

They always seem to start slow.

This time around, it’s been a different story.

The LA Clippers led by eight points within the first 2:12 of Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals.

The Clippers led by eight this time, by a score of 10-2. Kawhi Leonard knocked down a three and a two-point field goal, Marcus Morris hit a three, and Paul George had a bucket of his own. The team started off 4 for 5 from the field.

They dominated the whole quarter.

The score was 30-13 Clippers at the end of the first.

They had Donovan Mitchell struggling, accounting for only four points on 2 of 6 shooting, and had him 0 for 3 from the three-point line.

They were closing out on everybody shooting threes. The Jazz only hit one out of their seven three-point attempts in the first quarter.

Leonard had 12 points on 4 of 9 shots (2 of 4 from three) at the end of the quarter, and Morris had 11 on 3 of 5 shots (converted all three attempts from deep).

The Clippers have gotten off to many bad starts this postseason, and dug themselves into holes that have been too deep to come out of, even when the team plays well towards the end.

The game’s not over, but the Clippers have come out and made their mark on this contest early.

It’s something they’ve had a tough time doing this series, and in the playoffs in general at times.

The Clippers are clearly making adjustments as a team, and that’s a great sign for a series where we started out down 2-0.