Terance Mann: Mama, there goes that Mann

The LA Clippers walked into Staples on Friday night knowing it was going to take a full squad effort to get the job done against the Utah Jazz.

They did just that, walking out 131 – 119 winners over the Utah Jazz in Game 6.

Now, one man took it upon himself to let those around him settle into the game. You may think that it would’ve been a veteran player or perhaps a superstar, but nobody could’ve predicted the performance of Terance Mann in Game 6.

Mann took on the responsibilities of starting in Game 5 after Kawhi Leonard got injured late in the fourth quarter of Game 4. This was certainly no worries at all for the second year man out of Florida State.

The LA Clippers, on the back of second-year player Terance Mann have surged to their first Western Conference Finals.

Mann was instrumental throughout the whole game. Getting the game going early, he made his first two shots from distance.

He then had another monster put-back dunk over Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, incase one just wasn’t enough. You could tell, we were in for something special.

The Clippers ball movement was outstanding and with the Jazz choosing to leave Gobert on the floor with the match-up of Mann, this lead to plenty of wide open threes. To Mann’s credit he buried them all. Not only was his shooting on song tonight, but his strong aggressive driving into the lane to create space between him and his opponent made for some easy lay-ins.

After the game, Paul George was asked; “Did you know (Terance Mann) could do this?”

“Yes, yes! We’ve been on him to shoot the ball,” responded George. “He works on his game so much, one of the best young players I’ve been around and reminds me a lot of myself.”

This was a career night for Mann as he surpassed his career high in points dating back to even his high school days. He put up 39 points (15 of 21 shooting and 7-10 from three) on a huge stage.

Also, Mann is the only Clippers player since 1997 to score 20 points or more in a quarter of a playoff game. With the stars we’ve seen play for the Clippers over the years, that is no typical feat.

T-Mann is a humble, selfless teammate who gives his absolute all every time he steps on the floor, which is why everyone was ecstatic for him. He deserved every part of those postgame celebrations in the locker room, as they were on another level.

Terance Mann will no doubt remember this night for the rest of his career and so he should. But, the great thing is he won’t want to stop at just this. He’ll want even more and to show that this is only the beginning for T-Mann and the Clippers.