2. Major half-time adjustments
Date: 3/29/22
The Utah Jazz sauntered onto the court against the LA Clippers with an extreme amount of confidence. There was good reason for it. Just a few days prior to their March 29th, showdown, the Jazz took the Clippers behind the woodshed and gave them a beating of a lifetime, handing them a 29-point loss.
Things appeared to be tracking in the same direction as the Clippers found themselves down by 25 at halftime. With Paul George playing for the first time in months, it seemed as though his emotional boost did little to nothing to actually help the Clippers in the win column. That is, until the second half started.
The biggest issue for the Clippers was their inability to defend the 3-point line. During the first half, the Jazz shot a ridiculous 52.6% from distance. But there was a drastic change in the second half. George and Reggie Jackson pushed the ball on offense and closed out to shooters on defense.
Lue also went with a much smaller lineup. Ivica Zubac, their lone big man, went from playing a shade over 13 minutes in the first half to just under three and a half minutes in the second half. The added speed on the court allowed the Clippers to close out to shooters at a much more efficient rate.
Ultimately, the Jazz connected on just two of their 12 3-point attempts. With Utah clanking their shots off the rim, the Clippers took full advantage, winning by six points.