This is first basketball. The game is over if you're gonna get Clipper down,
but the time to react has just begun. I'm so happy with Bomber
doing. This is Clippers Talk with your host Adam Mosley on air after every
game here and on the iHeart Radio app. This is what they have been
building towards. All the other pieces were in place all now to get in
on the action and let your voice be her Now, your host Adam osled
the Denver Nuggets may have a joker, but your Los Angeles Clippers have a
batman in Kawhi Leonard, and the Clippers win by twenty three as he played
like a certain player who wore the number twenty three. Your Clippers win Game
one one, twenty to ninety seven over the Denver Nuggets. Welcome in the
Clippers Talk. I'm Adam Moslin. Coming up on the show. We will
get to postgame audio from Doc Rivers. We'll get to all your phone calls
eight seven seven five two zero eleven fifty eight seven seven five two zero eleven
fifty and far bought Essen Shari from SI Now will be here as well.
But what can you say about Kawhi Leonard? I mentioned this all the time.
I talk about the similarities between he and Michael Jordan. Those are some
lofty expectations. It's high praise, but at least when it comes to the
mid range and the hands, it's all earned. It's due, he deserves
it. And he had nineteen points in the first half, and is it
just a coincidence that he finishes with twenty nine. Didn't even have to play
in that fourth quarter, and the Clippers' biggest lead was also twenty nine,
and it really wasn't even that close because defensively, they handled their business.
Kawhi Leonard is about that business. Paul George said it post game after Game
six and that win over the Dallas Mavericks. He just has a business like
attitude about him, where he's calm, he's cool, he's even keel.
He's the perfect superstar. He really is, because what he does best translates
best come playoff time, the mid range shooting. That's normally what teams are
willing to give up. They're trying to stop the layoffs, they're trying to
stop the three point shots. But Kawhi Leonard is most comfortable between eight and
sixteen feet and it doesn't matter if you have a hand in his face or
not, he's gonna get that shot off. And I think almost all of
his points in that third quarter, when he had ten of his twenty nine,
came in that range in that area, and he had some acrobatic shots
too. But as always, it wasn't just him. I thought of Visa
Zubos played about as well as you could defensively. In the twenty four minutes
he was out there against Nikola Yokich. Big Zoo only had four points,
two of three from the field, but had seven rebounds three offensive rebounds.
Two of those extra possessions that he created turned into points right away. He
was making hustle plays, as was PG thirteen, as was Kauhi everyone on
this team, especially when Patrick Beverly is out there in his first game back
just twelve minutes. I thought they were very impactful, though, considering he
hit two three pointers in the first three minutes he was out there in the
game, and he's been hitting and he's been scoring with the long ball all
season long. It goes back to December. Since then, Patrick Beverly has
been shooting over forty five percent from three. It's basically exactly what he did
last season also, and when this team has Patrick Beverley and their complete roster,
they're complete squad. They're now twelve and one this season. That one
loss did come to the Los Angeles Lakers back in March. But the Clippers
are still getting better. That what's scary for the rest of the league.
They're still building chemistry, they're still learning each other's tendencies out there on the
court while they're winning a game by twenty three against the Denver Nuggets, who
just came back down three one. In that first round series against the Utah
Jazz where Jamal Murray was ridiculous. He had multiple fifty point games. He
and Donovan Mitchell Jamal Murray averaged over thirty points per game in those seven games.
Jamal Murray had just twelve points tonight against the Clippers on five of fifteen
shooting. There's that elite perimeter defense that we thought this team would have and
has had for most of this season. But when they're healthy, they have
three of the top five perimeter defenders in the league in Paul George In,
Kawhi Leonard and of course Patrick Beverly, and you can throw Marcus Morris in
there as well, remember he was their best perimeter defender on Luka Donci's last
round. A Visa Zubots was great when he was in the game defending the
rim against Luca. And again, to go back to my point about a
Visa Zubots, he was great against Nikola Yokich just fifteen points, three boards,
six of fourteen shooting. He is not an easy guard. He's one
of the toughest center's, toughest versatile centers in this modern day of NBA basketball.
We've seen where he can step out and hit the three point shot.
I think he shot forty percent from distance last round. And he actually played
better in that Game seven to get them to move on than Jamal Murray did.
And there was one other player I was watching as kind of an X
factor going into this series because he had played really well for Denver against the
Clippers all season long, and it was Grant who had eleven points in the
first quarter. Jeremy Grant did. He looked great. I thought he was
going to be a problem. He outscored Kawaii, had ten in the first
and so did Marcus Morris. And they were hitting the long ball early.
They started five for eleven from distance the Denver Nuggets. They were hot in
that first quarter, That's why it was tied at thirty one, but from
then on they went four for twenty five from three. The Clippers held them
down. They did what they have to do, which is play elite defense,
which they're more than capable of, and that helps them create offense.
Fifteen turnovers they turned into eighteen points on the Denver Nuggets, and they were
playing downhill. They were playing their tempo. I took note of this in
the second quarter, but the Clippers had been playing at a top ten pace
all season long, Denver a much slower pace, bottom ten pace in this
league. And the Clippers got the game and they imposed their will on Denver
by getting the game going at their speed. That was also big, winning
by twenty three though in game one. That sends a message that lets you
know this team is still locked in, as Kawhi Leonard has been talking about
since the playoffs started, but really it happened in games five and six against
the Dallas Mavericks. Eight seven seven five two zero eleven fifty eight seven seven
five two zero eleven fifty is the phone number if you want to get onto
Clippers stock or get to me at follow Adam A. And actually we're periscoping.
I think it's been successful so far. I haven't had a commercial break
to check, but we're periscoping on Twitter at follow Adam A. And we're
gonna continue to do this throughout the playoffs from here on, as long as
I'm technologically savvy enough. But I mentioned those last two games against the Dallas
Mavericks and Noah Eagle was talking about it pregame during the game. There was
a sense of urgency after that series was tied up at two games a piece
that we hadn't seen earlier in the series. After Luca Dontage hit that ridiculous
step back twenty seven foot three point shot, the Clippers flipped things around quickly.
Game five, they put up the third most points ever in a playoff
game at one fifty four, but they started to defend the three point shot
much better. They started to defend the others, the role players for the
Dallas Mavericks much better. The miscues defensively were gone. They weren't switching as
much, Kawhi Leonard was fighting through some screens, and they would end up
winning the next two games and finish them off in six, but they looked
like they were starting to click in offensively, but most importantly, I think
defensively, the communication was there. Guys were covering for one another. They
were playing five guys on a string. And when you hold Dallas under one
hundred points that special. They did that, and they just held Denver to
ninety seven, even though there was garbage time to be played and Denver had
thirty points the fourth quarter. This was a top five offense in the Bubble
playoffs so far, the Denver Nuggets, they were that good. They may
have tired legs, but I think it was more about what the Clippers were
doing to them defensively and making them work on the other end. With going
to the basket. You saw Patrick Beverly, aside from the two threes he
hit in the first quarter, he went at Nikola Yokich I think it was
in the third quarter, took it coast to coast, went right at him
right alley put a layup on him. If he does have a flaw the
joker, it's defensively. You have to make him work on that end because
eventually that's going to exhaust him on the other end, especially because he's going
up against a Visa Zoobots, somebody else who I thought played really well in
this game, Monster Tress. We've been wondering when the monster was gonna be
unleashed. It's his nickname, and it's because of the energy he brings,
especially offensively. I've been calling him for three years since he came to the
Clippers the Dennis Rodman of offense because of what he brings you on that end,
because of how relentless he is at the rim. And that's what he
did in the second quarter. This reminded me a little bit of his play
in Game five against the MAVs, where he was struggling offensively early, but
he was attacking and he was getting fouled, and he went five of six
from the free throw line in that second quarter. But he had a huge
block on Michael Porter Junior, a tone setter defensively for the Clippers. They
needed that and for him to rev up the engine defensively, I think that
gets him going offensively, and you could see it. And then late in
the game he had eight points in the fourth quarter. He's starting to round
into form. What's scary about this Clippers team is they have a gear they
can get to that, no one else can match them at They have a
seventh gear, the McLaren gear. Whatever is the fastest car in the universe.
Now, I just remember the game Need for speedback in the day,
the Lamborghini Diablo from the nineties, whatever you want to say it is.
He's got that nitrous ox side. He takes them to another level when he's
playing with energy on both ends, and tonight he was and that matchup versus
Mason Plumley was a good one for him. Nikola Yokich, well, he
can take advantage with the plethora of moves he has offensively against Monster Tress,
but you want zoobots matched up against the Joker for the most part, and
it worked and it worked beautifully. But this Clippers team to open up this
series with a dominating win like this where they really never had to look back
at all in the second half. It wasn't like with Dallas coming back even
in that Game six where they brought it within six with nine minutes left in
the fourth quarter. The Clippers just dominated from the second quarter on. That
was the story of this game. And once again Kawhi Leonard was brilliant.
I thought Paul George was pretty good too, because he also didn't play heavy
minutes, and he also was doing the little things during offensive foul so to
Manstitrez, Paul George actually drew two of them, was on the floor.
I love when you see superstars hustle like that and do some of those little
things. And the Clippers with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, both of them
love to do the little things because they both want to play defense. They
know they can affect the game on both ends. It's something they've been doing
all season long. But now with them playing more minutes in the playoffs,
you're really getting to see that two one three connection thrive. Clippers win one
twenty to ninety seven over the Denver Nuggets. We'll take a quick quick break,
we'll come back. I'll see if it's still working here with the periscope
that is, and I know the Patriot AM eleven fifty has us covered,
but we're trying to simulcast online because I'm a hip like that ticker. Yeah,
Clippers win game one by three. Coming up next, we'll talk to
Farbodes and Shari. You'll also hear from Doc Rivers post game and your superstars
you're listening to Clippers talk here on Periscope on AM five seventy and at follow
Adam May on Twitter, and of course on the Patriot amleven fifty. Your
LA Clippers are up one game to none here in this best of seven second
round series on the Denver Nuggets after they dismantle them in this opening game with
a final score of one twenty to ninety seven. Kawhi Leonard finished with twenty
nine points. Marcus Morris was seven of ten, went four of five from
distance. That future dad strength. I know he's already a dad, but
he's about to get even stronger, and he looked like that. And your
Los Angeles Clippers appear to be peeking and playing their best basketball at the right
time, which is what we wanted all season long. There was a method
to their madness with making sure they were healthy and ready to go for games
like this, and Kawhi Leonard once again just looks like a different player in
the playoffs. Playoff Kauai is ninety six MJ He's Michael Jordan in the mid
range. He was twelve of sixteen from the field twenty nine points, had
nineteen of those in the first half. Didn't even have to play in the
fourth quarter. But what he does best works best in the postseason with his
mid range attack because nobody can guard it. And now in this analytics driven
league, they're not supposed to eight seven seven five two zero eleven fifty eight
seven seven five two zero eleven fifty. Coming up, we'll get to your
phone calls. You'll also hear from Doc Rivers post game, but first I
want to get to my friend farbaud Essen Shari, who covers the Clippers four
SI SI. Now that is far Bob. Thanks for coming on Clippers Stock
tonight. I appreciate it. What's the first thing you think I'm going to
say right now? They won? Because you're coming on Clippers Stock and your
record is intact your perfect, I basically just caused a sweep. There does
seem to be a connection between whenever far Bad joins me post game and what
occurs well pregame or during the game, which you just have to use me
sparingly, like it's the Trump carter to you. Yeah, that was a
big one for you to help them win by twenty three, and they were
leading by as many as twenty nine. Speaking of that number, Kawhi Leonard
had twenty nine points on just sixteen shots, went twelve of sixteen from the
field. I always like to compare him to ninety six MJ when they came
back the Bulls after losing to the Orlando Magic and they went seventy two and
ten and they ended up winning in six games over the Seattle SuperSonics in the
NBA Finals. But MJ that season was so lethal in the mid range that
second three peat. MJ was so refined between eight and sixteen feet. His
game, his arsenal moves, everything he has. How do you see that
comparison? Is it too far? Because I think Kawhi Leonard has a similar
game. No, you know what, this might be a hot take or
blastness or I don't know. But when you see Kawhi, especially now,
the way he's developed, just because of the length of his arms, the
length of his hands, his body type, it's so similar to MJ.
Where it just feels so much more effortless because of his body type to get
to the spots that he gets to. It's so much different than when you
would watch Kobe. Kobe had Michael Jordan's moves right, but Kobe didn't have
the hands or the arms that Jordan had, and that's something Phil Jackson said
himself. So when Kobe had to get to his spots, there was a
lot more finesse or a lot more force behind it. With Kawhi, it's
very fitless, the same way Jordan wasn't. It's kind of like, weirdly
blasphemous to say that he's, you know, the closest thing to ninety six
MJ. But the more you watch it, I mean, he's not going
to get forty points a game or thirty seven points a game, kind of
like you know Jordan or Kobe would, but just the mannerism of it is
so similar. Hey, he averaged thirty three on fifty four percent shooting plus
ten boards and five assists in the last series and he was even more efficient
tonight, which is just unbelievable. Yeah, I understand it. It's too
high a praise for some people to accept because MJ's their goat. But we
may look back ten years from now and be like, Okay, Farboden Adam,
we're onto something. Let's move on to a visa zubots here. Because
he was so important to what they did and in that series last round,
and I know Chris stat Porzingis wasn't there, and he was a tough matchup
for Visa Zubots, of course for anyone, but this was one of his
best defensive games we've seen all season long. We're I feel like he was
so good against Nikolay Yoki that even when Zubos was out of the game,
like the Joker was seeing ghosts out there, like he was still thought of
Visa Zubos was there. Honestly, I can't even remember, like the Clippers
slayed so well together defensively, and I thought a lot of that tone started
with the starting lineup, and I can't even remember a shot that like an
actual jumper that Yoki hit this game, besides that one that went like over
the backboard where you're like, okay, he can have that, or was
not he missed and started running the other way and it went in the reverse
Nick Young. The fact that that is the only thing I can remember him
even hitting this game shows you know how good of a job Zubos did,
because he just didn't give him anything. And it's you know, it's only
one game, you know, and you never want to take too much out
of it. But that was a game where it just looked like Denver had
no answer for a lot of what the Clippers are doing and they're gonna have
to adjust. How much of this dominating victory do you attribute to just having
Patrick Beverly's presence out there, even though it was only for twelve minutes.
He has the two three pointers early on. He can't miss from there this
season, but he always has that mindset that I feel like permeates throughout the
entire Clippers roster whenever he's in the game, even if it's on a minutes
restriction like in this one. Well, I think Patrick Beverley will always be
the quote unstatable guy for the Clippers. His presence will always help. They
called him, you know, the head of the snake today. But just
Marcus Morris's consistency, that is something I don't think anyone saw coming. Paul
George finally returning to form, and it kind of is reminiscent of, you
know, the year the Spurs went to seven with the MAVs and all of
a sudden started beating everybody. I think the Clippers needed that kind of punch
in the mouth by the Mavericks in that first round to kind of get to
where they are now. Now we'll see what happens in game two or three,
because if if there's anything we've seen in these playoffs, like even if
you're up two oh, doesn't seem to mean much. You can go to
seven pretty quickly. You know, things change really really fast in these playoffs
at a day of rest. But it looks good for him. The Bubble
tournament vibes are real. There have been crazy performances, crazy shooting performances,
that backdrop that just frames the baskets so well, that's how Doc Rivers has
described it. We've seen teams shoot the ball with incredible efficiency, but Denver
held to just ninety seven points. Someone else I wanted to ask you about
here far Bod is Monster Tress because he obviously wasn't what we expected him to
be, or maybe he was because he hadn't played in so long, But
he didn't look like himself in that first round series, outside of maybe Game
five, where I thought he played really well and poured it on late with
sixteen points in the fourth quarter. He had eight points in the fourth quarter
fifteen points total. But does he have a better feel for the game.
Is his timing. Does that seem to be there now that he's, uh,
you know, he's seven games in. You could say since he returned,
it definitely looked like he got his groove back. And the other thing
you have to remember was with that previous matchup, he was really in a
losing situation because almost every single time he went on the floor was against Boban
yea, and it was kind of like, well, what are you gonna
do? Like Boban can block Dwight Howard without jumping, right, So what
is what is Tred's really gonna be able to do? He's he's always gonna
have to shoot a weird floater over him or something, because that's the only
thing he's been able to do. And I think one thing I want to
add, you know, before anything else is said, is there have been
games the Clippers have had where, say against the Pelicans or Game four against
the MAVs, where it was like, Okay, they're gonna hit twenty five
threes, twenty seven threes, they're up by forty. Good game, right,
they just hit twenty seven threes and there's nothing you can do about that.
Today was different. Today they only hit ten threes and it just felt
way more demoralizing than of forty point victory due to twenty plus threes. For
them to win the way they did today with only ten mate threes, it
just feels different. It feels much more solid. They didn't just get hot
for Jamal Murray to go just five of fifteen from the floor. The Clippers
just completely impose their will on them. They were able to do anything they
wanted to, really on both ends of the floor. They win by twenty
three, with the final score of one twenty to ninety seven. Far Abod,
what do you think Denver tries to do to adjust to try to fight
back, and look, they're not out of this series. They're down one
game right now. It just feels like more because of how bad they lost
and it wasn't even as close as the final score. But what adjustments do
you think Mike Malone makes. I think they're gonna have to double Kawai immediately,
and they're gonna have to. It's they're basically gonna have to pick their
poison. They're gonna have to see if Marcus Morris shot. Paul George keeps
making shots, but they're gonna have to double Kawhi because you coverage Kawai and
that dude's gonna get twelve out of sixteen almost every time. If there's anything
we learned in that MAVs series, He's gonna get his unless you don't let
him get his. And it's an unfortunate situation for Denver, but they're just
gonna have to pick their poison the same way Blitz Damian Lillard and their series,
and they had to let a mean you beat them. They're gonna Denver
has to do the same thing where but Morris is a much better shooter than
a mean news though we'll see how that goes. It could backfire, but
they got to do something like that. It was weird because as soon as
you said they gotta double Kauai, your phone got really robotic, like like
Kauai was trying to reach through the phone line like the terminator that he is,
and say it's still not gonna help them. He is far Bought,
Isn't sorry. Follow him on Twitter at Farbot unders gore E. He covers
the Clippers for SI. Now, Farbot, we'll talk to you later in
the series, depending on how long ago. Thanks for doing this. Tonight
just saved me for the critical one. I will if it's that pivotal game
five and it's tied at two too, you know I'm coming to you.
He is far bought esm Sorry if you would like to get on Clippers stock
tonight eight seven seven five two zero eleven fifty eight seven seven five two zero
eleven fifty and I believe we still have Let's go to a quick call before
we get out of here. Tagus in Walnut. He's a regular here on
Clippers stalk tags. What's up? If you're on with Adam Oslin, how
are you hey, Adam gray Win. It's always good when the Clippers don't
let them come back. You guys touched on a lot of things already.
I think for me, the biggest key was after that first quarter it was
a tie game and Kwaie was out. I think Beverly wasn't in there.
And then I think pg's defense in that early in that first five six minutes
with doubt Kwai, they got that lead from like from a tie to a
seven or eight point lead. And you know, with all his struggles,
he says he can impact the game in different ways, and you saw it
on the defensive end today from guarding Murray making feels, taking charges. I
think that was really the turning point in that second quarter, and when Kwai
came back in, they just pushed that lead even further. Thanks Adam,
appreciate you. Yeah, the Clippers won that second quarter by eighteen points.
They won it thirty eight to twenty. And this is actually interesting because of
how good they are defensively. The Clippers only scored twenty two points in the
third, but they only gave up sixteen. So you see the contrasting styles
there, where they can beat you anyway you want, where they can put
up thirty eight points in a quarter and beat you, and they can score
just twenty two and still win that quarter by six points. That's how versatile
this team is, and that's how they were built. They were intelligently designed
by Lawrence Frank and this Clippers front office to be multiple, to be have
that switchability. And with Patrick Beverley back and hopefully if he can stay healthy,
the Clippers do have a chance to at least take out Denver in five
games. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but they're good enough
to beat anyone. I've been telling ya all season long. I believe they're
that underground super team. They have the underground goat and they have the best
bench in NBA history. They have different ways to do it than the Golden
State Warriors of the past or some of the other all time great teams.
All right, coming up next, we'll get back to your phone calls.
Eight seven seven five two zero eleven fifty eight seven seven to five two zero
eleven fifty. Clippers win by twenty three in Game one over the Denver Nuggets.
Game two is on Saturday. We'll get more into that. You'll hear
from Doc Rivers next post game. You can also get to me at follow
Adam Ay and we are live on pair Roscope on AM five seventy LA Sports
and their account and of course my Twitter account at follow Adam a. We're
gonna start doing this for Clipper stock. It's gonna become very familiar to you
Clippers with that familiar win when they have their entire roster. They are twelve
in one this season. More Clipper stock coming up next. Right here on
the Patriot AM eleven fifty. Leonard on the left wing. Leonard with four
points so far in this first quarter, working against Bill Seth, crossing over
to his left down the left alley against the ram Bull extension, lays it
in with the left hand Kawhi Leonard so crafty to make it twenty four twenty
Williams down the right alley finds Leonard shore corner faceline drive letter to the rim.
Oh he can Burt's contact inside, no foul call, but Kawhi Leonard
with a special k finish Noah Eagle on the calls. The Clippers win one
twenty to ninety seven over the Denver Nuggets in Game one, and we had
a little bit of echo there we are on AM five seventies periscope account on
their Twitter account. That's a little bit confusing at a five seventy l A
sports. Just go to at follow Adam A. Follow Adam A on Twitter.
Of course you're listening to the Patriot A M eleven fifty as well.
Clippers go up one game to none in this best of seven second round series
on the Denver Nuggets, and they won by twenty three and it really was
not that close. Danny in La Denny, you're how are you pretty good
at yourself? Oh? It's always a good night when the Clippers win in
a playoff game, especially, Oh, yes, Yeah, it's just a
day like everybody's been saying. You know, they're still adding, not that
they're still not at their full potential, but they're coming along fine. Uh,
we have a very good big shot at getting that Larry O'Brien, that
Larry oh b thank you, Denny. Yes, we heard it last season
and from Kawhi Leonard when he won it. He's the Rating Finals MVP.
Some people sometimes forget that. Look at what's happened to the Toronto Raptors even
though they won tonight's game and Og Nanobi hit the three pointer with point five
seconds left and I saw Derek Fisher was trending, of course, but it
was a Raptors help me og and Anobi your only hope type of moment.
But they're still down two games to one, and they're missing their guy.
They're missing Kawhi Leonard right now. Siakam hasn't played very well so far in
this series, in the playoffs overall, Kawhi Leonard is the ultimate threat when
it comes to playoff basketball. He gets better and better, not just when
the playoffs come, but as each round progresses. You saw it last season
in that second round against the Philadelphia seventy six ers who were stacked at the
time. They had Jimmy Butler, plus they has made the move for Yes
Harris from the Clippers, and of course they had a healthy MBAD and Ben
Simmons and Kawhi beat him on a game winner, series winner in Game seven,
and I think he put up a forty spot in that game. But
he can carry a team by himself. The good news is and I think
this is the reason. One of the reasons he wanted to come back home
to play with the Clippers is because he knew the death on this team and
how good they were. And of course they also bring in Paul George to
sweeten the deal, who had nineteen points. I want to hear though,
another reason he came to La to play with your Clippers the head coach Doc
Rivers. Here he was post game after the Clippers win Game one in this
best of seven second round series over the Denver Nuggets by a score of one
twenty to ninety seven. Hey, Doc, wanted to ask you about the
pick and roll defense tonight against Yo Kitchen Murray. You guys held them to
combine twenty seven point points and just the job you guys did against them.
Yeah, yeah, I thought we glittered it up a little bit. First
quarter defense was not good, but then from that point on, I thought
we really locked in, you know, got into the ball, you know,
blew up a couple of their handoffs. But they're just so difficult,
honestly, So you know we'll take the effort tonight for sure. Ohm,
your next go ahead, And Doc, this is being your first postseason to
quiet, what do you see in him? I mean, he's like I
think today he joined Michael Jordan as as having since the merger the only guys
that score at least twenty nine points in their first seven playoff games of a
postseason. Just efficient. You know, he puts the work in though you
know there's there are a few guys that all work them. So he puts
an in and so when the game starts he can withdraw, you know,
and so he does been a lot of work in, but he's very efficient.
I've been very impressed with how he can get it through. You're all
fens, you know, he's been great for us. Dan Wilkie, your
next go ahead, Hey, do come up to be nice to answer questions
about Kawai and Michael Jordan and not spend fifty thousand dollars. Yeah, they're
very well said Pat Beverley played twelve minutes. But but what is it just
about sort of his or presence that seems to do something different to your team.
It gives us energy where not a particularly loud team on the floor.
Defensively, Pat is in a lot of ways with that starting lineup, he's
the defensive captain with his voice. Now he calls out coverages, he holds
everybody responsible, and to have that voice to start games, it's just invaluable.
And then what it does, it just leaks over to the rest of
the team. So when you see him playing like that and talking like that
on defense, it helps the entire team. Doc people when they talk about
Pat almost exclusively talk about his defense. But this is a guy who shoots
thirty eight from three. Yeah, every year, stepped into two right away
for you guys tonight. Those were those tone setting shots a little bit.
Those were great, very much so because he hadn't played. But I do
I think people forget about his offense. You know, he's a terrific especially
corner shooter, and he knows that and he gets to those spots. So,
uh, you know. Good for him. Go ahead, Sanjo,
Hey doc speaking to Marcus, what are your thoughts on his performance tonight?
It was terrific and and that I think we'll get lost in his offense,
but man, I tell you defensively in his passing and his facing and being
in the right place. I mean, he was. He was a prose
pro tonight. Just very efficient. Uh. He played such an intelligent basketball
game. It was. It was great to see Andrew. Go ahead,
Hey, doctor, have you guys wrapped up that first round? You'd mentioned
that you felt like just kind of collectively, the intensity was a little slow
to wake up in that first round. Was that something you revisited in the
last two or three days with your guys about getting off to a faster start,
well, just getting off to a playoffs start, you know, and
you're like, you're in the playoffs, and you know, I didn't think
we joined it until I Game four. But now we're here and we're playing
well, we're playing hard. That's what I saw tonight. You know we're
gonna make mistakes, but when you play hard, you can cover up for
him. And I thought we did that tonight. Shane Young, go ahead,
you're next, Hey, Doc, just wondering what you think of Montress
stretch in that second half there, And do you think this is a matchup
Taylor made for him to really get going. Yeah. I don't know if
any matchup is tailor many for anyone. But you know, listen, Tres
was gone for thirty days, right, and so he's still just starting to
round in and you can finally see it coming, and so they get him
in now. The playoffs will be huge for us moving forward. Last one
we're gonna go to Mark Mdina Go ahead. Mark. You mentioned about the
playing part helps smart when you look at that as I think it's just a
different intensity to the playoffs because you're gonna play the same team. They're they're
overly prepared for you, and so the little things stand out. One mistake
will cause your basket. Uh, one mistake will cause a turnover. You're
running right, you'll you'll get a basket or shot, and if you don't
execute, uh, it's gonna hurt you. And part of that is intensity
and focus and you know you have to have that on every single play,
and I don't think we understood that early on. I think we do that.
The Clippers plays with that sense of urgency. Yes, thank you,
Doc Rivers. Another big Clippers win in the playoffs and Game one of the
second round series they win by twenty three. Kawai has twenty nine. And
here's something nice little nugget for you, excuse me, dating back to last
postseason, Kawhi Leonard has fifteen straight playoff games with at least twenty points,
which is the longest active streak in the NBA. And to me, he's
moving even better than he did last season with the Toronto Raptors. We're seeing
Kawhi Leonard get better the two time finals MVP. It's getting scary for the
rest of the league. Coming up next, we'll get back to your phone
calls eight seven seven five two zero eleven fifty eight seven seven five two zero
eleven fifty They listen to clipperstock. I'm at a Moslin and this is the
Patriot AM eleven fifty by Nitza. Back on the cornt W Hilary ob and
suck the home of the La Clippers. This is LA Clippers basketball. The
Clippers hold one of the best offenses in the league to just forty two percent
shooting from the field. The Denver Nuggets just nine of thirty six from three.
That's clamp City defense. It's no coincidence that Patrick Beverley was back for
this game. Had missed eleven of their last ten games inside the bubble,
had just played in game one of last or the first round series against the
Dallas Mavericks and didn't quite look like himself offensively, only played twelve minutes.
But I think some of that was because the Clippers were up by as many
as twenty nine after they got twenty nine from Kawhi Leonard. Game two is
on Saturday. But first let's go to Jeff and Tarzana. Jeff, what's
up? Adam? Never a doubt? Well, yeah, after that first
quarter, it was tied in the first quarter. After that it was over.
You know when you stop and think they gave up thirty one points in
the first quarter and they only gave up thirty six for the next two quarters.
That's a hell of a defense. But you know, I'll give Denver
credit for being a little tired. This is probably a six game series with
Kawai at the top, but with alt Patrick Beverley, do you notice the
difference how the team runs smoother. He's like the head of the snake there.
I mean, I know Kawhai is the best player they have, but
it's kind of the head of the snake. They go as as Patrick Beverley
does, and I think probably you'll see him averaging at least twenty minutes a
game for the rest of the series, don't you, Patrick Beverly, Yeah,
let's hope. So as long as you stays healthy. That left calf
has been an issue. But I appreciate the phone call Jeff callback on Saturday,
hopefully after another Clippers win. Never a doubt, never a doubt that
Jeff and Tarzana's calling in after a Clippers win. Before we get out of
here. I do want you to hear from your leader. Patrick Beverley's one
of them. Of course, he plays with that spirit for the Clippers,
and everybody feeds off his energy and they look like themselves. Their identity returns
whenever he's on the floor. But Kawhi Leonard has been leading them. They
didn't have much from Patrick Beverly obviously outside of Game one last series, he
didn't play, and Kawhi Leonard was that calming presence. And Doc Rivers said
it after Game six when Kawhi came back in and it was only a six
point lead for the Clippers with nine minutes left in Game six, it was
closing time. It was semi sonic. It was Kawhi leonard Us being in
that position so many times in his career and with what the knowledge he's gained
with the Spurs, what he did last season with the Toronto Raptors, he
applies that and it's just second nature for him to take over and to play
calm, steady basketball down the stretch of big games. Here he was after
he had twenty nine points and the Clippers winning Game one. Hey, quiet,
A big focus for you guys defensively obviously, was stopping the yokichmry pick
and roll. You guys limited to them to just twenty seven points tonight.
What do you think he did well defensively against those two. I'm just trying
to contest those shots. I'm staying in front of him. I thought we
did a great job with that. And you know the other defenders as well,
that wasn't in the action. They were in the helpside defense, shout
hands and just you know, that's it. You know, but you know
that team went through a seven game series and I'm sure they'll come back more
prepared for her again too, Thanks Jovan. Next question, we'll come from
home. Go ahead on. Hey, Kauhi, You've been incredibly studied so
far in the playoffs. You and Michael Jordan are like the only players since
the merger to score twenty nine points at least twenty nine points in the first
seven games of the playoffs. Can you talk about your steadiness, like how
important it is to you to be consistent? And Doc said that like this,
it felt like the team's intensity. It's almost like the team didn't arrive
until Game four against Dallas. What did you see tonight as far as like
you guys been locked in. Oh, just I'm just trying to win the
basketball game anyway I can. You know, I've been very fortunate to make
shots, you know up to this point that you know, mindset is just
going in playing defense the whole unit, starting with our leaders or with our
first shooting. We gotta go out there and play defense and then you know,
we could get what we want on the other end. But that's that's
our you know, main focus going up there. And I think you know,
Dallas is a greats quarantine and we felt like if we get stopped so
we can win this series. So we got to keep carrying that over.
Thanks some Next questions from Tamara, go ahead, Hey, Kai, congrats
to the wind. I'm just curious throughout your career, the game is sort
of evolved into the three point line a lot more. But you've really made
an emphasis to hit the mid range shot at a high clip. Just why
do you focus so hard on that, on that shot and how are you
so consistent at it? Just working out, just working on my game,
being confident in my shot, and you know that's pretty much it, and
you know, just trying to get to my spots. But now I'm pretty
much focused on all the areas in my game. But I'm able to get
to my spots right now and I'll make shots thanks to me. Next questions
from Sanjo, Go ahead, Hey Kawhi, what did you think of Marcus
Morris's performance tonight? He need to need a good job playing defense, rebounding
the ball, doing a great job on the switches. You know you've made,
You made shots tonight, some big ones early you know, boosted our
confidence and gave us the lead. So he's very consistent. My next question,
Kahi, comes from Mark Medina there in Orlando with you like walk during
your vast Shipman experience to extract with your teens. You know, I'm not
a guy that you know, talks about you know, what I've done,
you know on different teams. It's just about now, but just giving them,
you know, some thoughts like when Duke, when things do come up,
you know, it's about this year and how we could be better as
you know, this year's team. So you know, I guess just take
him from what I've seen in the past and just trying to make us be
you know, as consistent we could be, and you know, just trying
to keep our focusing, just having us be relaxed. Dude, Kawhi Leonard
lives in the moment better than any other superstar in the game. Right now,
he's the best closer in the game and that works out well because he's
also the best player in the game. And I say it a lot,
but sometimes you gotta pinch yourself. Clipper Nation, he's wearing the red,
white and blue out there. Now. It happened they became that destination franchise.
Now they're trying to become a championship franchise. Step in the right direction
in this game. Game two is on Saturday. Tip time is that six
pm? With the Great Noah Eagle. We'll have Clippers count Down, your
Clippers pregame show starting at five pm on the Patriot Am eleven fifty. Before
we get out of here, I do want to thank the Clippers organis Zation,
Noah Eagle, Brian Seaman, the Great Ralph Lawler. Back here in
Burbank, we had the fantastic Sam Zia and Zach Attack working in the background
giving you that good postgame audio. And thanks to you the listeners. This
should be up in podcast form or in periscope form on my Twitter account at
follow Adam ay in about twenty minutes if you missed any of the nice Clippers
Talk postgame show until Saturday is starting at five with your Clippers pregame show,
Clippers Countdown. I'm Adam Moslin. We we'll talk to you then