WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.919 --> 00:00:05.400 You're taking your calls on the LA Clippers right now. 2 00:00:05.559 --> 00:00:07.960 This peace Clippers talk on Aaron. 3 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:09.800 On Demand, the Clippers Show of Record. 4 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:11.919 Your chance to react to playoff. 5 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:13.720 Basketball Clippers news happens. 6 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:16.760 Let me guess it's about Kawhi. Here we are and 7 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:20.280 now here. He is the host of your LA Clippers free. 8 00:00:20.079 --> 00:00:23.239 And postgame at follow Adam a Adam Osley. 9 00:00:24.199 --> 00:00:27.519 You know I branded Kobatoombs Saint Nick after a big 10 00:00:27.640 --> 00:00:30.800 victory back in twenty twenty against the Denver Nuggets, and 11 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:35.479 he just helped them again. Saint Nick saves the day, 12 00:00:36.039 --> 00:00:39.560 starts the second half, and the Clippers win one eleven 13 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:42.240 a one oh five in Game six and a must 14 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:44.759 win game here and into a dome to force a 15 00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:48.399 Game seven back in Denver on Saturday, tip off at 16 00:00:48.479 --> 00:00:51.119 four thirty pregame show at three point thirty. Welcome into 17 00:00:51.119 --> 00:00:53.560 Clippers stock. I'm out of Maslin. We got you here 18 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:56.200 for the next hour eight six six nine eight seven 19 00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:58.880 two five seventy eight six six nine, eight seven two 20 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:07.200 five seventy. Niko Batoum is the difference maker. I said 21 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:12.079 early in the regular season for everybody crying about, oh, 22 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:15.079 they never got their power forward the Clippers never brought 23 00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:19.480 that guy in. He's hiding in plain sight. If you 24 00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:21.920 need a power forward in a certain matchup, and I 25 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:26.200 specifically said against Denver, in case of emergency, break glass 26 00:01:26.200 --> 00:01:29.159 and go to Niko Batoum. That's it. That's the move 27 00:01:29.799 --> 00:01:34.560 they did it. Finally, this wasn't about him going for 28 00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:39.519 twenty points or anything like that. It's about the connectivity 29 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:43.799 on the offensive side. That beautiful extra feed with a 30 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:46.400 bounce pass to DJ and the near side corner for 31 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:48.439 a big three point in the second half. And then 32 00:01:48.480 --> 00:01:53.159 on defense he can switch on to Nikola Jokic and 33 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:55.719 Jamal Murray. You got a guy that can guard both 34 00:01:55.760 --> 00:02:00.680 of them adequately in Niko Batoum's That's what he does. 35 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:07.400 That's why we've been crying about it. Maybe took one 36 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:09.520 game longer than I thought it was going to, but 37 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:12.479 coach lou eventually got to that point where he said, 38 00:02:12.479 --> 00:02:14.560 we gotta play him when we gotta play him heavy minutes. 39 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:17.479 He ends up with thirty four minutes in this ball game. 40 00:02:18.159 --> 00:02:23.039 The Clippers come through. They out execute Denver when they 41 00:02:23.080 --> 00:02:25.280 had to, They got stops when they had to. A 42 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:28.560 Vita Zubots. This was one of the best defensive games, 43 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:33.080 maybe the best of his career, giving the stakes incredible. 44 00:02:33.159 --> 00:02:38.280 Jokis were just five points in the second half, Jamal 45 00:02:38.360 --> 00:02:41.520 Murray just nine points in the second half. He had 46 00:02:41.599 --> 00:02:46.159 just nine points after the first quarter. This Clippers team 47 00:02:46.319 --> 00:02:48.800 got back to basics, got back to doing what they 48 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:51.439 do best. After a game where they gave up one 49 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:53.319 hundred and thirty, they give up just one oh five. 50 00:02:55.280 --> 00:02:59.159 The defense showed up. The sense of urgency was there. 51 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:04.479 James Harden answered the bell after all the talk after 52 00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:06.879 games four and five. He showed up and had twenty 53 00:03:06.919 --> 00:03:08.960 one of his twenty eight points in the first half, 54 00:03:09.520 --> 00:03:12.439 and the Clippers were only up by one. Denver wasn't missing. 55 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:20.719 Harden was matching them offensively. Harden was getting downhill relentlessly. 56 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:25.759 The Clippers started one of ten from three. At one point, 57 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:27.599 I want to say they were two of fourteen or 58 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:34.840 two of fifteen. But they didn't settle. They got into 59 00:03:34.879 --> 00:03:37.680 the paint. They only had fifty points in the paint. 60 00:03:37.719 --> 00:03:39.759 Denver had fifty six, but the Clippers did get up 61 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:43.560 thirty nine three pointers. But they were so good at 62 00:03:43.599 --> 00:03:47.319 finishing when they got inside the three point arc. In 63 00:03:47.360 --> 00:03:50.039 the first half, it held up their offense. As much 64 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:55.560 as they were missing, they were finishing beautifully. I mean 65 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:59.520 Norman Powell that two handed dunk in transition the second 66 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:02.240 half got into a dome Outher seats. He was fabulous 67 00:04:05.039 --> 00:04:07.039 and we'll talk more about him after a ten second 68 00:04:07.039 --> 00:04:10.759 station identification. You're on a five to seventy LA Sports. 69 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:17.439 AM five, seventy KLAC Los Angeles, ninety eight seven KYSR 70 00:04:17.639 --> 00:04:20.639 HD two Los Angeles and iHeartRadio station. 71 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:28.120 Norman Powell twenty four points on just fifteen shots after 72 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:32.800 I believe he had twelve points in Game five. They 73 00:04:32.839 --> 00:04:37.560 didn't bench him for Nico. They ended up benching Chris Dunn. 74 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:43.399 Not because he was so miserable out there. He was 75 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:45.879 one of four zero three from the outside. I think 76 00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:48.959 it was more about the size difference and Aaron Gordon 77 00:04:49.040 --> 00:04:54.160 going at him early on, and that has been really 78 00:04:54.199 --> 00:04:56.519 the X factor in this series. I think Aaron Gordon's 79 00:04:56.519 --> 00:04:59.439 play for the Denver Nuggets. He's still finished with nineteen, 80 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:01.639 but the the way he has punished the Clippers on 81 00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:04.800 the boards and of course with a pretty key in 82 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:08.959 historic offensive rebound leading to a putback dunk to win 83 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:11.959 here and into a Dooeman game four. What he has 84 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:14.279 been able to do with his hustle plays while scoring 85 00:05:14.360 --> 00:05:18.639 the basketball, He's been incredible. You've needed to counter that 86 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:22.959 for some time. They finally did it to an acceptable 87 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:28.920 degree tonight by unleashing Niko Batoum, the power forward was 88 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:31.720 on this team. Internally, I told you all season long, 89 00:05:31.920 --> 00:05:34.519 I felt like they were hiding Nico, putting him in 90 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:36.920 bubble wrap, not playing him heavy minutes for a moment 91 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:41.480 like this. Better late than ever. I hope it wasn't 92 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:47.040 too late. I believe he'll be starting Game seven, and 93 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:48.879 they got one for all the marbles you win that 94 00:05:49.160 --> 00:05:53.639 you're taking on. Okay, see on Monday. Kawhi Leonard, I 95 00:05:53.680 --> 00:05:57.319 don't want to say a quiet twenty seven. He was 96 00:05:57.319 --> 00:06:00.240 eleven or twenty two from the field. He struggled from 97 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:04.160 three two of eight, but he had ten boards. He 98 00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:07.480 led them in that area again, boardman gets paid five assists. 99 00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:13.959 He had moments where he really gave them a lift. 100 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:19.000 All around, very good game from Kawhi Leonard. Not Game two, 101 00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:22.800 but an all around very good game from Kawhi. A 102 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:30.439 must win situation, so you get Norm, Kawhi and James 103 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:33.839 Harden all going for twenty four or more. Zubats only 104 00:06:33.920 --> 00:06:36.680 had ten points, but his defense was out of this world. 105 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:39.439 He had two blocks on one possession down the stretch 106 00:06:39.480 --> 00:06:44.839 against Niko Jokic. I can't say enough about the job 107 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:50.399 he's done in this series. And Denver wanted this game. 108 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:56.720 I know it's not groundbreaking. They desperately wanted this game 109 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:59.399 because after they won Game five to go up three 110 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:02.399 games to two, what was all the questions coming their way? 111 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:05.279 It was about from that Denver media, what happened last 112 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:08.240 year losing that game six on the road by forty 113 00:07:08.279 --> 00:07:10.800 five to the Minnesota Timberwolves and then eventually losing that 114 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:15.160 game seven back at home. They played with a level 115 00:07:15.160 --> 00:07:18.800 of desperation late in this ballgame. The Clippers did leave 116 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:21.000 too many wide open threes for my liking. In the 117 00:07:21.040 --> 00:07:29.199 fourth quarter, Christian Brown, he hit a couple. Denver made 118 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:33.920 a push, but the Clippers did respond when they had to. 119 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:38.920 It was a five point game. Late, Christian Brown hit 120 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:42.600 a couple of free throws. Clippers turned it over all 121 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:47.439 of the time out. Jokics picked it up, but he 122 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:53.720 then missed a layup. Ball goes flying around. Eventually it's 123 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:58.040 picked up by Kawhi Leonard, who smartly. Well, he might 124 00:07:58.040 --> 00:08:01.800 have been able to go at Jamal Murray. Transition slowed 125 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:07.079 it down, paid them intentionally foul, and the Clippers ran 126 00:08:07.160 --> 00:08:13.600 through the tape. It was uncomfortable at times. Maybe the 127 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:17.240 biggest shot of the ballgame was the Norman pal three 128 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:20.040 pointer off some great ball movement to make it one 129 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:25.240 ten to one on one late Norm was talking to 130 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:27.360 the crowd. I don't know if he said, this is 131 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:32.879 our house. He was hyped. It was good to see 132 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:38.159 he had a great game. And so you go Niko 133 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:42.240 Patum for Chris Dunn to start the second half and 134 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:46.279 Don didn't play afterwards, last twenty four minutes of the 135 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:49.480 ball game, I believe. So you're not putting him in 136 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:53.120 for Norm to lose anything offensively, and really you're not 137 00:08:53.159 --> 00:08:57.120 losing anything defensively. And while he's not a great rebounder, 138 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:03.000 he is taller, he's a bigger body. He makes similar 139 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:08.799 winning plays. I love seeing the move. It had to 140 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:12.440 be done. It was time. Maybe it was overdue to 141 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:15.919 some of you guys, but it happened and it worked. 142 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:19.600 And now you wonder if coach lou was playing the 143 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:25.759 long game. We shall see because Jamal Murray and Jokic 144 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:30.840 were gassed. In the second half, they combined for just fourteen. 145 00:09:32.679 --> 00:09:35.519 The Clippers got out and ran, and I think it 146 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:38.639 was intentional, not just because of the turnovers that were 147 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:41.840 going on, but they wanted Jokic to run. They pushed 148 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:45.759 it with pace. This looked like Clippers basketball. This looked 149 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:47.720 like we had what we had seen all season long, 150 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:52.120 with how good they were creating turnovers and being opportunistic 151 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:59.039 with fast breakpoints. They ended up with just eleven of them. 152 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:02.519 They were also fouled at times, and those didn't count. 153 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:07.559 Towards fast break points. They were going up. They forced 154 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:13.080 the issue when they couldn't hit threes, they got downhill 155 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:17.399 and got whatever they wanted. James Harden led that drive 156 00:10:17.519 --> 00:10:22.720 downhill attack. Loved seeing it. The Clippers knew they had 157 00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:24.399 to have it, and they played with the level of 158 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:28.039 desperation we were missing the last couple of games. Urgency was there. 159 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:34.480 I'm sure being back into a dome obviously helped in 160 00:10:34.519 --> 00:10:39.039 this one first must win game. Ever, here Clippers want 161 00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:43.519 to know in those situations, now a little bit of history. 162 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:45.360 I knew Denver was going to make a run late. 163 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:51.600 The Clippers held on. They executed well a lot of positives, 164 00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:55.000 a lot of things to take away from this ballgame 165 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:57.000 and be hopeful about a Game seven on the road. 166 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:02.840 The pressure shifts to Denver. Both teams will be dealing 167 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:06.159 with it. Game seven's are walkie. Expect a lot of misses. 168 00:11:07.639 --> 00:11:11.200 Expect a lot of fifty to fifty balls. Who wants 169 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:18.720 it more? Reps usually swallow with the whistle, but the 170 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:22.200 big adjustment game Niko Buttomb started the second half, expect 171 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:25.720 him to start Game seven. We'll take a quick time out, 172 00:11:25.759 --> 00:11:29.639 We'll come back. More. Clippers tuck after they win a 173 00:11:29.720 --> 00:11:32.399 must win Game six. Hear it into a dome one 174 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:36.039 eleven to one oh five over the Denver Nuggets. I'm 175 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:38.559 Mata Maslin and you're listening to a five seven to 176 00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:41.039 LA Sports. 177 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:46.960 Back to first round action between the LA Clippers and 178 00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:47.960 Denver Nuggets. 179 00:11:48.120 --> 00:11:51.600 This is the LA Clippers Audio Network. 180 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:56.000 Clippers win one eleven and one oh five and I 181 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:59.600 must win game six here at the Dome. The Dome 182 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:05.840 is home. Just got some thoughts off air from doctor 183 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:08.519 Schapp who was in the building tonight from the Lob 184 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:10.960 the Jam the podcast in two one, three hoops. If 185 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:14.519 you were listening on the YouTube side, at Clippers Talk, 186 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:21.279 you get some special bonuses like that bonus basketball Clippers 187 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:28.480 are able to win and push elimination back another live 188 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:35.639 to die or live to play another day. Hopefully now 189 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:38.559 with a little bit of momentum and a huge adjustment, 190 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:41.440 they can find a way to win in seven. In 191 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:44.559 Denver tip off Saturday at four thirty. We'll have your 192 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:52.440 pregame show back here at three point thirty. I am 193 00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:54.200 really proud of this group and the way they came 194 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:59.480 out tonight, and especially James Harden because guys, he was 195 00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:03.559 my player to watch and everybody was waiting to see 196 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:07.000 if he could bounce back and perform in a game 197 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:08.960 like this after what we saw the last two games. 198 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:11.679 This is why I say it's not like Denver played 199 00:13:11.720 --> 00:13:15.120 him much differently tonight than they did the last two games. 200 00:13:15.799 --> 00:13:18.559 It's just if you're a star, you gotta play through that. 201 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:22.000 You gotta find a way to win. Anyways, that's what 202 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:26.120 he did. He's good enough to get twenty eight no 203 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:30.039 matter what the defense is. He showed it tonight. But 204 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:36.120 he was instrumental in so many ways, his passing, his diming. 205 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:42.120 But there was a level of attack from him in 206 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:45.080 aggression to get to the hoop like we hadn't seen 207 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:47.120 the last two games, and maybe you know, at times 208 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:50.039 when he did do it, he wasn't getting calls o't. 209 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:52.240 I don't think you got a great whistle in this 210 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:55.360 game either. That's okay, play through it. He went five 211 00:13:55.399 --> 00:14:00.799 for five at the charity stripe, but this was something 212 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:04.639 where he drove down the lane. I think the second 213 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:12.120 possession for the Clippers didn't get a call, ball went 214 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:15.200 out on Denver. Kawhi was short on a three. After 215 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:17.960 the Clippers got it back. On that possession, you could 216 00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:25.480 just see the intent was there. Then eventually he got 217 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:30.480 a bucket in transition over Jokic early in the first quarter. 218 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:40.799 This Clippers team led early. Unfortunately, Denver would push things 219 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:46.720 and have a lead heading into the second. After one 220 00:14:47.080 --> 00:14:48.840 it was twenty eight to twenty five, and a lot 221 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:51.759 of that was just Clippers couldn't hit anything. One of 222 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:58.919 ten from three to start with great looks, wide open looks. 223 00:15:02.279 --> 00:15:06.679 Nico missed a no dip three late in the first quarter. 224 00:15:09.000 --> 00:15:11.919 The Clippers started eleven for thirteen inside of the three 225 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:13.960 point line the first quarter, but we're just one of 226 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:18.559 ten from three. Harden had six points on the first 227 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:21.600 quarter of four points. Kawhi had six, Norm had six, 228 00:15:22.000 --> 00:15:24.320 and they're only down three heading in to the first 229 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:29.120 while missing some really good looks to start the second. 230 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:34.720 Kawhi but toom Bogie DJ Harden. But I should probably 231 00:15:34.759 --> 00:15:38.840 say Nico came in for Done at the five to 232 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:43.759 twenty mark at the first quarter, and the rest is history. 233 00:15:43.840 --> 00:15:45.960 He was the first guy at the bench in Game five. 234 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:54.919 As predicted I said, he's getting closer to starting. He 235 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:57.759 eventually starts the second half. But back to the second quarter, 236 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:01.960 Clippers are going small, and I really liked the urgency 237 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:07.039 from coach Lou with Kawhi minutes early on. He took 238 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:10.519 him out late in the first and then brought him 239 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:14.559 back in at the one twenty five mark. Had a 240 00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:20.360 right elbow jumper after the Clippers were down by six, 241 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:25.879 make it down by seven. I think you could just 242 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:33.240 see the way Coach Lou was toddling rotations, very very crisp, 243 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:42.799 very sharp rotations, sense of urgency, valuing every possession. I 244 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:44.960 think that has an overall effect with the team too, 245 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:49.480 to remind you of, hey, this is it, win or 246 00:16:49.559 --> 00:16:56.639 go home. But that second quarter they start small. Kawhi 247 00:16:56.679 --> 00:17:01.639 but toom Bogie, DJ and Harden. Harden got to the 248 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:04.799 line early. Then there was an offensive foul on DJ. 249 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:06.680 Bogie had a great tip in, by the way, on 250 00:17:06.720 --> 00:17:10.319 a Kauhi miss from three. Now it's twenty eight to 251 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:18.599 twenty nine. Clippers take the lead back. Clippers got a 252 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:22.599 shot clock violation early in the second quarter. They had 253 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:24.799 a couple of them in this game. One after a 254 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:27.200 time out in the second half tells you how locked 255 00:17:27.200 --> 00:17:31.680 in they were defensively. Clippers now are still one of 256 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:34.839 twelve from three early in the second quarter, up by one. 257 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:45.680 It was brutal, but they stayed attacking. They didn't just 258 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:48.279 settle it was a three or get something at the 259 00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:51.119 rim and look for those who are like just don't 260 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:54.119 take them. You need them at some point. They don't 261 00:17:54.160 --> 00:18:01.039 win this game without them. You do need them. Nolman 262 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:03.039 Powell came in for DJ at the nine to seventeen 263 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:05.359 mark of the second I thought DJ was really good 264 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:09.319 with his minutes end of the first into the second quarter. 265 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:15.200 His defense on Jamal Murray after he had twelve in 266 00:18:15.240 --> 00:18:20.039 the first quarter. That was the guy who really was 267 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:23.400 carrying over that forty three point performance in Game five 268 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:27.720 and stayed hot, got too many easy ones, got too 269 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:31.200 easy looks to start the game. Didn't like seeing that 270 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:34.480 made me think, oh, he's gonna get comfortable. But at 271 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:37.200 the end of the first quarter, DJ blocked him on 272 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:42.680 a three pointer. I am telling you that was a great, 273 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:46.119 great tone setter for how he was going to be 274 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:51.039 playing him defensively. That threw Jamal Murray off right then 275 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:54.160 because he only had nine points to last three quarters. 276 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:57.599 It was first DJ and then Nico, but two months Jamaal. 277 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:04.079 But the great thing about is they want to run 278 00:19:04.119 --> 00:19:08.599 that switch or they want to get the switch Jamal 279 00:19:10.039 --> 00:19:14.400 or Jokic. Nico's comfortable guarding both of them. He's not perfect, 280 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:16.480 He's gonna lose some battles, but he can guard both 281 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:23.119 of them. Talk about guarding one through five. That's who 282 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:26.240 Nico is and doing it against their two best players. 283 00:19:26.240 --> 00:19:35.279 He can guard their two best players. Clippers eventually after 284 00:19:35.400 --> 00:19:39.240 the Denver Nuggets, and this was the difference in the 285 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:42.480 second quarter because Denver still stayed hot. But the problem 286 00:19:42.640 --> 00:19:47.160 was they had eight turnovers in that second quarter. They 287 00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:51.680 had five turnovers during a stretch of six possessions in 288 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:56.400 the second quarter, and the Clippers took care of the basketball. 289 00:19:56.680 --> 00:19:59.359 Harden had a great after their fifth turnover and sixth 290 00:19:59.359 --> 00:20:02.839 possessions over on Jokic to get to the rim. That's 291 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:06.880 what I'm talking about. That's the aggressive James Harden. That 292 00:20:07.079 --> 00:20:10.920 was a bad man right there. Maybe Jokic looked silly defensively, 293 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:19.720 of course, Denver, they weren't going anywhere. Even when the 294 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:23.359 Clippers being up forty three to thirty five, Jokic got 295 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:25.960 some easy buckets when they were just throwing single coverage 296 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:30.079 against him in the first half and specifically in that 297 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:36.759 second quarter. I was okay with that, though I think 298 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:38.960 it wore him out to some degree. I think it's 299 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:43.400 the same thing they used to do to Doncic. Honestly, 300 00:20:44.440 --> 00:20:48.480 because Jokish ended up with fifteen points in that second quarter. 301 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:51.759 There was a lot of single coverage, but he still 302 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:55.880 had to work for it. While he got some easy buckets, 303 00:20:55.920 --> 00:21:00.319 I still think overall they were taxing enough. He got 304 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:02.799 a bucket over Kawhi to make it forty three thirty nine, 305 00:21:02.839 --> 00:21:05.599 Clippers up by four, Harden hits a big three pointer 306 00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:09.759 forty six thirty nine time out. Zuke came back in 307 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:15.680 after the Clippers went small, and I think at one point. Yeah, 308 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:22.000 they ended up. So the Clippers are down heading in 309 00:21:22.039 --> 00:21:25.400 to the second quarter by three by the time of 310 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:30.039 Eats the Zu Bots comes back into the ballgame meeting. 311 00:21:30.799 --> 00:21:34.279 The Clippers went small for a significant amount of time 312 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:37.759 with Zuke coming back into the five fourteen mark. They 313 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:41.319 almost went seven minutes small with Jokis out there some 314 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:45.960 of the time, and the Clippers are now up by 315 00:21:46.119 --> 00:21:48.839 seven at forty six to thirty nine. By the time 316 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:52.039 Big Zoo re enters the game. They went plus ten 317 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:59.200 in those small ball minutes. Coach Louke cooked. It worked. 318 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:04.440 In fact, after that Russ hit a big three pointer, 319 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:07.960 Jokic got a floater, zu gets a hook shot on Jokic. 320 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:16.240 They're going back and forth. Now it's fifty three fifty 321 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:21.559 after a Jokic layup. Jokic then gets a put back 322 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:24.920 after a Murray miss thanks to Batoum. It was a 323 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:27.839 great contest, and you could tell Murray was a little 324 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:32.279 bit uncomfortable. You go from dj to now, but Toom 325 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:38.519 guarding you with that length. But it was a one 326 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:42.000 point game at the end of the first half. Clippers 327 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:45.440 were miserable from three Harden at twenty one points in 328 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:48.119 the first half Kawhi at thirteen, but they're only up 329 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:50.359 by one at fifty eight to fifty seven because Murray 330 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:56.039 has twelve and Jokic had twenty points in the first half. 331 00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:01.880 I'll get to the third quarter coming up, but I 332 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:04.160 do want to get to a phone call. Let's go 333 00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:07.680 to Sean in Inglewood. Sean, you on Clipper stop without 334 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.119 a Masam. 335 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:14.640 Nico, Nko, Niko. You know, it's funny that you talked 336 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:19.799 about that seven minute stretch when they went small. They 337 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:23.720 may have meant small, but Nico played big. He makes 338 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:27.160 me think of the that guy in the comic book 339 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:31.000 Fantastic four that the arms keeps stretching forever. 340 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:33.519 I mean, he fantastic. 341 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:38.079 I'm telling you that's a good man for him. But 342 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:41.640 he was just like there were times that Jamal Murray 343 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:45.240 just wouldn't even shoot the ball. They had. They posted 344 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:48.240 Jamal on the up on Nico, and he looked up 345 00:23:48.319 --> 00:23:50.839 and he did. He gave up the ball and if 346 00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:53.119 that was done, he would have shot it. And I'm 347 00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:57.119 just telling you, Nico was everywhere. Zoo played some of 348 00:23:57.200 --> 00:24:00.319 the best defense I've ever seen him play, too, So 349 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:03.359 I mean, hats off to a lot of guys, and 350 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:07.839 then it looks like Norman Powell found his second gear, 351 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:12.519 you know. So I think that Norman's gonna be really, really, 352 00:24:13.160 --> 00:24:17.480 you know, on fire for Saturday. So I'm just excited 353 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:21.519 about them, I do. I mean beginning to notice. I mean, 354 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:22.799 let's say Norman. 355 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:26.519 Norman's been up and down in this series, Sean. We've 356 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:28.200 seen him have good games. In the next game, he 357 00:24:28.200 --> 00:24:29.279 has a bad game, so it's. 358 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:35.119 Oh yeah, but he's been trending up, you know, so 359 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:39.559 I think maybe he finally whatever it was, he finally 360 00:24:39.559 --> 00:24:43.359 got around that. So I really think we have a 361 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:46.279 really good chance. But Jim Jackson said it best, and 362 00:24:46.599 --> 00:24:49.839 you said it too. They gotta keep pushing the ball, 363 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:53.440 keep pushing the tempo and you know, not getting to 364 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:54.559 a half court star. 365 00:24:56.039 --> 00:24:58.079 I agree with you. You gotta get some easy buckets. 366 00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:00.640 That's what they've done all season. They've been opportunitystic with 367 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:04.720 getting transition points. They need to continue that and also 368 00:25:05.440 --> 00:25:09.079 make Jokic tire out because he's played so many minutes. 369 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:11.720 Make him have to run some and I think that's 370 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:13.680 what part of the deal was. When they went small 371 00:25:13.759 --> 00:25:16.480 to start that second quarter, even when Jokic came back 372 00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:19.279 they stayed with it. They went plus ten with that 373 00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:24.039 small ball. It worked. Sean appreciate the phone call in 374 00:25:24.119 --> 00:25:28.559 the third quarter. We saw Niko Batouma out there, we 375 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:33.240 knew we was starting, Chris Dunn was out. It's okay. 376 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:37.759 Chris Dunn has absolutely been huge for them at times 377 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:41.160 in this series. This whole idea of like, well, Chris 378 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:44.359 Dunn was the problem. See, that's not true. As doctor 379 00:25:44.400 --> 00:25:46.519 Schapp said, he might have been the second best player 380 00:25:46.559 --> 00:25:48.440 for them in Game two. He was huge for them 381 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:52.880 in Game two when they got that win. Obviously the 382 00:25:52.960 --> 00:25:55.160 main guy was Kawhi in that game. But Chris Dunn, 383 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:58.799 he has been a part of this. He has had 384 00:25:58.839 --> 00:26:02.519 his fingerprints on this. It's just an adjustment now for 385 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:04.480 later in this series. And it makes a lot of sense. 386 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:10.000 Of course, immediately, the Denver Nuggets a getting easy layup 387 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:12.720 as there was nobody rotating on the back side with 388 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:17.119 Christian Brown out there getting downhill. But Jokis picked up 389 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:20.240 his third foul Norman Powell after that. Then, but Toom 390 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:22.480 hits a three pointer in the third sixty one to 391 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:27.200 fifty nine, Clippers Brown misses a three. Is Kawhi a 392 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:31.039 nice close out on the other end, Norm floater. Clippers 393 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:34.400 up by four. Norm was doing work in this fourth quarter. 394 00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:38.839 Aaron Gordon misses a three, Kawhi hits one of his 395 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:42.680 two to three pointers over Michael Porter Junior. Clippers up 396 00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:48.000 by seven. M PJ though responds with a three over 397 00:26:48.079 --> 00:26:54.640 Pal time out. It's sixty six to sixty two. Kawhi took. 398 00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:56.359 I thought it was a bad three pointer out of 399 00:26:56.400 --> 00:27:00.279 the timeout, but then Jokis gets blocked by Zoo. Kawhi 400 00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:04.000 would miss a layup in transition but was fouled on 401 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:06.839