Clippers Find Themselves In A World Of Trouble Down 2-0 To Mavs

The Los Angeles Clippers are in a world of trouble. Not only did the Clippers lose homecourt advantage to the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night, 127-120, but they don’t have one clue about what to do with Mavs star Luka Doncic.

It may be time for the Clippers and their dozens of fans to face a hard truth. Doncic is a horrible matchup for this team, that is supposed to be full of defensive stoppers. It doesn’t matter who the Clippers put in front of Doncic he proceeds to pull out the George Foreman grill and make barbeque chicken of all of them.

CAN DEFENSE STILL WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS?

Kawhi Leonard wants no parts of Luka [Doncic]. Leonard seemingly no longer possesses the ability to defend the opponent’s best player while also being the number one scoring option for his team. Although Paul George is looking better offensively than he did the last time we saw him in the playoffs, he is still getting torched on defense just about every time down the court. And that goes double anytime George is assigned to Doncic. Patrick Beverley, another guy who has made a name for himself on defense over the years, quite frankly is just too small to have any real effect on a player the caliber of Doncic.

At this point, it has become ridiculous how easily Doncic gets to whatever spot he wants on the court against this Clippers team. We are talking about three players [Leonard, George & Beverley] with a combined 13 NBA All-defensive team appearances. If you cannot stop a guy with that many “great” defenders in your starting lineup, then it’s time to go back to the drawing board. Something needs to change for the Clippers in a hurry.

Tuesday night’s loss has the Clippers in a serious hole down 2-0 in this first-round series. Not only are they down, but the series now heads back to Dallas for games three and four. If the recent playoff history of this Clippers team has shown us anything, it’s that this group does not do well under pressure. Even if their stars (Leonard & George) play well when they are favored, these Clippers tend to crumble.

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CRUNCH TIME MELTDOWN

A 3-1 series lead and subsequent implosion against the Denver Nuggets in the second round of last season’s playoffs tells you everything you need to know. Had Kristaps Porzingis not gone down with an injury during their first-round series with the Mavs last post-season, the Clippers likely would have been eliminated even earlier than they were.

Rajon Rondo was supposed to be the answer to get this team under control and on the right track. Even with him on the floor, this group is still finding a way to buckle in crunch time. Then a change at head coach, which meant firing Doc Rivers for his former assistant Tyronn Lue. That move has not seemed to be the answer either. With these changes, all we’ve seen through two games this post-season is more of the same. Mind-boggling late-game collapses that even the most ardent NBA followers fail to wrap their heads around.

The Clippers are in, deep you know what. Should the Clippers lose this series, expect wholesale changes to this roster during the offseason. Leonard, who is a free agent after this season, will likely re-sign with the team. George signed a four-year $190 million extension before the beginning of this season, so he should be safe if he continues to play well in these playoffs. But even then, you never know. The right offer may come along for him, and just like that, George could be moved. Every other player on this roster should be playing as if their careers depend on it. Because in all honesty, they do.