The Los Angeles Clippers are on the brink of another playoff collapse.
After last season’s playoffs, where the Clippers blew a 3-1 lead, this year was about proving themselves.
They were contenders once again this season, but a team we were still skeptical of.
Coming into the playoffs this season, the Clippers were favorites to beat the Dallas Mavericks in the first round.
This series is a rematch of last season where the Clippers took down the Mavericks in six games.
However, this year’s series has been different from the start.
Luka Doncic and the Mavericks are up 2-0 on the Clippers, despite both games being played in Los Angeles.
CLIPPERS 🆚 MAVERICKS
Luka Doncic (39 PTS) helped Dallas win Game 2 and take a 2-0 series lead… will the @dallasmavs go up 3-0 or will the @LAClippers get on the board? #NBAPlayoffs
Game 3 TONIGHT at 9:30 PM ET on ESPN pic.twitter.com/kqZdKEYzGU
— NBA (@NBA) May 28, 2021
Now the Clippers have lost home-court advantage and are on the verge of going down 0-3.
There are a couple of players on this team that need to step up and help this franchise avoid a collapse once again.
3. Marcus Morris
Marcus Morris needs to really get going for the Clippers.
He has a total of 13 points in the two games.
His shooting has been dismal thus far as well.
He is shooting 5-17 from the field and 2-11 from three.
They paid him $64 million for four years and expected him to be a great alternative scoring option.
He is an important piece for their scoring aspect, but also on the defensive end.
His strength and height helps them to be able to switch more often, but that has been a detriment so far in this series.
Luka has been toying with him on a few occasions within the first two games.
Luka just said “He can’t guard me… Nah.” after Marcus Morris tried defending him. pic.twitter.com/7pJZoxau9s
— Mavs Fans For Life (@MavsFansForLife) May 26, 2021
Morris needs to pick up his play before they are down 0-3.
2. Patrick Beverley
The Clippers’ pitbull defender is supposed to be Patrick Beverley.
This man has made his name off of being a pesky, elite defender.
However, we have not seen that same player.
Doncic has been torching Beverley through two games and it just seems so unfair.
Luka big bucket on Pat Bev late, has words for him all the way down the floor pic.twitter.com/lPAwTADLdb
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) May 26, 2021
He has been injury-prone for a few years now, but can still bring intense defense at times.
Now, he seems a shell of his former self.
The Clippers need him to guard Doncic for a quarter or two to be able to rest Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for the final stretch.
Unfortunately, Beverley might be a guy that shouldn’t play in this series very soon.
His defense must improve for the next game.
1. Paul George
This is not meant to be another bashing of George.
NBA Twitter loves to critique every George game and categorize him as a loser.
That is unfair to a player who was a former MVP candidate and has been great player throughout his career.
However, George has been off this series.
He scored 28 points in Game 1 and 23 in Game 2.
His efficiency has been bad despite the scoring.
After shooting 41 percent from three, he has been way off against the Mavericks.
He has gone 3-15 from three in the first two games.
In order to erase the scrutiny, George must bounce back and help the Clippers win Game 3.
He has the chance to begin the rally to come back and win the series.
NEXT: 3 Reasons Clippers Can Make A Deep Playoff Run
