The Los Angeles Clippers have tied up their second-round series against the Utah Jazz.
The Jazz started the series hot and looking like they would take down this Clippers team.
However, things have changed for Los Angeles as they are wearing Utah down.
This series is now a best-of-three.
The Jazz have the home-court advantage, but the Clippers have the experience.
Paul George has been in big games.
Rajon Rondo is a veteran presence in the locker room for this team.
Tyronn Lue has coached a world champion before.
Game 5 is going to be a tough game for both sides.
The Clippers are the ones with all the momentum currently.
They have put their foot on the gas and the Jazz are reeling.
How did this change of momentum occur?
Why are the Clippers in control?
Here are two ways that the Clippers have flipped the series.
2. Defensive Intensity
The Clippers have been built up as a defensive juggernaut since their inception of this new era of Clippers basketball.
However, their defense can be very hit-or-miss at times.
This series looked like another example of that.
With the last two games now, there has been a change.
The overall defensive intensity has looked scary in Games 3 and 4.
Look at how locked in the Clippers defense is right now. Clarkson comes off Gobert and the Clippers switch it. Jackson holds to help on the drive. Gobert is right at the dunker but notice PG splitting two on the weakside. pic.twitter.com/fLU0AhYRZB
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) June 15, 2021
They have been menacing on the defensive end.
For both games, the Jazz shot 43 percent from the field.
The switching and collective defense looked great.
This Jazz team has looked different on offense in the last two games.
Donovan Mitchell has still been great, but they are making the other players have to beat them.
Jordan Clarkson has been extremely inefficient.
Bojan Bogdanovic is playing very inconsistent.
Rudy Gobert is not a scorer by nature and Mike Conley is out with a hamstring injury.
The Clippers know that Mitchell will end up getting his points.
However, the pressure they have on him is stifling.
This defense is amazing.
If this is the new norm, then the Jazz are going to be in trouble.
1. Three-Point Shooting
The Clippers are a great three-point shooting team.
They finished with the highest three-point percentage for a team this season.
Furthermore, they have several guys on the roster shooting over 40 percent.
The Clippers have 8 players shooting 40%+ from three this season.
47.5 — Marcus Morris
46.1 — Luke Kennard
44.4 — DeMarcus Cousins
43.8 — Reggie Jackson
42.3 — Patrick Beverley
42.1 — Paul George
40.9 — Terance Mann
40.2 — Nic Batum pic.twitter.com/4NriX7Ljgk— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 8, 2021
The Jazz are also a great three-point shooting team.
They finished first in three-point makes and attempts.
The Clippers are now outshooting them.
Their three-point shooting in Game 3 was impressive.
Going 53 percent from the three in a playoff game is phenomenal.
This is their new advantage to wear down the Jazz.
Shooting threes is a very important component of basketball now.
George and company do it at such a high rate that it becomes overwhelming.
It is putting pressure on the Jazz to match their shooting.
The Clippers are just more efficient at it.
Can the Jazz outshoot this Clippers team that is on fire?
The Clippers might have found the ways to take down the number one seed in the Western Conference.
The Jazz might have home court, but the competition is firing on all cylinders.
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