The Celtics shut their highway journey with a stunning heavyweight take a look at in Los Angeles, the place the Clippers enter using a six-game successful streak and taking part in their greatest basketball of the season. With Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown in a scoring groove, Ivica Zubac returning to the lineup, and Derrick White set to see loads of James Harden, this matchup presents a helpful problem for Boston towards a crew that’s shortly discovering its rhythm.
Who Wins the Jaylen Brown vs. Kawhi Leonard Battle?
In the mean time, there might not be a extra intriguing wing matchup within the league than Jaylen Brown vs. Kawhi Leonard.
Each gamers have entered a stream state, carrying their groups with elite three-level scoring. Their overlap is apparent: energy on the ball, consolation creating from anyplace on the ground, and the power to dictate possessions when the sport slows down.
Kawhi enters the evening averaging an outrageous 39 factors per sport in the course of the Clippers’ six-game successful streak. Brown, in the meantime, is coming off a December during which he poured in 31.7 factors per evening, shouldering an infinite offensive load for Boston.
They’ll see one another at instances, however this isn’t a one-on-one difficulty for the Celtics. Boston has a number of our bodies it could actually throw at Kawhi—Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, and Josh Minott amongst them—with the purpose of shopping for Brown the liberty to choose his spots offensively with out being overworked.
If these younger wings can supply even momentary resistance, Boston’s hole assist and early stunts can present help behind them. That’s the place the Celtics have lived defensively all season, and it’s the clearest path to forcing Kawhi into harder choices. They will’t afford to let him choose his matchups and function in open house.
The concept is to hound Kawhi with Walsh and Gonzalez for 40 minutes, then pressure him to navigate fixed screening on the opposite finish. If this comes all the way down to closing time, having the brisker of the 2 scorers is a bonus. The Clippers will attempt to discover totally different choices like Derrick Jones Jr. and Kris Dunn, however Kawhi could also be pressured to take the Jaylen task.
Whereas this matchup defines the wings, the battle within the paint may additionally shift how the sport unfolds.
How Does Ivica Zubac’s Return Change the Clippers’ Method?
Surprisingly, the Clippers have been surging within the absence of Ivica Zubac, who was injured in the course of the first sport of their successful streak. Zubac was initially imagined to be re-evaluated after three weeks, however simply two weeks later he’s making his return towards the Celtics.
On the season, he’s averaging 15.6 factors and 11.1 rebounds per sport and offers the Clippers a dependable paint presence on both finish. With Zubac out, Brook Lopez and rookie Yanic Konan Niederhäuser stepped into bigger roles.
Lopez launched over seven 3-pointers per sport in that stretch and offers the Clippers the power to discover extra 5-out seems. This affords Kawhi and James Harden considerably more room to assault in isolation. Niederhäuser has given them an explosive athlete that performs above the rim and supplies an alternative choice to Zubac and Lopez’s deeper drop protection.
Inserting Zubac again into the beginning lineup is clearly a no brainer, but it surely does convey a shift to what has labored for the Clippers. With Harden, Kawhi and Zubac on the ground this season, the Clippers have a -0.6 Internet Score. With Lopez as an alternative, it jumps to +16.2.
On the sooner aspect of his restoration timeline, Boston can take a look at Zubac’s capacity to defend in house by placing him within the motion persistently. Neemias Queta has typically fared effectively on this matchup. Luka Garza has regained a spot within the lineup, and his work as a screener within the choose and roll might be helpful right here as effectively.
When Lopez checks in, it is perhaps price shifting again towards small-ball choices to remain switch-ready, limiting the success they’ve discovered together with his ground spacing.
The important thing for Boston is making Zubac a goal of their hunt, and turning the lineup turn into a bonus.
Can Derrick White Restrict James Harden’s Influence?
With the crew’s gradual begin and Kawhi lacking an prolonged stretch of time, James Harden took command of the offense. Within the final matchup between these groups, he stored the Clippers in it till the tip with 32 second half factors.
Derrick White has moved previous his early-season struggles and presents Boston a flexible counter. His capacity to navigate screens and play within the rearview take a few of Harden’s favourite choices off the desk.
Harden’s counters are effectively established. If White goes over the display screen, Harden will look to get downhill. If White goes underneath, he’ll cease for a pull-up. If Boston switches, he’ll probe till he finds a mismatch or forces a second defender to indicate. That places strain on Boston’s assist, and requires White—and another Celtic with the matchup—to remain disciplined. Particularly if Zubac is rolling with shooters spaced within the corners. White doesn’t have to shut Harden down, but when his scoring is proscribed, it provides much more strain to Kawhi to proceed his torrid scoring stretch.
That is the place Boston’s crew protection comes into play. White’s energy in steering ball-handlers towards assist can angle Harden into crowds, giving himself time to get better. Boston will dwell with contested floaters and late-clock pull-ups. The purpose is to maintain Harden from getting downhill unbothered with momentum. That is the place his passing turns into a risk.
Offensively, White’s impression may swing this matchup simply as a lot. Contemplating he’s taking pictures simply 6-27 (22%) from 3 during the last three video games, he needs to be due for a giant scoring evening. His willingness to relocate, display screen, and re-enter actions forces defenses to remain locked in. If Harden is tasked with chasing him, it drains power that might in any other case go into late-game shot creation. A pair early makes may pressure the Clippers to regulate their protection and loosen the eye paid to Jaylen Brown.
This matchup might wind up simply as essential because the Brown vs. Kawhi battle. Each groups will attempt to decelerate the highest scorers, leaving room for the following choices to step in.
