I think the only two people that can defend Luka in the league are LeBron and Giannis. Both have the size and speed to keep up with him.
Three players that gave Luka most difficulties: Dillon Brooks, Mikal Bridges, and especially Ben Simmons. Giannis too, but he's a better team than invididual defender, kind of like Draymond. LeBron is a bit too old now for him. At his athletic peak, sure.
So when Kawhi and PG jump ship from the Clips, how many lottery picks over the next 7 years will OKC have between themselves, the Rockets, and the Clippers?
The clippers locker room is imploding. When you don't have a good leader in a coach or superstar the cancer takes over.
So when did Khwai stop playing defense? I what point does the guy who was talked about as the best player in the world just straight up play Luka mano mano?
In my eyes, Kawhi will go down as one of the best mercenaries ever--you pay/hire him to get the job done but don't expect things like leadership or building a culture or even trying to hold teammates accountable.
Good list. I think those guys can definitely get inside Luka's head but, physically, you're going to need a big body like Giannis, Lebron or a healthy Draymond. Either way, Luka is making my investment in his graded rookie cards look like one of the smartest things I've done this year.
Bev is the kind of guy who you love when he's on your team and hate when he's on the other team. The so-called junkyard dog syndrome.
That strategy seems to be to simply step up their play...and only Kawhi did that. Game 3 will be interesting. Will they fade under pressure? Collectively, I wouldn't be surprised.
So far, I think the Mavs love that Bev is on the Clips. Luka gets to abuse him over and over, and make fun of his height.
Damn you Luka. Gonna run Kawhi to the Warriors. Warriors big 3 healthy + Kawhi instead of KD. Sheesh. At their age, i'd see b2b champs.
Also he will likely take being in LA over rings. I doubt he goes anywhere this offseason. Front office will do whatever possible to keep him in LA.
Meanwhile, CP3 is about to completely disappear in playoffs, again, but that isn't a tired narrative like PG is.
Not a big Paul George fan, but those stats aren't that terrible. Better than a couple of playoff years for Kobe Bryant, even when taking his team to the Finals. (e.g. Kobe shot 41% FG and a putrid 25% 3FG in 22 games of the 2003-2004 playoffs). If he could play D on Doncic and if he's not turning the ball over, you could live with what he's doing as a 2nd fiddle.
Paul George wouldn’t get as much heat if he didn’t give himself the nickname Playoff P in his last several elimination games: 15 points on 5-21 shooting against the Cavs, 5 points on 2-16 shooting against Utah, and 10 points on 4-16 shooting against the Nuggets he and the rest of the Clippers are a bunch of frontrunners led by Pat Bev…all that flexing and talking when they’re up, then they go and choke and expose themselves for being a mentally weak team time and time again
