Tyronn Lue and the LA Clippers have Donovan Mitchell and Utah Jazz on the ropes, leading their Western Conference semifinal series 3-2. With the Game 5 win over the Jazz despite being down Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers have positioned themselves to advance to the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.

With Game 6 on Friday night, both teams are planning their final adjustments for what could be the last game in the series. Ty Lue and his Clippers appear to have figured out Utah, especially with their small-ball lineups. Quin Snyder and the Jazz, despite starting the series with a 2-0 lead, have dropped three straight contests. Paul George has scored at least 31 points in each of those three straight games, all Clippers wins.

Speaking after Game 5, Donovan Mitchell said he believes his Jazz need to give Royce O'Neale more help on Paul George.

“I think Paul's a little comfortable,” Mitchell said. “Hat's off to him for doing what he does and doing whatever, but we can't just have Royce out there and then just Rudy help. We got to make it tough. And then when guys get open looks, just because they're quote/unquote non-shooters, we can't give them easy ones. We still got to get out there and contest and make them see a hand. And I think that's the biggest thing. Terance Mann played his ass off. Reggie Jackson being Reggie Jackson. Morris is Morris. We gotta understand that we gotta close out to these guys and make it tough for them as a whole.”

Ahead of Friday's Game 6, Tyronn Lue met with members of the media over Zoom from back in Los Angeles. When asked about the Jazz hinting at potentially double-teaming Paul George to get the ball out of his hands, Ty Lue didn't seem opposed to it.

“Good. I hope they do,” Lue said with a smile and two thumbs up.

The Clippers started Terance Mann in place of Kawhi Leonard in Game 5. Given that he was the ‘worst' shooter on the floor, the Jazz threw Rudy Gobert on him. Mann only made him pay once, knocking down one of his five three-point attempts. He was, however, able to pump fake and throw down one of the nastier poster dunks of the season.

Tyronn Lue wants Mann to remain confident, especially if the Jazz are going to continue to leave him open.

“At halftime, I just told him, ‘you've worked so hard to improve your shooting.' He shot 40 percent from three this year. ‘If they're going to put a 5 man on you and you're open, you've got to shoot the basketball. That's what you're out there for. Be confident.'

“And I think in that third quarter he stepped back and hit a big three, I think at the top of that third quarter. I just want him to play his game. If you're open, you've got to shoot the ball, don't hesitate, and that's what I told him. And attacking, getting to the basket, getting an and-one, another huge play for us, especially he just missed one in the corner and then he came back and drove it and got a three-point play.”

Game 6 between the Clippers and Jazz is set to tip off at 7PM PST on Friday night. A Clippers win will take the franchise to their first-ever Conference Finals while a Jazz win will force a Game 7 back in Utah on Sunday afternoon.