Game 1 between the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz took place on Tuesday night, where the Jazz eventually won a close one in the final seconds of the game. Both teams played their hearts out as the final stat lines were incredibly similar. This should be a fantastic series, as the Clippers and the Jazz are evenly matched.
However, one thing was clear in Game 1, and that was Donovan Mitchell balling out. He wracked up 45 points, outscoring Kawhi Leonard and Paul George together. Mitchell was the sole reason the Jazz were in it, as he was the only player to score over 20 points on his team.
Mitchell went out and proved to be the determining factor in Tuesday night's game. As for the Clippers, the scoring was much more evenly spread across the roster, but it wasn't enough to achieve a victory.
To even up the series, Los Angeles is going to need someone to step up their game. We saw Leonard take control in the first round versus the Dallas Mavericks, so we know he's capable. With that said, the Clippers need someone outside of Kawhi Leonard to step up if they hope to progress through the playoffs. Here is the one Clippers player that needs to elevate their game against the Jazz.
Clippers need Paul George to step up
Paul George is no doubt one of the top players in the NBA. Unfortunately, he's known as “Playoff P,” a nickname he gave himself and is now used ironically. For whatever reason, George seems to disappear come the postseason and so far, he hasn't done anything spectacular this year.
The front office brought Kawhi Leonard and Paul George together to create an unstoppable duo. Leonard has done well and elevates his game when it's needed the most. As for George, he seems to put up the same performance every night. At least there is some consistency, but it won't be enough for the Clippers if they hope to defeat the Utah Jazz this year.
It would be nice to see George take over the game with his scoring, then turn around and play lockdown defense. He tends to do that during the regular season, which is part of the reason why the Clippers finished as the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
Additionally, it's not like the Jazz have any elite perimeter defenders to slow him and Kawhi Leonard down. Rudy Gobert serves as one of the best rim protectors in the league, but George and Leonard are more than capable of scoring from anywhere on the court. Look for Tyronn Lue to draw up some plays to get his superstars more involved in Game 2.
Now is the time for Paul George to change the stigma of his postseason performances. If he can step up and help the Clippers win against the Jazz, the “Playoff P” nickname could become legitimized.
George's best chance of separating himself away from the competition is to get physical with the Jazz. Taking it to the rack, posting up against the mismatch, and getting those tough buckets will give the Clippers life in this series and beyond.
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