The Los Angeles Clippers’ exit from the NBA postseason was disappointing, and Paul George is pointing to the team’s playing style as a major factor.
In a recent episode of his podcast, “The Podcast P Show,” George expressed his frustration with the team’s reliance on isolation basketball, which he believes led to their downfall against the Dallas Mavericks in six games.
“We relied on too much isolation basketball… In Game 4 and our win in Game 1, we played a lot faster,” George said. “It was a quick pace. That’s how you gotta be… The teams that are still playing right now are young… We made it easy for [Dallas] to take over.”
George’s comments highlight the Clippers’ struggles to adapt their playing style to the fast-paced and physical nature of the playoffs.
Despite having a roster filled with talented players, including James Harden, who was acquired in the offseason, the team was unable to overcome their shortcomings.
The Clippers’ loss is a stark contrast to the success of younger teams in the playoffs, who are finding ways to win with creative and unorthodox strategies.
The Denver Nuggets, who won the NBA Finals last year, are the exception, but the other three teams remaining in the Western Conference – the Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Oklahoma City Thunder – are all upstart teams with defied expectations.
As the postseason continues, it will be interesting to see if this trend of young teams finding success will continue. The Clippers, meanwhile, will need to regroup and reassess their strategy if they hope to succeed in the future.
Their failure to adapt their playing style to the playoffs has cost them dearly, and it remains to be seen if they can learn from their mistakes and come back stronger next season. For now, they can only watch as other teams compete for the NBA championship.
The Western Conference Finals are set, with the Nuggets facing off against the winner of the Mavericks and Thunder series. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves will face the Nuggets series winner in the conference finals. It’s shaping up to be an exciting finish to the season and one that could potentially crown a new champion.
More must-reads: