With the final standings, the Western Conference is all set to tip off the postseason. The Los Angeles Clippers will be taking on the Dallas Mavericks who currently have the hot hand, on Sunday. Dallas is coming off a 19-game stretch winning 16 of them to settle for the 6th seed in the West.
The Clippers, on the other hand, had a rough end to the regular season. With James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook, the Clippers stacked squad will be a tough test for the Mavs. Draymond Green covered his take on the playoff matchups and had an interesting opinion on Russell Westbrook and the Los Angeles Clippers. Going up against the Mavs, Draymond Green advised how the Clippers should control Luka and Kyrie to secure the series.
However, if the Clippers are going to win that series, at what point do you take Kawhi Leonard and you say 'Alright now Kawhi, you go guard Luka Doncic'. Here's where it gets interesting, when you do that, the X-factor in that series is going to be Russell Westbrook. Because Russell's gonna have to guard Kyrie Irving... Kyrie don't get much attention from the defense... Kyrie Irving is a monster... Russell Westbrook is the X-factor for that team... Ty Lue is gonna have to scrap Russell Westbrook off the bench and move Russell Westbrook into that starting lineup in order to win this series. Draymond Green via the ‘Draymond Green Show‘
Kyrie Irving does get to work when it’s most needed. The star has won a championship with the Clippers’ head coach, Tyronn Lue. While the Clippers will have their focus on the MVP candidate, failing to give attention to Irving might turn out in a disaster on the defensive end.
Russell Westbrook can lead the Clippers past the first round
In the previous postseason, Westbrook carried the Clippers versus the Suns in the first round. The former MVP can lead the team, though this time the Clippers finally have all their stars healthy.
On the offensive end, the trio will look to become a problem for the Mavs’ defense, which has been phenomenal these past games. While the trio averages around 60 points a game, Luka and Irving also produce the same amount of points per game.
The usual starting lineup of the Clippers includes PG, Kawhi, Harden, Ivica Zubac, and Terance mann. Looking at the matchups, the only feasible player to guard Irving would be Westbrook. Russ might start in this particular series, considering the advantages the Clippers have over Dallas.
Dallas has previously faced the Clippers in the postseason, losing in the 2021 playoffs played in the bubble. Now, as they prepare to meet the Clippers again, Doncic and his team appear more ready. It will be intriguing to see how they contend with the Clippers’ potent scorers in this series.
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