The incredible run by Luka Doncic has come to an end despite his 38 point outing in Game 6 as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 111-97. The Clippers will advance to the 2nd Round of the Playoffs for the first time since the ‘Lob City’ era led by Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.
Here are 5 Major Takeaways from this thrilling first round match-up
Luka Doncic Is A Bona Fide Superstar:
The greatness of Luka was on display during this series ever since Game 1 when he scored 42 points, which was the highest scoring playoff debut in NBA history. He averaged 31 points, 8.7 assists and 9.8 rebounds against an elite defensive team in Clippers led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The highlight of this series belonged to Luka as he put an exclamation point with a game winning buzzer beater in Game 4 on a sprained left ankle.
This is just the start of Luka’s greatness as he is only 21 years old. The pressure is on the Mavs’ management to surround him with suitable role players which fits his game style in order to compete for a championship.
PAUL GEORGE NEEDS TO STEP UP:
Playoff P is yet to show up in these playoffs as George is struggling to find his rhythm in these playoffs. He did have one scoring outburst in Game 5 when he scored 35 points but as the Clippers go deeper into the playoffs and face teams that are not dealing with injuries, it would be a tough task for this Clippers team to reach the NBA Finals if PG13 does not perform at an All-Star level.
Kristaps PORZINGIS’S HEALTH:
The Unicorn has been dealing with injuries ever since the start of this season when he missed 10 games because of right knee soreness and missed the final three games of the playoffs due to a meniscus tear in the same knee. No doubt the series would be a bit different if he were healthy as he is the second leading scorer of the Mavs.
The biggest question is that – whether he can stay healthy for an entire season and be a championship caliber sidekick for Luka Doncic.
CLIPPERS Mega-DEPTH:
Since the start of this season, the Los Angeles Clippers are the heavy favourites to win it all as they acquired Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the off season. However, the main strength of this Clippers team is their bench; they led the league this season in bench scoring led by Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell.
During the later rounds of the playoffs, the bench plays a crucial role in deciding the outcome of a series. This series showcased how the Clippers bench can provide necessary firepower in a limited period of time when their star players are resting.
KAWHI LEONARD IS ON A MISSION:
It is a well-known fact that Leonard does not go all out during the regular season and some media personnel doubted whether or not he can ‘Flip the switch’ come playoff time. However in this series, Leonard proved that he can score at will. His performance was overshadowed by Luka’s outburst as he quietly averaged 32.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.2 assists in this series.
Although Paul George was underperforming, Leonard took it upon himself to close of the series in Game 6 and carried this team past the 1st Round of the Playoffs. He is on a mission to win a championship in his hometown!
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