Los Angeles Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue summed up what he expected from his two stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard for them to be successful.
''I don't go to Mastro's [Steakhouse] to order the ketchup, I go to order the steak,” Lu said.
In the most basic Filipino terms, his food comparison to his two stars might be equivalent to going to Razon’s and ordering a plate of french fries instead of its famous halo-halo. You always want the best stuff.
Leonard scored 24 of his game-high 34 points in the second half as the Clippers trounced the Utah Jazz, 132-106 in Game 3. He also had 12 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block.
Amid the all-around performance from Leonard, it was the resurgence of George that laid the foundation of the Clippers’ win. George netted 31 points, spiked by six triples, and dished out five dimes. After shooting just 34.3 percent in the first two games in Utah, he regained his touch and went 12-of-24 from the field.
The Clippers needed a big game from its two stars to make this a series against the Jazz. They remain the barometer for their team’s success. If the Jazz go where Donovan Mitchell goes, well, the Clippers go where Leonard and George take them.
Every contribution from Leonard and George was needed against the Jazz. Mitchell got his numbers, dropping another 30-point piece, his fifth straight game with at least 30 points.
The Jazz and the Clippers traded heavy blows from beyond the arc, hitting 19 triples each with the home team hitting a higher clip at 52.8. In terms of outside shooting, the two teams balanced each other out. The difference came down to LA’s one-two punch.
"We both understand we need to be aggressive from this point on and do whatever it takes to win. That’s just the mentality we had to come out,” George said postgame. "Get this team on the right start offensively and again just be aggressive. That’s just what it’s gonna come down to for us.”
"Playing aggressive" is a cliche in basketball, but it doesn’t lessen its truth. More often than not, the player or the team that comes out with the right energy can turn the tide of the game. That’s what George did during the second quarter when he scored 13 points and was the firestarter in the Clippers’ hot start.
By halftime, George was in Playoff P mode with 20 points across his name and the Clippers up 64-49. In the second half, the Clippers withstood every attempt of a Jazz comeback thanks largely to Leonard who took the scoring reins.
"I think we’re just playing in the flow of the game pretty much,” Leonard said. "Trying to do everything — if it’s defense, rebounding the basketball, talking on the floor.
"[Whether] shots going in or not, our job is to keep being aggressive for ourselves and others. When Paul has got it going, we’re gonna go to him. If I got it going, it’s gonna come to me. But if anybody else on the team has it going, we’re gonna try them the next shot as well.”
With LA’s two stars paving the way, the bench came through as well. Nicolas Batum and Reggie Jackson had 17 points apiece and combined for 9 3-pointers.
The Clippers are still down in the series 2-1, but they’ve laid the blueprint on how they can counter the Mitchell-led Jazz. Leonard and George have to be the instigators on both ends.
As Coach Lue said, you go order the steak. In this case, make it two.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George need to take control for the Clippers to achieve playoff success.
