Thunder targets Clippers' defensive frailties. Can it exploit mismatches and shut down Leonard to secure the top seed?
After defeating the Lakers last night, the Thunder has a chance to sweep the city of Los Angeles by taking down the Clippers. Oklahoma City clinches the one seed if it wins this contest, which would allow the reigning champs to rest their veterans for the final two games of the regular season.
Check out three key matchups below for this duel between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's current and former teams.
Mismatch Hunting
LA ranks 14th in defensive rating since the All-Star break. It’s a good unit, but there are obvious weaknesses for Oklahoma City to attack.
For example, Darius Garland is an undersized point guard who does a decent job of navigating screens but struggles to defend big, physical scorers on an island. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams should try to force Garland to switch onto them throughout the contest because he is too small to wall off their drives.
Additionally, Brook Lopez remains a disruptive rim protector who excels in drop coverage, yet he is sluggish when opponents make him defend in space. The 38-year-old veteran simply cannot move his feet like he used to. Gilgeous-Alexander’s pull-up jumper out of high pick-and-rolls will therefore be a key shot for the reigning MVP.
Limiting Kawhi Leonard
The future Hall of Famer is averaging a career-high 28.1 points per game while shooting 50.6% shooting from the field and 38.9% from deep. Leonard is similar to Gilgeous-Alexander in that defenders cannot speed him up and it’s a bucket once he gets to his spots in the midrange.
If Oklahoma City manages to hold Leonard to a modest scoring night, then the Clippers’ offense will be in rough shape. Jalen Williams, Alex Caruso and Chet Holmgren are the Thunder’s best defensive options to throw at Leonard. Jaylin Williams may also be worth a look given his physicality and strength.
Clippers’ 3-Point Shooting
LA ranks 25th this season in three-point attempt rate per NBA.com, so launching triples is not a staple of its offense. However, the Clippers probably need to increase its rate in this matchup because the Thunder boasts the best interior defense across the association. Oklahoma City is especially adept at protecting the paint when Holmgren plays power forward.
Derrick Jones Jr., John Collins and Brook Lopez having strong nights from beyond the arc would open up the court for LA’ stars, thus increasing the team’s shot quality and offensive floor.