NZB2323 wrote:DelAbbot wrote:I still remember Clippers ran 5 out on Utah in the playoffs and Gobert couldn't come out to contest a three or punish the Clipper's small ball 5 out lineup with Batum guarding him
The Clippers were blowing past their defenders and Gobert can’t guard the paint, the 3 point line, and multiple defenders all by himself.
Personally, I think Gobert's inability to hurt the Clippers on the offensive end vs. shorter defenders was a bigger problem. I'll let the Utah folks chime in on why the Jazz struggled to find him... or he struggled to do anything when they did.
Gobert took only 36 shots over 6 games. Other interesting stats:
- Starting PG, Mike Conley, missed the first 5 games of the series... and played arguably the worst game of his career returning from a hamstring injury in the legendary Game 6. (1 - 8 fg with 6 TOs).
- Terance Mann destroyed Gobert. Was that because Gobert couldn't guard him? Or wouldn't? Or was it the strategy? Terance Mann had taken 115 three pointers in 115 NBA games up that point. He hadn't made more than 2 in any of those 115 games.
- Mann had taken only 3 in the 7-game 1st rd series vs. Dallas.
- He was 1 - 7 on three pointers in the previous two games vs. the Jazz.
- Mann has played in 41 playoff games. He has made more than 3 three pointers only that one time. He's failed to make a single three pointer 27 times.
- Mann has now played in 386 NBA games. He has made more than 4 three pointers in a game only one other time (5).
So when we look back at that series... what's more likely? Did it prove that Gobert couldn't defend? Or that Terance Mann simply had a career night?