Chris Paul dropped 29 points, eight assists as the Los Angeles Clippers took down the Utah Jazz 98 to 93 in game 6 of the NBA playoffs first round. DeAndre Jordan had 13 points and 18 rebounds in a game that the Clippers needed Paul to take over.
The Clippers shot 49 percent from the field and 43 percent from beyond the arc. The Jazz, on the other hand, struggled, shooting just 41 percent from the floor and 26 percent from three.
Best player in the series
The Utah Jazz have the better team on paper, but the Clippers have the better player on the floor night in and night out.
Chris Paul is still carrying this Clippers team to victories even with his team being outmatched in skill. The playoffs show you just what one player can do if he's the best on the floor. Chris Paul is playing amazing right now, and given the circumstances, he is tearing apart a solid Jazz defense.
Recap
The game was back and forth all game. The Jazz looked like for most of the match that they were getting better shots at the basket, but the Clippers kept hanging around. Then in the fourth quarter, the Clippers took a 91 to 77 lead with 4 minutes left in the game, but the Jazz fought back. Utah's Gordon Hayward scored seven straight points to get them down just three, and they got a good look at the basket with a Joe Johnson iso with 10 seconds left.
Utah had two timeouts left before their last shot attempt, but the judgment call to play it out or call a timeout is team specific. One criticism here, though, is that Johnson had Chris Paul guarding him, but he opted to use a pick and roll to get Deandre Jordan on a switch.
When you need a three, the obvious choice should have been to attack an iso on Chris Paul.
Late into games if you're up three, you want your big guarding on the perimeter because of how much length you have to defend a shot.
Joe Johnson still got a good look at the basket, but it just didn't go in this time.
Adjustments for Utah
For game seven, a few changes need to be made from the Jazz, but a lot of it just comes down to shooting the basketball.
The Jazz moves the ball so well and gets open look after open look against the Clippers, but they are just not hitting threes consistently to gain a lead. Secondly, Rudy Gobert needs to be more aggressive. It was noticeable at times that the Jazz would get DeAndre Jordan moving across the paint to help, and they would dump it off to Gobert, but Gobert would be worried about Jordan.
Game 7 needs to be a statement game from Rudy Gobert. He has to take control in the paint and attack at D.J. otherwise the Jazz could be going home.
