The Los Angeles Clippers have put themselves into quite the predicament. They asked to be matched up against the Dallas Mavericks, yet they can’t seem to figure them or Luka Doncic out.
They claim that they’re not worried despite falling to a 0-2 hole and having to travel to Dallas for the next 2 or 3 games of the series. However, Vince Carter and Robert Horry believe that they should, indeed, be quite worried:
“You should be concerned. You didn’t play well, you didn’t get a win at home. So now you’re going to a confident Dallas Mavericks on the road. And I don’t get it… Defensively, they need to make shots… You have to pick your poison,” Carter said on ESPN’s The Jump.
“Clippers had no fans, you’re going to Texas. There are going to be fans, they are going to be [indiscernible], this is Dallas, this is Mark Cuban’s club, who knows how to get this team… So they’re up for this challenge. Remember last season, they remember what happened in the bubble with Porzingis. They want revenge and now they took two games from you. The Clippers should be concerned. They need to come with a little sense of urgency and find a way to get the ball out of Luka’s hands,” Horry added.
Truth be told, the Clippers’ defense these past couple of games has been subpar, to say the least. They’re not contesting shots, they’re giving up wide-open looks from beyond the arc, and they haven’t been physical enough. The Mavericks are shooting with way too much comfort, time, space, and confidence.
We all know Luka is going to score. It comes naturally to him, he’s going to get his 25-30 night in and night out. But what about the rest of the team? The Clippers’ defense needs to step up, and now.
