After dropping the first two games of their series against Jazz in Salt Lake City, the Clippers reacted perfectly in Game 3 at home under the impetus of their star duo Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Both were great with no less than 65 points in combined but also ten assists. This last figure is more important than it seems, and a certain Chauncey Billups is no stranger to it.
It’s Law Murray from The Athletic who released this rather interesting statistic after the victory of the Clippers against Jazz in Game 3 on Saturday. For the first time this season, and for only the fifth time since Kawhi Leonard and Paul George arrived in Los Angeles in the summer of 2019, the two Clippers stars have each scored at least 30 points in the same game. But on top of that, they both gave out five assists equally, making this 132-106 win what one could call a benchmark for the Clips.. If for some, these are only the stats of a match, for others it is the sign of a duo which is progressing in its capacity to score while involving the others. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are recognized above all for their scoring and defending qualities, a little less for their ability to make their teammates play. And that is something that coach Tyronn Lue really wanted to change this season.
“I think our two main scorers must be able to make the others better. These two can shoot at anyone, anytime. Now we have discussed attacking the basket and advancing the others. “
Not having a traditional position 1 in the workforce, the Clippers went to look for Rajon Rondo during the trade deadline to bring precisely this experience, this basketball IQ to the lead and make the game of Los Angeles a little more fluid, instead and Lou Williams’ place. But today, Playoffs Rondo has become Rondo Bench Driver and it is therefore up to the Kawhi – PG duo to ensure creation more than ever., without forgetting Reggie Jackson or even our national Nicolas Batum. The victory over Jazz shows that the two are in the right direction and Chauncey Billups – former Pistons point guard and assistant to Ty Lue – plays a vital role in that.
“It was a real team victory. The guys who came off the bench were great. PG and Kawhi really set the tone – PG at the start and Kawhi at the end. And that’s what we need from our two best players. Their ability to do all of that and set the table for everyone, and they did. “
– Ty Lue, after Game 3 against Jazz
In a Ramona Shelburne paper fromESPN, we learn a lot of interesting things about the work of Mister Big Shot, one of the most solid leaders of his time and NBA champion in 2004 with Detroit. A five-time all-star in his career, Chauncey Billups has some solid foundations on which a player can build. Chauncey works particularly with Paul George, whether by giving him instructions during matches or by showing him specific sequences during replays after matches, in order to give him the necessary tools to involve others as well as possible.
“I want to teach him the right way to look at the game. What you have to watch out for and not just focus on beating the guy in front. ‘Where will the defensive help come from? Who are our shooters? Where are they placed on the ground? ‘
It’s a mentality. Because sometimes you want to be a killer and get the edge on every match-up. But as a leader you can’t really do that. You have to play chess a bit. “
Be aggressive, attack the basket, all this while keeping your eyes wide open to open up opportunities for your friends. The gameplan for Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, this is it. With a guy like Rudy Gobert in the opposing racket, it’s not easy every day but the Clippers need it to hope to cross the wall of Jazz. During the regular season, Kawhi and PG-13 each had their best career campaign in the assists category.. Prior to the 2020-21 fiscal year, neither had finished a year with more than five assists on average. This season ? Leonard and George both ended up with 5.2 caviar per game. This is an obvious sign of progress even if in the case of PG-13, this increase in responsibilities also resulted in more waste (3.3 losses of balls, biggest career total tied with the 2015 season. -16).
“Chauncey has a big influence on my playing. It’s great to have him as a resource and to be able to look to him for decision making, tempo, pace of play, all of those things that I can see through the mentality and vision of a leader. “
– Paul George
On the shelves of several franchises, Chauncey Billups will perhaps become a head coach in the coming weeks but in the meantime, he wants to continue to maximize the talent of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George by making them real playmakers. There is still work to be done but the progress is real. However, will they be enough to help the Clippers get to the end?
Source texte : ESPN / The Athletic
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