Paul George warns after Clippers’ Game 5 win
In case it hadn’t been clear with the LA Clippers’ Game 5 win, Paul George sent a loud and clear message to the Phoenix Suns.
“If (Phoenix) wants to finish this series, (the Suns) are going to have to work hard to do it. They have to beat us,” George said after the Clippers avoided elimination with a 116-102 win over the Suns in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals in Phoenix.
With the win, Los Angeles moved to 3-2 in the series and forced Game 6, in which they also face elimination.
“That was our mentality leading up to the game, that we wouldn’t give up, we were going to fight. At this point, it’s one game for us and one for them (Suns), it’s either a game for them to advance and eliminate us or a game to move on. That’s how we approach the moment,” reiterated George, who set a Playoff personal best with 41 points and added 13 rebounds with six assists.
The Clippers have started the three series of the current postseason with 0-2 deficits. In the first round against the Dallas Mavericks and in the conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz, but they managed to come from behind to advance and against the Suns, Tyronn Lue’s charges are looking to repeat the feat.
“It doesn’t bother us to be on the ropes, that’s when we show our best version,” said veteran DeMarcus Cousins, who contributed 15 points off the bench.
Lue, who once again showed his ability to make adjustments before each game and put his team in a position to win, has a 10-2 record in games in which his quintets face elimination.
Devin Booker and Chris Paul combined for 53 of the Suns’ total points and the Clippers managed to contain Deandre Ayton under the hoop with 10 points and 11 rebounds, a contrast to the 19 points and 22 rebounds the Phoenix star had in Game 4.
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“We’ve had to face different situations throughout the season, deal with losses and other players have taken on the load. I’ve used the word ‘resiliency’ before, but it’s what best defines this group of players,” Lue said after the win in Phoenix. “When we trust our game and execute what we know how to do, we’re a good team, regardless of who’s on the court. I love these players, they compete every night.
“The job isn’t complete yet, but we came into a hostile environment, we got a big win without three starters and we have to do it twice more,” he added.
The Clippers regained effectiveness on offense with 54.8 percent shooting from the field. In addition to George’s 41 points, Reggie Jackson contributed 23 and Marcus Morris 22.
“It’s been very close games, we’re talking about two or three shots that could have changed the conversation of how we are right now, but today was a good day for us, we were effective with the shots and now we have the opportunity to go to Los Angeles for the next game and keep fighting,” Marcus Morris said.
The Clippers avoided elimination in a series against the Suns in which they have had to play without their star Kawhi Leonard, who is recovering from a knee injury and has lost seven consecutive games in the current postseason. For Game 5, the Angels were also without center Ivica Zubac, who missed his first game of the season with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Morris covered for Zubac’s absence.
“We shine right now. This team is made of toughness, we’re tough. We gave everything we had and we shined in these scenarios,” George noted. “The good thing with coach Lue was that we didn’t panic, he conveys calmness. It’s not good in these moments to panic, you have to stay calm, whole and focused to face the situation.”
The Clippers are clinging to the hope of reaching their first NBA Finals in their 51-year history. Their participation in the conference finals against the Suns is the farthest the Los Angeles team has gone.
