Los Angeles Clippers: 5 Takeaways From Game 1 Vs. Jazz

Apr 15, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) reacts at the end of the Clippers 97-95 loss to the Utah Jazz in game one of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. The Jazz won on a buzz-beater by Joe Johnson. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

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Apr 15, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Utah Jazz forward Joe Johnson (6) drives to the basket between LA Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and guard Jamal Crawford (11) to score the winning basket with no time remaining in Game One of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

3. The Bench Has To Step Up Their Game

People will remember that Joe Johnson once again pulled out a buzzer-beater for a playoff victory. People might forget that his basket was all but guaranteed when Jamal Crawford was forced to guard him. Johnson drove past Crawford without much resistance, in what has become a common thread for the Clippers this season.

After a torrid start to the year, the Clippers’ bench has been dragging them down all season. That problem was exacerbated by Austin Rivers’ injury. Rivers was arguably the best defender on that bench unit in addition to providing a scoring punch. His absence was notable on both ends of the floor.

The Jazz bench outscored the Clippers bench 47-20. While 15 of those Jazz bench points came from Derrick Favors (who basically replaced Gobert as the starting center 17 seconds into the game and started the second half), that disparity was undeniably the difference in this game. Joe Johnson personally outscored the Clippers’ bench, 21-20.

While the Los Angeles bench mob might never live up to their success in the first 15 games, they will need to put on a better showing on Tuesday night. The starting lineup might be fantastic, but even they cannot make up a 27-point deficit on their own.

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