Los Angeles Clippers: 3 takeaways from Game 4 defeat vs. Warriors

2. Loss in the battle of the boards

For as physically imposing as the Clippers appear to be within the restricted area, that energy didn’t translate well in Game 4, at least not on the glass. The Warriors out-rebounded L.A. 49-33, including a plus-seven advantage at the offensive end.

Patrick Beverley, a 6’1” point guard, led the Clips with 10 rebounds. Montrezl Harrell, a forward with a relentless pursuit of the basketball at all times, grabbed only three in 23 minutes off the bench. The effort simply wasn’t there from a team whose effort never seemed to be in question prior to this game.

Golden State possesses an offense of historic proportions. The NBA world has seen this team break all kinds of records both individually and as a unit. Giving that type of firepower extra possessions is not a risk worth taking for the Clips.

Holding an edge in the rebounding department is also what helps teams control the tempo of any given game. L.A. was lucky in that it slowed the game down with its sheer volume of free throw attempts, but it may not get those same calls on the road.

The Clippers have the personnel to make the Dubs work for every single rebound, and it’s a tactic they should definitely look to employ in Game 5. The Warriors already dominate their opponents in a number of different ways, especially on the offensive end. Giving them another outlet with which to do so is a recipe for disaster.