NBA playoffs: 3 storylines from the Dallas Mavericks and LA Clippers in Game 1
By Drew Ivery
2. Experience helps
Aside from Ivica Zubac, the only player on the Clippers roster who haven’t seen any playoff action is their rookie, Terance Mann. As far as the Mavs, the entire starting lineup, aside from Hardaway, hasn’t been in the playoffs.
That alone tells the story for the horrendous start to the game for Dallas.
The Clippers started the game on an 18-2 run and forced six turnovers by Dallas in the first 4:15 of the game, five by Doncic.
Related Story. 25 best players to play for the LA Clippers. light
Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle knew the Clippers would come out aggressive.
"“It was as I expected,” Carlisle said in the postgame. “Very, very physical to start the game, and really physical throughout. There were a lot of fouls called. There were a lot of fouls committed. This is the biggest difference between playoff basketball and regular season basketball. You’ve got multiple days of preparation. You’ve got film study. By nature, teams will be much more familiar with one another. Therefore, it’s going to be more physical.”"
This gritty Clipper team knew they had to come out and apply pressure early and it worked in their favor. Though, the deficit didn’t last long. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers called his first timeout at the 7:17 mark of the first quarter after the Mavs brought it to an 11 point game. Doncic went to the back and got his ankle re-taped after a slip earlier in the quarter, and then the rest of the Mavs made a run.
In Doncic’s absence, Dallas made a 15-4 run to tie things up before Doncic reentered the game. That run was the turning point in which the Mavs showed they wouldn’t go down so easily. Trey Burke and Curry, whom both have previous playoff experience, played a part in helping the team rally back.
The veteran savvy and championship experience by the Clippers was the deciding factor in the game in the end. They came up big late in the game with defensive stops and big shots by George and Leonard who combined for 17 of the Clippers 31 points in the final quarter.