After the Clippers lost the game against the Mavericks, they had to make the following two adjustments.
The Los Angeles Clippers are in the first round of the playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, and Kawaii Leonard's return in Game 2 will be exciting for fans, especially after their win in Game 1 of the series.
It's fair to say that the team was full of confidence before this game, but after they lost the game in the second game by a score of 93-96, they fell sharply again. Leonard didn't have much of an impact on his return, and his teammates were lukewarm around him.
In this defeat, the Los Angeles team had a lot of hesitant offense, which was a far cry from the aggressive plan in the first game. Their defense, while not very good, was enough to limit the Mavericks to less than 100 points.
However, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving were excellent on both ends of the end to lead Dallas to victory and tie the series to one win and one loss.
So, for head coach Tyronn Lue, it's time for a re-planning, and he and his coaching staff will be looking at making a lot of changes.
But which of them are the most important?
Let's take a look at two of the most important adjustments the Clippers need to make for Game 3 if they want to bounce back and take a 2-1 lead over the Mavericks.
1. The Clippers need to shoot three-pointers
In Game 1, the performance of 36-of-18 from beyond the three-point line was a huge boost for the Los Angeles team and the main reason for their convincing victory.
This opened up space for them to break through and even increased Ivica Zubac's chances of shooting near the box. In Game 2, the team's use of space was terrible, as the main core players weren't as active and impactful as the Mavericks' star duo.
Again, the main reason for this is the team's poor three-point shooting percentage. The Los Angeles team hit just 8 of 30 three-pointers, which was a far cry from their extreme efficiency in Game 1.
For a team with a large number of elite shooters, it was shocking to see them shoot inaccurately in Game 2. Leonard's return is said to be a huge benefit for the Los Angeles team, but their offensive confidence and pace have lost in this crucial battle.
The Los Angeles Clippers' Big Three — Leonard, Paul George and James Harden — showed no signs of unity at key moments in Game 2, making it a tough scenario for Clippers fans.
However, if the space issue is resolved, the offense should be able to get back on track, and the easiest way to do that is to simply shoot more three-pointers.
2. The Clippers need to get their stars to shoot more
In the playoffs, when the lights are at their brightest, stars come into being, and the trio of Leonard, George and Harden know that. As a result, they need to throw more shots as the series continues.
In Game 2, none of those players took more than 17 shots, and simply put, the LA Clippers need to get more shots from their best players if they want to beat the Mavericks.
Leonard's return could lead to fewer attempts by George and Harden as the team hopes he can get back on form after missing out on games for almost a month.
Truth be told, Leonard should relinquish his position as the Clippers' boss, as his injuries are too frequent, causing his game form to fluctuate and easily affect the Clippers' system.
Leonard should take a back seat and let Harden lead the Clippers, believing that Harden can lead the team to eliminate the Mavericks.
As the series moves to the American Airlines Center, energetic versions of Leonard, George, and Harden must be activated. Zubach's 12 shots and Powell's 10 were not the end of the world, but some of those shots should ideally be done by the team's three best players.
The Mavericks don't have the most versatile and agile defensive players in the NBA, so the Clippers have to take advantage of that if they want to win this series. And to do that, Leonard, George, and Harden must be players who take advantage of their opponents' defensive deficiencies, something they failed to do in Game 2.