The Clippers are once again down 2-0 in a playoff series, after falling in excruciating fashion to the Utah Jazz Thursday. This time, they’ll have three games at home as they attempt to win four out of five.
Here’s how the Clippers dug themselves a familiar hole.
The team’s attempt to play big went poorly
The Clippers switched up their starting lineup for Game 2 and went back to the group that closed the regular season: Reggie Jackson, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Marcus Morris Sr., and Ivica Zubac. L.A. had found an identity playing small against Dallas and continued to do so in Game 1 with Nicolas Batum in Zubac’s place; but the team decided to shore up the interior defense after Donovan Mitchell got into the paint and scored at will in the opener against small lineups.