Lessons Learned so Far from Los Angeles Clippers' First-Round Series with Spurs

Through five games of the Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs series, things have not gone as Doc Rivers had planned. His team trails 3-2, and there are plenty of lessons to be learned after digesting each of these gut-wrenching games.

The Spurs look as good as they did when the won the title last season. Luckily, Blake Griffin is a nightmare cover for the entire Spurs' roster. However, Gregg Popovich is not going to allow the Clippers' shooters to beat his team.

Those are a few of the many focus points in the series so far. Both teams have been able to adjust and combat each other's strategy, but each game, a new twist arises that throws a wrench in someone's plans.

Now, the Clippers' season hangs in the balance after a crushing 111-107 Game 5 defeat on Tuesday at the Staples Center.

Spurs Have No Answer for Blake Griffin

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Blake Griffin has been unstoppable. The Spurs have had a difficult time defending him the entire series, and Griffin has made them pay.

According to NBA.com, Griffin is eighth in the playoffs in scoring (23.8), second in rebounding (13.4) and fifth in assists (7.2). Tim Duncan, Tiago Splitter, Matt Bonner, Boris Diaw and especially Aron Baynes have all struggled to defend him facing up or on the block.

This certainly has been Griffin's breakout playoff performance. His decision making has been amazing, as he's been able to pass out of double teams and kick to shooters off penetration.

However, it has been his return to the block that has caused the most damage.

According to Basketball-Reference, Griffin shot 37.8 percent of his shots from 16 feet and out during the regular season. That percentage has dropped to 24.5 in the playoffs. Meanwhile, Griffin shots within three feet of the basket have risen 10.6 percentage points.

His power game has returned, and the Spurs are paying the price.

The Bench Is a Disaster

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This should come as no surprise, but the Clippers bench has been painfully bad this postseason.

Other than Jamal Crawford's 17 points in Game 1 and Austin Rivers' heroic 16 points in Game 4, the bench production has been dismal. 

Glen Davis has provided energy and toughness, but is scoring a mere 3.4 points per game and pulling down 2.8 rebounds. Crawford has been in a shooting slump, connecting on only 4-of-23 from deep. Also, Rivers has been a non-factor offensively other than Game 4, but has been solid defensively.

Outside those three, nobody else on the roster has played more than 20 minutes.

Spencer Hawes, whom the Clippers spent their entire mid-level exception on, has logged 10 minutes and played in only two games. Hedo Turkoglu comes in for short one- or two-minute stints here and there. Lester Hudson's only action was when Rivers cleared the bench late in a Game 3 drubbing.

ESPN Los Angeles' Arash Markazi discusses how Doc Rivers the general manager has failed Rivers the head coach:

"The Clippers' lack of depth may not be the one that grabs the headlines, but it's why the Clippers' postseason was always destined to fall short of expectations -- whether it was in the first round against the Spurs or later. It was an inevitability set in motion a long time ago by a series of errors made by Rivers, the general manager, which put Rivers, the coach, in a hopeless position."

Without bench production, the starters have been forced to shoulder the load offensively. Rivers has been forced to play his starters excessive minutes, which leads into the next lesson learned.

Exhaustion

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The minutes are beginning to add up for Rivers' starters. Exhaustion is setting in and it is blatantly visible.

Griffin is averaging 41.3 minutes, Chris Paul 38.7, J.J. Redick 38.6 and DeAndre Jordan 36.4. That might not sound like a lot, but the intensity in this series has been as high as any in either conference.

Look no further than late in the second and fourth quarters of previous games. Paul looked gassed with about five minutes left in Game 2. Griffin seemed exhausted for most of the second and fourth quarters of Game 5.

The minutes and intensity are wearing on the Clippers. It also should be noted that after Game 1, these games have been played every other day.

Unfortunately, Rivers has no choice but to ride his starters, much like the regular season.

One lasting image from Game 5—which might haunt Clippers fans for months if the Clippers lose this series—is of Leonard.

There are nine minutes left in the game. Rivers has no choice but to sub Griffin and Paul into the game to keep his team within striking distance.

While Paul and Griffin meander to the scorer's table, the camera cuts to Leonard. He is sitting calmly on the Spurs bench, sipping out of a cup and watching the game like he paid for a seat next to Billy Crystal. 

Griffin and Paul slowly trot onto the floor, preserving every ounce of energy they have left. Meanwhile, Leonard is still kicked back, sipping from his cup.

The Clippers need a bench to supplement their starters.

Defending the Perimeter

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Most teams have a difficult time defending the Spurs' spread offense because it is peppered with shooters at every position. The Clippers are no different.

The Clippers have not been able to run the Spurs off the three-point line enough. That has allowed the them to connect on the fourth-most threes in the playoffs (45), according to NBA.com.

A great study done by Seth Partnow of Nylon Calculus, highlights that defending the three-point line means not allowing your opponent to attempt threes.

"Not to put words in Johannes’ mouth, but I think he’d agree that the defense can still affect the shot by being closer to the shooter, but beyond that whether the shot is made or not is largely out of the defender’s control."

The Clippers have done a poor job of this. During the regular season, the Spurs took 26.9 percent of their shots from three, per NBA.com. During this series. they have increased their attempts to 30.6. 

Part of this is because the Spurs have been successful on the block with Duncan, who looks like he has barely aged. The Spurs have also been able to pick off weak-side defenders with their patented "hammer" set.

Defenders are having to scramble through rotations on the perimeter thanks to the Spurs' passing and are running into back screens on the opposite side of the floor, which results in open threes.

Clippers' Shooters Are Under Duress

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Popovich is a master tactician. He proved this yet again by starting Leonard, the defensive player of the year, on Redick. His defense has helped hold Redick to a miserable 40.7 percent shooting from the field.

All season long, the Clippers have gotten Redick involved early in games. They hunt for him in transition and off screens in an attempt to free their sharp shooter up for jumpers.

Leonard virtually takes that option away. His length bothers the Duke University product and he is athletic enough to stick to him off screens or trail off penetration, altering his shots.

Redick is usually a solid ball handler who can create off secondary action. However, because of the Spurs' length, he only has six assists and committed nine turnovers.

Additionally, Leonard defending Redick also takes away the weak side of the floor. This allows the Spurs to focus their defensive attention on Griffin and Paul pick-and-rolls.

This strategy is one that will likely be copied by future opponents, especially if the Clippers advance to the second round. 

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