NBA
FULL NBA Review From March 2, 2021
See the full NBA Game Reviews from Tuesday, March 2, 2021 with entertaining highlights, interesting facts, valuable takeaways, and more!
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The biggest thing from Tuesday might not even have been about the games as the NBA announced the full list of contestants for the Dunk Contest, Skills Challenge, and 3-Point Shootout. The Dunk Contest lacks much star power besides the rookie dunking phenom Obi Toppin.
The Skills Challenge has some exciting names including five All-Stars and Robert Covington while the 3-point contest is absolutely loaded with all six participants playing in the ASG as well with Steph Curry, Devin Booker, and Jayson Tatum headlining the event.
Another Clippers-Celtics classic took place where Kemba led Boston amidst Jayson Tatum‘s off night (5-16 FG) after Paul George struggled down the stretch (1-9 FG in 4th Qtr) and Kawhi was a late scratch. Nikola Jokic recorded his 50th career triple-double as Denver ended Milwaukee’s six-game winning streak in dominant fashion.
Ja Morant out-dueled Russell Westbrook, Devin Booker got ejected in the Suns win over the reigning champs, and Atlanta won their first game since Lloyd Pierce’s departure. The Spurs slowed down the surging Knicks which brought New York back down to .500 (18-18).
Here are the best NBA highlights, facts, performers, and takeaways from March 2nd, 2021:
Los Angeles Clippers (112) vs. Boston Celtics (117)
[Highlights] @CELTICS (+153; $8.17) d. CLIPPERS (-153; $10.38) 117-112 [BOS +3.5 | o221.5]
[Highlights] SUNS (+103; $13.33) d. @LAKERS (-103; $10.20) 114-104 [PHX +1 | o215]
[Highlights] GRIZZLIES (+109; $11.26) d. @WIZARDS (-109; $9.95) 125-111 [MEM +1.5 | u237]
[Highlights] HAWKS (+130; $10.44) d. @HEAT (-130; $8.90) 94-80 [ATL +2.5 | u222.5]
[Highlights] @SPURS (+119; $12.80) d. KNICKS (-119; $15.78) 119-93 [SAS +2 | u216]
[Highlights] NUGGETS (+281; $9.83) d. @BUCKS (-281; $9.48) 128-97 [DEN +8 | u235.5]
Nikola Jokic facts:
Ummmmmm, how? That's just silly, Jamal. (via @nuggets) pic.twitter.com/EQvCAYysoY
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 3, 2021
Obi Toppin getting his practice reps in for the Dunk Contest. Has 2 dunks this quarter, including this one off a lob from Alec Burks. It's in garbage time for the Knicks, though. pic.twitter.com/J8eDMKqEOc
— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) March 3, 2021
It’s too easy for Bron 💪
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 3, 2021
Catch the second half of Suns-Lakers on @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/vL4wjqLBvj
LeBron just snatched it from Ayton 😳 pic.twitter.com/rXogrAL46o
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 3, 2021
Trae lost 'em 🥶 pic.twitter.com/dM4kjvrQym
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 3, 2021
Robert Williams GOT UP for the poster! (via @celtics) pic.twitter.com/ZMMQYwYxYC
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 3, 2021
[Highlights] C Nikola Jokic, DEN (W @MIL): 37 PTS (15-23 FG | 2-3 3PT), 11 AST, 10 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 2 TO
[Highlights] PG Ja Morant, MEM (W @WAS): 35 PTS (11-18 FG | 2-3 3PT), 10 AST, 5 REB, 0 BLK, 1 STL, 4 TO
[Highlights] SF LeBron James, LAL (L v.PHX): 38 PTS (16-24 FG | 3-8 3PT), 6 AST, 5 REB, 1 BLK, 2 STL, 3 TO
[Highlights] PG Russell Westbrook, WAS (L v.MEM): 23 PTS (8-16 FG | 3-7 3PT), 15 AST, 6 REB, 0 BLK, 3 STL, 8 TO
[Highlights] PG Jamal Murray, DEN (W @MIL): 24 PTS (10-17 FG | 1-5 3PT), 6 AST, 3 REB, 0 BLK, 2 STL, 1 TO
CLIPPERS CAN ONLY BE CONTENDERS IF THEY GET OVER THEIR CHOKING HABITS
After entering the season as the favorites to win the 2020 NBA Finals and receiving hype as the new Kings of LA, the Clippers ended their season in disastrous fashion. Up 3-1 to the Denver Nuggets, the Clippers blew double-digit leads in three straight games to blow the 3-1 series lead, and a dream LA matchup in the WCF was ruined as Paul George and Kawhi Leonard struggled mightily during crunch time in that series.
LAC fired Doc Rivers, promoting Tyronn Lue in hopes of a culture shift. GM Lawrence Frank replaced Montrezl Harrell with Serge Ibaka, Landry Shamet with Luke Kennard, and JaMychal Green with Nic Batum in hopes of finding the guys that can complete a championship contender. There’s no doubt that the Los Angeles Clippers have the talent to bring this franchise its first title in NBA history.
However, the same core guys are in place and they’re showing similar signs of choking as they did last year. Paul George went 2-10 FG in the 4th quarter of their loss to Milwaukee a few days ago and then followed that up with a 1-9 FG 4th Qtr performance in their defeat Tuesday night vs. Boston. PG13 is shooting 25% FG in clutch situations this season (5-pt game within final 5 minutes) after an abysmal display during those situations in last year’s postseason.
Kawhi Leonard was a late scratch (back spasms) against Boston and has a much better career reputation in big moments. His poor performance in the second half of those final three games vs. Denver can be chalked up as an aberration during unprecedented circumstances in an unpredictable environment. Yet, Leonard’s late struggled have carried over into this season as he owns the fourth-lowest FG% (28%) in clutch situations during 2020-21
This team is built to compete for a championship with two of the best two-way wings in the game, supported by the greatest 6th man of all-time, a proven championship-caliber Big Man, an all-effort point guard stopper, and one of the best benches in the league.
However, their inability to come through when it matters held them back last year and has prevented them from reaching their potential again this season. The Clippers can be legitimate contenders, but their best two players will have to get buckets when it matters and put their choking habits of old in the past to turn that into a reality.
COLORS KEY | FULL CLIPPERS FUTURE OUTLOOK
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