#3 Head coach Ty Lue's spot-on adjustments
LA Clippers head coach Ty Lue isn't attempting to overturn a 1-3 deficit for the first time in his career. He is the only coach in the history of the league to do it in the NBA Finals in 2016 and is one of the most composed leaders a team can ask for in this kind of situation.
His record while leading teams in elimination games is 10-2, which is a great testament to the fact that he is more suited for this than anyone else.
![march madness logo](http://staticg.sportskeeda.com/skm/assets/march-madness-logo.png)
The LA Clippers players have consistently highlighted how instrumental Lue's adjustments have been in helping them get here in the 2021 NBA playoffs. The former Cleveland Cavaliers coach has been fearless in flipping his lineup depending on the game situation, which has been beneficial in all of their wins so far.
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While most coaches prefer a restricted set of players in the playoffs, Lue has been seen using almost all of his players so far, who have also stepped up massively when called upon.
His confidence in each player allows him to be more flexible with his rotations, giving the LA Clippers a dynamic edge in their approach, which opponents have found largely unsettling.
#2 Chris Paul's dip in form
Chris Paul hasn't been the same since his return from the league's health and safety protocols, which has majorly affected the Phoenix Suns in the last three games. The Suns have a 97.7 offensive rating with Paul on the floor and 112.5 when he is off it in the three games he has played so far.
On top of that, he has been shooting only 31% from the floor, which the LA Clippers have benefitted from on in their two wins this series. Apart from Paul, the likes of Mikal Bridges and Jae Crowder have also been fairly poor on the offensive end, which the LA Clippers have looked to capitalize on.
Chris Paul's veteran experience may help him find his mojo as early as the next game, though, something the Clippers should be mindful of. However, they can always look to put more pressure on him defensively and give him minimal chances to make an impact early on in the game.
#1 Paul George's resurgence
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Paul George has arguably been the best player in this series. He has put in the work at both ends of the floor, averaging 30.2 points, 10.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. George has been a much better player since Kawhi got sidelined and has been the driving force for the team in all the wins in Kawhi's absence.
He continues to improve with each match, and if Game 5 was anything to go by, it would be hard to argue why Goerge won't be able to carry the Clippers over the line. His presence and leadership on both ends of the floor will prove to be pivotal in the next two games, which gives the Clippers a healthy chance to topple the Suns.
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