5 Reasons why LA Clippers won 131-119 against Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals | 2021 NBA Playoffs

#3 Utah Jazz fail to adjust to the LA Clippers' small lineup

Rudy Gobert was made to toil hard today

Interior defense was the Utah Jazz's biggest weapon throughout the season, but the LA Clippers took that out of the equation in the second half by using a small lineup.

The likes of Reggie Jackson and Paul George drove to the rim to make the defense collapse on them, thereby leaving several wide-open men on the perimeter. This allowed the LA Clippers to create a ton of high-quality shots from downtown, especially from corners.

Jazz switch the screen here, Paul George beats Mitchell off the dribble. Gobert pulls over to help, skip to Batum, extra pass to Mann and...Gobert...just stares at him. pic.twitter.com/rO3e3p81om

— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) June 19, 2021

Ty Lue's men attempted 22 corner threes in the game, making 13 of them. Rudy Gobert was at fault here for not being good enough at closing out the shooters.

#4 LA Clippers exploit an injured Donovan Mitchell on defense

Reggie Jackson blows by Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell had another barnburner of a game tonight, recording 39 points, nine assists and nine rebounds. He was, however, playing with an ankle injury that made him a liability on defense.

🔥 @Reggie_Jackson's 27 PTS, 10 AST, 3 STL help the @LAClippers come back from 25 down and clinch the first #NBAWCF presented by AT&T berth in franchise history! #ThatsGame #NBAPlayoffs Game 1 - Sunday, 3:30 PM ET, ABC pic.twitter.com/XdqYMmweFY

— NBA (@NBA) June 19, 2021

Reggie Jackson exploited Mitchell's wonky lateral movement and drove against him at every possible opportunity. When the help defense arrived, Jackson passed to an open man for a quality look. In other cases, he just eased past Mitchell and finished at the rim for a basket himself. Jackson finished with 27 points, 10 assists and three rebounds.

#5 Paul George plays his part to perfection against the Utah Jazz

Paul George celebrates with Terance Mann

After putting up arguably the best performance of his NBA career in Game 5, Paul George struggled to get going in the first half tonight. He was just 5-of-14 from the field in the first 24 minutes with the Utah Jazz defenders giving him extra attention.

Instead of trying to force his way, Paul George deferred the ball to his LA Clippers teammates in the second half and focused more on synchronizing the defense. It worked wonders as both Terance Mann and Reggie Jackson went on an offensive juggernaut in the third quarter, while he forced stops and turnovers.

This allowed the LA Clippers to outscore the Utah Jazz 41-22 in the third quarter, and they eventually completed the turnaround in the fourth. George found his shooting form in the final period of the game and finished with 28 points. He also had nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals to his name.

---