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Series Preview: Nuggets vs. Clippers

By Rex Foster

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket on Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on February 28, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket on Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on February 28, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket on Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on February 28, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 28: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers drives to the basket on Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on February 28, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

After a roller coaster series against the Utah Jazz, the Denver Nuggets are set to face the Los Angeles Clippers in a semifinal showdown.

The Los Angeles Clippers, who defeated the Dallas Mavericks in six games, expected nothing less than a conference finals appearance when setting expectations for this season. Just before the season went on hiatus, the Clippers jumped the Denver Nuggets to reach the 2nd overall seed in the Western Conference – which Denver held for a good portion of the year.

In their regular season series against the Clippers, the Nuggets went 1-2. Their sole win against Los Angeles saw Denver looking sharp defensively on the perimeter, rotating wisely and leaving few players open to shoot uncontested 3-pointers. However, in their second showdown, the Nuggets looked lost everywhere defensively, whether it was on fast break opportunities, in the paint, or on the perimeter.

Though defense is going to be a primary focus point for Denver coming into this series but they still need to be fluid scoring buckets, as they’re facing a talented defensive team in the Clippers.

Not only does Los Angeles have the luxury of carrying two of the best wing defenders in the league in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George but the Clippers have a whole team that specializes in defense. Patrick Beverley, Marcus Morris, Montrezl Harrell, and Reggie Jackson are all proficient defensive talents. Ivica Zubac and JaMychal Green are threats on the defensive end as well. The Nuggets need to muscle up and be physical if they want any chance to win this series.

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