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#3 What if Kawhi Leonard is healthy against the Phoenix Suns?
In the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the LA Clippers faced off against the Utah Jazz. The Jazz were the number one ranked team in the Western Conference.
Although the Clippers beat the Jazz in seven games, it saw Kawhi Leonard sidelined for the rest of the postseason. Leonard suffered a knee injury in Game Four against the Jazz, forcing him out of the series.
Kawhi Leonard is one of the top five players in the league. Even with his passive personality, he is an assassin on the floor and makes an impact on both ends. With a tried and tested championship pedigree, the Clippers would have definitely benefited from having him on the court in the series.
#4 What if Kyrie Irving doesn't get injured in Game Four against the Milwaukee Bucks?
Coming back to the Nets vs. Bucks semifinal matchup, there is another factor that shifted the tide in the Bucks' favor that is hard to overlook. Kyrie Irving getting injured in Game Four.
The Nets took a comfortable 2-0 lead, winning their first two games at home. A blow-out performance in Game Two showed favorable signs for the Nets. However, Milwaukee showed signs of life with a close win in Game Three. Game Four saw the series potentially blow up.
Suffering an injury midway through the second quarter, Kyrie Irving missed the rest of the series. Prior to this injury, Irving had put up key performances in the series. Contributing 25 points in Game One and 22 points in Game Two, Irving put up solid numbers which ensured Brooklyn's wins.
Although Brooklyn lost one of their superstars, Durant played some heroic basketball as he kept the Nets' championship hopes alive. Had Irving been healthy, many believe that the Nets would have gone on to win the NBA Championship.
#5 What if Paul George makes the two clutch free throws against the Phoenix Suns?
With their superstar sidelined by injury, Paul George had to carry the majority of the load while keeping the postseason run alive.
Paul George kept the Clippers alive in the closing seconds of Game Two, giving them the lead with 21.8 seconds on the clock. With a botched possession by Phoenix, the whole situation boiled down to two free throws. Making them would mean a three point lead with 8.2 seconds left on the clock for the Suns to make a game-tying shot.
Unfortunately, George would go on to miss both free throws and Phoenix would grab the rebound and call timeout. Missing their first chance to score but still having possession of the ball, Phoenix would produce a miracle play to win the game with only 0.9 seconds on the clock.
Having lost the first game in Phoenix, the Clips had a chance to tie the series at 1-1. A tied series going to Staples Center would have been a momentum shifter. While it is unlikely that the Clippers would win the series, making those free throws could have altered the order of things.
This brings up a point from last year when Paul George and Patrick Beverly went at Damian Lillard over missed free throws in a game against the Clippers. Portland would lose 122-117 as Lillard missed two clutch free throws. With the feud spilling over to Instagram, Paul George missing from the charity stripe in the playoffs can be seen as instant too.
Guess the Lakers players!
