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The LA Clippers are in the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, yet are facing a 2-0 deficit heading into game three on Thursday night.
Ty Lue's side passed up a golden opportunity to tie the series when they led by one-point with 0.9 seconds to go on the game clock. However, DeAndre Ayton's late dunk was enough to give the Phoenix Suns a two-match lead as they now head to LA.
Without their talisman, Kawhi Leonard, the LA Clippers had to overcome the Utah Jazz in the conference semifinals. They did so by comfortably taking home wins in games five and six with help from the team's role players supporting the remaining star, Paul George.
In this article, we will look at five role players who have helped the Clippers reach the Conference Finals and who will be influential in helping them fight for a championship ring.
5 LA Clippers role players who have stepped up in Kawhi Leonard's absence
Throughout the regular season, the LA Clippers had one of the best benches in the league, ranking fourth for points and top for three-point accuracy. Some of those players have stepped up dramatically in the playoffs and have even earned a starting berth in the team.
Below are five such players whose shooting consistency has continued into the postseason and will need to continue to do so if the Clippers are to reach the Finals.
#5 Luke Kennard
After hardly playing in the LA Clippers' first-round series against the Dallas Mavericks, Luke Kennard's skillset has been utilized more. Facing the Utah Jazz in the semifinals, the Clippers were able to rely on their perimeter shooters to avoid facing Rudy Gobert in the paint. Up stepped Kennard in game one, draining four tries off the bench and finishing on 18 points.
The 24-year old shooting guard would end the series scoring above 50% from downtown, making 11-20 attempts, and will need to maintain this consistency if the LA Clippers are to be successful. He is one of Ty Lue's vital bench options and is a terrific choice to bring on if you need accuracy from the field.
#4 Nicolas Batum
It was expected that Nicolas Batum would be hugely important to the LA Clippers in the postseason as one of the side's veterans. The Frenchman has provided value to the team all year, shooting the ball consistently and has increased his output in the playoffs.
The Clippers are far more effective with Batum on the floor and he has the best +/- of any player on the team. In 13 of their 15 games so far, he has had a positive +/-, including finishing game five against the Dallas Mavericks - which they lost - with a record of +18.
He has maintained his scoring consistency, making timely shots when called upon and has a shooting split so far of 50-41-81.
#3 Marcus Morris Sr.
More often than not, when Marcus Morris Sr. plays well, the LA Clippers do. The power forward was the team's third-highest scorer during the regular season and is an extremely efficient shooter.
Although his output has dropped off slightly in the playoffs, it still stands to reason that when Morris is draining threes from the corner, the Clippers are in for a successful night.
Against the Dallas Mavericks in the first-round of the playoffs, Morris missed his first nine three-point attempts. However, he ended up hitting 17-38 efforts over the series, including seven threes in game 7, ending the match with 23 points.
At the start of the series against the Utah Jazz, again, Morris struggled. Once he found his touch, though, the LA Clippers were in business. The 31-year-old racked up 24 and 25 points respectively in games four and five. In both of those fixtures, he shot at over 54% from the field and over 75% from the 3-point line.
#2 Terance Mann
24-year-old guard Terance Mann has really come of age in the playoffs for the LA Clippers and at a timely point when they need extra contributions from the bench. After barely featuring in last year's postseason, Mann has become Lue's go-to option for buckets.
Throughout the LA Clippers' playoff run, Mann has had a positive +/- while on the floor in 10 out of 13 games when he has played more than eight minutes.
When Leonard was ruled out, Mann stepped up in games five and six against the Jazz, putting up a staggering 39 points in game six on 15-21 shooting from the field. He also hit seven out of ten three-point attempts in that contest.
Mann's consistent shooting will be essential if the Clippers are to turn around their deficit against the Suns. He has shot at over 55% from the field and over 50% from deep in the postseason and has the team's second-best +/- of anybody that has played more than two games.
#1 Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson has earned and kept his place as the LA Clippers' starting point guard in the playoffs this year. He offers a different option to Ty Lue on the offensive end to both Patrick Beverley and Rajon Rondo and is no slouch on defense.
Jackson has arguably been one of the NBA's standout performers in this year's postseason, posting six 20+ point games. Over the 15 contests so far, the 31-year-old has had shooting splits of over 50-40-90. He is certainly enjoying the moment.
Against the Dallas Mavericks, Jackson was poor in game one. But following that defeat, he scored 15 points or more in each of the following matchups in the series.
Against the Jazz, he was clutch, scoring more than 20 points in three games. He continues to hit timely buckets for the LA Clippers when it appears they are up against it in a contest.
