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Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, Paul George finally show what they can be as a duo in Game 5.

Leonard is expected to re-sign with the team after declining his $36 million player option this summer, but would a second consecutive early playoff exit change that thinking? The Clippers granted a four-year, $190 million extension to George before the season started, but would their long-term commitment to him change after another playoff disappointment?

“We both understand we've got to be aggressive from this point on and do whatever it takes to win,” George said. “That's just a mentality we had to come out, get this team on the right start offensively and again just be aggressive. That's just what it's going to come down to for us.”

Hardly news-breaking that the Clippers’ championship fortunes largely rest on Leonard and George.

After seeing Leonard collect NBA titles in San Antonio (2014) and Toronto (2019), the Clippers felt he could do the same for them. After seeing George show potential as both the leader in Indiana and Russell Westbrook’s sidekick in Oklahoma City, the Clippers felt George’s presence would both compel Leonard to join the team and provide the support he needs to win an NBA title.

But the Clippers squandered a 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets last year in the NBA bubble. Neither Leonard nor George delivered in the team’s Game 7 loss to Denver.

The Clippers then replaced Doc Rivers and promoted Lue as head coach, while making tweaks with off-season frontcourt changes (Serge Ibaka & Nicolas Batum in place of Montrezll Harrell) and trade-deadline deals to switch up their backcourt (veteran playmaker Rajon Rondo in place of secondary scorer Lou Williams). Meanwhile, Leonard and George had another season to play together more.

“It’s still evolving,” Leonard said. “Our chemistry is still going. Doc and T-Lue are two different coaches. So coming from one set of plays going to a new set of plays, you always have to read the chemistry from that. We’re both out there just trying to win a basketball game. If one of us has it going, or one of our teammates, we are going to look for him.”

That’s not to say that Leonard and George have not played well this season.

More:How NBA players and coaches navigated this season a year after experiencing the bubble

More:After contributing to Lakers' playoff exit, injuries continue to play a role in postseason

From last season to this season, Leonard has shot more efficiently (47% to 51.2%) and has played more minutes (32.4 to 34.1) with fewer injuries. In the regular season, George showed increases from last season to this season in scoring (21.5 points to 23.3), shooting percentage (43.9% to 46.7%), rebounds (5.7 to 6.6) and assists (3.9 to 5.2).

In the playoffs?

While Leonard had dominant performances in the Clippers’ first-round series against Dallas in Game 2 (41 points), Game 3 (36) and Game 6 (45), George impressed the Clippers with his consistent rebounding (7.0 per game).

Against the Jazz, though, the Clippers needed Leonard to maintain his dominance and George to elevate his game. Neither happened in the first two games. While Leonard averaged 22 points on 47.3% shooting, George added 23.5 points but at just a 34% clip.

Leonard somewhat defended their play by pointing out both often “made the right basketball play” and called on teammates to make open shots. But even if the Clippers have avoided attacking the rim when Jazz center Rudy Gobert stays in the paint, Lue conceded beforehand that Leonard and George “got to be a little bit more aggressive.”

Lue received his wish.

Game 3 marked the fourth time in his career, and third as a Clipper, Leonard finished a playoff game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. This was George’s first 30-point these playoffs. Their play offset Mitchell’s 30 point-night, which ended with him sitting out the final seven minutes because of emerging pain in his right ankle.

“PG and Kawhi really set the tone,” Lue said. “That's what we need from our two best players to be able to do that and set the table for everyone else.”

After the Jazz stormed to an 8-0 lead in the first 74 seconds, George answered with eight first-quarter points. He spent the rest of the night canning pull-up jumpers, making step-back 3-pointers and finishing through contact at the rim.

“I just shot my shots to get the shots I'm most comfortable with and stuck with it. Simple as that,” George said. “It's just putting pressure, whether I'm shooting the ball, scoring or making plays. It's just all about putting the pressure on the defense and just staying with an attack mentality all game.”

Leonard carried that mentality in the second half, scoring 12 points in both the third and fourth quarters. During that stretch, Leonard made a pair of reverse layups, floaters near the rim and pull-up jumpers.

“We’re just playing the flow of the game pretty much, trying to do everything, whether it’s defense, rebounding the basketball or talking on the floor,” Leonard said. “Shots are going to go in or not. But our job is to keep being aggressive for ourselves and others.”

By doing that, Leonard and George ensured the Clippers’ season – and their partnership – remain intact at least for a little bit longer.

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The Phoenix Suns ended a Conference semifinal with a 125-118 Game 4 win over the Nuggets on Sunday in front of 18,290 fans at Ball Arena.

Chris Paul again took the lead from the runner-up Suns into the final of the Western Conference for the first time since 2010, the last time they reached the playoffs.

“He did what Chris Paul does,” said Suns striker Jae Crowder. “Point Guard, ‘Point God’ whatever you want to call him, he controlled the game throughout the game.”

Devin Booker took 34 points as the runner-up Suns set a franchise record of seven for the most consecutive playoff wins.

Mikal Bridges added 14 while Deandre Ayton made 12 chips.

“It’s a feeling that is difficult to put into words,” said Booker. “You always reflect after a game like this or close a series, you lean back and reflect a little and think about what we’ve been through as an organization and as a team. Even in the short time (Suns trainer) Monty (Williams) was here, just watched the culture develop and the players improve every day and people put on their helmets and come to work every day. It’s a beautiful sight to see how hard work pays off.

06/13/2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after a game in the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth game of the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

At the center of Phoenix’s first series sweep since 2010 is the 36-year-old point guard, who came to the Suns via trade from Oklahoma City before the season and was instrumental in turning the team completely around after a season of 19 wins in 2018 / 19 was involved.

The recently-named NBA Sixth Man of the year provided his usual spark off the bench for Utah in the contest, finishing with exactly 24 points for the third time in his past four games. He trailed only Donovan Mitchell for top scoring honors among Jazz players in the win. Over seven playoff contests, Clarkson has posted per-game averages of 19.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 3.1 three-pointers.

Clippers vs. Jazz score: Live NBA playoff updates as Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles look to even series in Game 2

Dr. Boyce desires that Kwame Brown Youtube channel is shut down interesting topic. Black men at war!

In "The Power of Ownership: How to Build a Career and a Business," by John Bailey, the reader is transported back to a time and place when life was a bit simpler and relationships mattered most. No Internet, no text messages, and no "social media" except for those getting another pour at the Detroit Press Club. Yes, times were different then. But one thing has never changed, and that is the entrepreneurial spirit of the American worker. It endures to this day because Americans are driven to succeed. It is a part of our collective DNA.

So when the author describes his early days counseling executives of the Stroh Brewery Company, you know he is not only finding his way in the work world, but beginning to forge his own professional identity, too. All the while is he listening, taking notes, and checking his moral compass. Having known the author for 20 years now, I know that ethics are as important to him as any personal or professional achievement.

Game 2 Final: Suns barbecue the Nuggets, cruise to victory, 123-98

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The Phoenix Suns lambasted the Denver Nuggets, taking a 2-0 series lead in the second round of the 2021 Playoffs

LeBron James couldn't help but tip his hat to Devin Booker after the Phoenix Suns star's tremendous performance on Thursday.

After the Suns beat the Lakers 113-100 in a series-clinching Game 6, James met with Booker off the court to give him a signed jersey.

"Continue to be great," James wrote on the jersey.

Booker was electric in Game 6, leading the Suns from the get-go with a record-setting 22-point first-quarter performance. He finished with a playoff career-high 47 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 46 minutes.

James, meanwhile, had an impressive performance of his own, notching 29 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in 41 minutes.

However, without Anthony Davis, who left the game with a groin injury after only playing five minutes, James and the rest of the Lakers showed little resistance to a Suns squad that is on to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign.

The new campaign demonstrates how the NBA has advanced the game, grown its community and impacted culture throughout the league’s storied history.The NBA today unveiled “That’s Game,” its new global brand campaign, which will tip off at the start of the 2021 NBA Playoffs on Saturday, May 22 and continue with the league’s upcoming 75th anniversary season highlighting pivotal moments on-court and beyond, from iconic plays in-arena to the impact players have in the community. The new campaign, created in conjunction with creative agency Translation, demonstrates how the NBA has advanced the game, grown its community and impacted culture throughout the league’s storied history.

“That’s Game” will launch with a series of four television spots narrated by Golden Globe and SAG winning actor, filmmaker, musician and activist Idris Elba set to an original composition by Oscar-winning producer Jon Batiste. Renowned Director Emmanuel Adjei (“Black is King” and “Dark Ballet”) directed the spots, which will air globally in 15 languages, with select markets featuring local celebrities as the voices of the campaign.

“‘That’s Game’ demonstrates more than just the culmination of play – it’s about the moments that have kept fans connected to the game throughout history and will continue to engage them long into the future,” said NBA Chief Marketing Officer Kate Jhaveri. “We are excited to celebrate the incredible plays that leave us in awe and the impactful community work from players and teams, and we look forward to continuing this storytelling into the 75th anniversary season.”

“We are thrilled to partner with the NBA to create ‘That’s Game’ and help tell the story of this game’s impact in culture and around the world both on and off the court” said Jason Campbell, Translation Executive Creative Director. “Every hand that contributed to this work understood that truth, and we are excited to continue unpacking its meaning long into the future.”

The :60 brand spot revisits transcendent moments that have inspired communities of fans around the world, including raising a championship trophy, a draftee achieving his dream of playing in the pros, making a pregame fashion statement, elevating a social justice movement and other bigger than basketball moments. Highlights include:

AFTER 6 YEARS IT TIME "DEVIN BOOKER"fter being drafted 13th overall, Booker’s NBA debut took place in Phoenix on Oct. 28, 2015. That was the same night former Suns great and Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash saw his name and likeness enshrined in the franchise’s Ring of Honor at halftime. Phoenix didn’t do well in his honor, losing to Dallas 111-95, but Booker provided an intriguing silver lining. The then-18-year-old finished the game with 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting in 21 minutes. Four seasons later, Booker became the Suns’ first All-Star since Nash.

3-Point Contest: The league noticed Booker’s shooting stroke immediately and invited its youngest player to participate in the 2016 Three-Point Contest. The 19-year-old rookie acquitted himself well, reaching the final round before ultimately losing to Klay Thompson. Booker returned in 2018 and won the contest, besting Thompson with a record 28 points in the final round. This season was to mark his fifth appearance in the competition before ultimately pulling out due to injury.