Clippers, Bucks show resolve playing without their stars

The Clippers and Bucks silenced doubters by making triumphant starts to their respective postseason campaigns on Sunday. 

Despite playing at home, the Clippers and Bucks went in as underdogs against the Mavericks (-3.5) and Pacers (-1.5), respectively, in large part due to the injuries suffered by their best players — Kawhi Leonard (knee inflammation) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf strain).

Furthermore, the Clippers and Bucks appeared to be tottering at the end of the regular season, as evidenced by their 15-14 and 14-12 records after the All-Star break. As such, it was almost ordained for both franchises to suffer early postseason exits against teams riding a lot more momentum.

However, the veteran ball clubs proved that playoff basketball will always be a different animal. The Clippers played tenacious defense to hold the Mavericks to just 97 points — nearly 21 points below Dallas' season average of 117.9. Similarly, the Bucks kept the Pacers to just 94 points, 30 points shy of Indiana's league-leading season average of 123.3 points per game. 

In other words, the Clippers and Bucks put the clamps on two high-octane offenses that ran a lot of teams out of the gym in the regular season. It became apparent within minutes that neither Dallas nor Indiana was going to be able to run out in transition and make easy buckets. 

NBA analyst Kenny Smith praised Clippers coach Tyronn Lue for making his team embrace the "next man up" mentality in the absence of Leonard.

"Tyronn Lue's ability to have players ready to play has been unprecedented in his entire tenure," Smith said on "Inside the NBA" on TNT. "His teams always achieve, they never underachieve."

Charles Barkley feels the Pacers' offensive strategy was bound to backfire in the postseason, where each possession means a lot more.

"When you play at a real fast pace, it looks great when it's working," Barkley said of the Pacers. "But if you're not getting stops and not making shots, and that's what you saw in the first half tonight."

One wonders if the Mavs and Pacers missed a golden opportunity to make winning starts against teams missing their star players. Leonard and Antetokounmpo are reportedly expected to join their respective teams imminently, which could boost their chances of making deep runs in the playoffs.