Felicia Enriquez, aka Mynt J, is the host of the podcast BlackLove and Basketball – Compton Edition. She is a Clippers fan, an NBA credentialed creator representing thePeachBasket. In this article, Built for This: Clippers Unite at Home with Defense, Dogs, and Dome Energy, she gets Clipper Nation ready for the first playoff game at the Intuit Dome! The LA Clippers are built for this!
The King of LA Has Arrived
Let me introduce the most dangerous two-way player to ever hit the hardwood: The King of LA, Kawhi Leonard. Not only does he dominate, but he does it with a quiet joy that makes watching him play feel like art. Dropping 39 points in 39 minutes in Game 2? That’s not just impressive—it’s elite. James Harden said it best. And shout out to “Uno” for giving his teammate flowers. Again, a reminder that this squad stays selfless. It’s always team-first.
Here’s a stat many don’t know: Kawhi Leonard is the fifth-winningest player in NBA regular-season history with a 532-201 (.726) record. That’s not just experience—that’s legacy. Look it up. That’s a stat LeBron doesn’t have in his bag.
Game 1: Overtime Drama with a Side of Bias
There’s something magical about playoff basketball—the drama, the energy, the rise of heroes. Game 1 between the Clippers and Nuggets was a rollercoaster. The Clippers came out blazing—up 32-27 at the end of the first. But MVP Nikola Jokic had other plans, dropping 29 points, 21 boards, and 12 assists in a triple-double showcase.
Russell Westbrook, back in the Denver mix, hit a big-time three. Harden went off for 32 points and 11 assists. Kawhi added 22, and Zubac grabbed 13 rebounds. Still, Denver pulled ahead in OT.
Now let’s keep it real—without a little help from the refs, that game could’ve gone differently. Denver got 27 free throw attempts. The Clippers? Just 16. But to be fair, we also gave up 20 turnovers which cost us 29 points. Denver didn’t outplay us—we handed it to them.
After the game, Harden kept it real:
“It was turnovers that were unforced. That’s the game right there. It was nothing that they did, it’s us, all us.”
Kawhi added:
“We’ve just got to be decisive, get more in attack-mode situations… A lot of turnovers we caused. We’ve got to try to limit that and be better next game.”
And that’s exactly what they did.
Game 2: The Bounce Back
Clippers win 105-102. We pouted for five minutes after Game 1 and then bounced back with that Real LA Team confidence. Kawhi came out cooking—39 points on 15-of-19 shooting, 4-of-7 from deep, perfect from the line. Harden chipped in 17 points and 7 dimes. Jokic still did his Jokic thing (26-10-10), but this time, LA sealed the deal.
Postgame, Harden praised Kawhi’s leadership and clutch gene:
“I feel like he did not miss a shot… that aggressiveness that we need from him. He just got to his spot and raised up. Big-time player, he played big-time today.”
And that’s what makes this Clippers team dangerous. They don’t rely on just one guy. Any player, any moment, can deliver.
We flipped the turnover script too—Denver gave it up 20 times, we just 11. Yet again, the refs showed Denver love at the line (21 FTs to our 12), but we didn’t complain—we just adjusted and fought through it.
Let’s also talk about the Nuggets’ WWE audition tape. Jamal Murray was out there picking up and trying to body-slamming Norman Powell, and Jokic took Flopping 101 from LeBron’s School of Drama. The refs need to hold these antics accountable, call some techs. But the Clippers? Gritty, graceful, and ready.
That one possession where Harden, passed to Zubac, he drew the double team, passed to Kawhi for the three was like a jazz trio? Poetry in motion.
Clippers Unite at home: Intuit Dome Energy Is Real
Now, we’re heading home—Inglewood. The next two games are in the new Intuit Dome, and yes, it’s as special as it looks. Shoutout to Steve Ballmer, the ultimate superfan. This arena was built with us in mind. If you missed the Game 1 or 2 watch parties, you really missed out. Thank you, Mr. Ballmer, for bringing pride and purpose back to the franchise.
Respect is being put on our name. That championship moment is coming—and he made that possible.
The Wall Effect: Intuit Advantage
Back in March, I said “The Wall is our not-so-secret weapon. We used it to beat the #1 Cavaliers, and it’s about to show up again I called it “The Wall Effect: The Sixth Man at Intuit Dome.” Game 3 isn’t just about the matchup, it’s about The Effect the Wall has, and its effective.
Current wall stats:
- Opponent FT% vs. “The Wall”: 73.4% (would rank dead last in the league)
- In 41 home games, only 14 teams dared shoot in front of The Wall in the second half
- On 11/22 vs. the Kings: they shot 24.4% in front of The Wall and scored just 29 second-half points
- Visiting teams shot just 74.8% from the FT line at Intuit—second lowest in the NBA
They’re not just playing the Clippers—they’re playing The Wall.
Defense Wins Series
Jeff Van Gundy’s fingerprints are all over this defense:
- 3rd in defensive rating
- T- 3rd in steals
- 4th in opponent points per game
- 3rd in opponent field goals made
- 2nd in offensive rebounds allowed
- 1st in total rebounds allowed
We got dogs. Derrick Jones Jr showed up in Game 1. Kris Dunn in Game 2? A whole beast. Deflecting, locking down, getting gritty in a clean way—exactly what Kawhi loves. I call Kris Dunn, “Baby Kawhi.”
And don’t sleep on Kris Dunn:
- 3rd in league in defensive rating
- 4th in steals per game
- 8th in deflections
- Since Feb 2025: 51 steals (more than anyone in the West)
We Got Dogs Too: Denver Wants to Get Dirty? Bet.
Let’s keep it all the way real—Denver been moving greasy. The flops, the elbows, the fake tough guy antics? We see it. But don’t get it twisted—we got dogs too.
Ben Simmons—he might not bark, but he bites. We don’t play dirty, but if they want to take it there, we got the muscle to match. This isn’t the old Clippers. This squad knows how to take a hit—and then hit right back, clean, loud, and legal.
So yeah… try us. This time, it won’t end the same.
Ben Simmons: Unlock the Beast
Ben Simmons—the quiet defender with a loud impact. Say what you want about his shot—or lack thereof—but when he’s locked in on defense, he’s a disruptor. He cuts passing lanes, alters shots, and helps anchor the second unit when the game gets gritty. He might not be dropping 20, but he’s keeping 20 off the board—and that matters.
What’s holding him back? Confidence? Comfort? Whatever it is, he knows he belongs. This isn’t Philly. This isn’t Brooklyn. This is LA. It’s different here. The fans want him to win. His teammates believe in him. And when Ben feels that, you can see it—he runs harder, defends smarter, and helps make the Clippers unbeatable on D. Let’s build that man up, not tear him down. Because a confident Ben Simmons? That’s a weapon.
Underrated X-Factor: Amir Coffey
Where’s Amir Coffey? And why isn’t he getting Bogi’s defensive minutes?
Coffey is the second best two player on the Clippers, so why isn’t he being utilized for his defensive ability? No shade to Bogi—offensively, he’s solid. But defensively? Let’s just say it isn’t it. Amir’s been cooked less. And he’s efficient: 47.1% FG 40.9% from three 89.1% from the line Coffey’s been with the Clippers since 2019, just waiting for this moment. His defense could shift this entire series. Don’t let the plus/minus lie to you. It doesn’t measure heart or hustle. Amir’s got both. Let him shine.
The Dome Is Different
There’s a buzz in the Intuit Dome. You feel it before the tip. The crowd doesn’t just show up—they show out. Fans aren’t just sitting courtside, they’re standing, screaming, chanting from the wall to the rafters. The energy? Electric. Respect? Earned.
Come Game 3 don’t just watch the game—feel it. Feel the roar when Kawhi hits that middy. Feel the crowd erupt after a Simmons steal or a Norman Powell corner three. This isn’t just playoff basketball. This is a movement.
Final Word: Game 3 & 4—We Home
This team deserves its flowers. People love to say, “But y’all don’t have a championship.” Okay—but that’s just for now.
What do we have?
- Our own arena (take notes, Lakers)
- More heart, more grit, more grace
- Resilience you can’t teach
We’ve been through it all—and we still rise.
Going into Game 3, we’ve got the momentum. The crowd. The Dome. We know Denver’s game: Jokic flops, the refs blow whistles, Russ might let one fly from Pluto. Our job? Lock in. Cut turnovers. Win the hustle plays. Denver had 18 second-chance points in Game 2—we had 5. That’s points left on the table.
Zubac needs to close the paint. No trespassing. Let Jokic flop—we’ll make sure he’s too tired to get back up.
Game 3 and 4 are in Inglewood, California, baby. We home. Let’s get INTUIT.
