The Phoenix Suns need to cool down Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson entered the playoffs as a borderline starter for Los Angeles, averaging 10.7 points per contests while shooting 45.0 percent from the floor. But now scoring 17.3 points a game behind 50.3 percent shooting, it feels fair to say no player for the Clippers elevated his game to an extent greater than him so far this postseason.
Jackson played big beside Mann during LA’s series clinching win over the Jazz, adding 27 points while shooting 10-16 from the field. He too dished out 10 assists, his most since February, 2020.
So far during the postseason though, Jackson has made putting up numbers like these a habit. Three of his top five playoff scoring performances have come during this year’s run, and his previously mentioned 10-assist night missed a career high mark for him by just two. Having played 65 total playoff contests thus far during his 12-year career, one can certainly argue Jackson is playing his best and most meaningful basketball right now.
Likely surging with confidence, the Suns need to bring Jackson back down to earth though. Luckily, Chris Paul seems more likely than not to return for Game 3 vs Los Angeles, allowing Phoenix to plug a strong defender onto Jackson going forward.
Putting Jackson on CP3 island certainly worked out well for the Suns during their last game with him against the Clippers. With Paul as his primary defender, Jackson scored 10 points, while shooting just 4-11 from the field, and turned the ball over four times. The contest ended with the Suns walking away winning 109-101.