The data doesn't lie|The offensive efficiency of the Clippers' Big Four is not as good as that of the Grizzlies?
The Clippers lost 93-100 to the Nets, and Harden has not won since joining. In Harden's two losses, the Clippers did not score more than 100 points, while they scored at least 115 points in their first five games. This issue of "Data Doesn't Lie" explores the future of Harden and the Clippers, and perhaps following Paul's example and switching to the bench is the right solution.
Before and after Harden joined, what changes did the Clippers' offense and defense have
Without contrast, there is no harm. What was the offensive and defensive performance of the Clippers before Harden joined? The data shows that the Clippers' offensive efficiency in the first five games was 117.4, ranking fourth in the league in the same period, and the defensive efficiency was 105.8, ranking fifth in the league in the same period. Obviously, the Clippers' offense and defense at that time were at the top level of the league.
After Harden joined, the Clippers played two games, although it was only a small sample, but the offensive and defensive performance was like two teams. In these two games, the Clippers' offensive efficiency was only 97.4, ranking 30th in the league in the same period, that is, the penultimate one, and the defensive efficiency was 109.3, ranking 11th in the league in the same period, which also declined.
Offensive efficiency has dropped dramatically, and defensive efficiency isn't as good as it used to be, so it's no wonder the Clippers lost both games.
The Big Four are inefficient in the same field and have not yet produced a chemical reaction
What is the effect of the expected Clippers Big Four on the same court? This is still a small sample, the four played two games for 43 minutes, and in those 43 minutes, the Clippers scored 86 points, conceded 97 points, and lost to their opponents by 11 points. In terms of shooting percentage, he shot 31-of-75 from the field with a 41.3% shooting rate and 8-of-29 from three-point range with a 27.6% shooting rate, all of which were pretty bad.
In these 43 minutes, the Clippers had an offensive efficiency of only 101.2 and a defensive efficiency of 112.8, losing to opponents by 11.6 points per 100 possessions. The Big Four are on the same court, and in everyone's concept, it should be the period when the Clippers' firepower is the most intense, so what is the concept of 101.2's offensive efficiency?
So far this season, the Pacers have the highest offensive efficiency of the 30 NBA teams at 121.2, while the Grizzlies have the lowest offensive efficiency at 104.2. In other words, when the Clippers' Big Four are on the same floor, their offensive efficiency is worse than that of the Grizzlies, who have the worst offense in the league!
Of course, it's only two games, and it will take time for Harden and his new teammates to develop chemistry. It's just that such a low starting point still surprises many fans.
Harden learned from Paul to play on the bench, which may be the right solution
How to use the Big Four will be something that Tyronn Lue will be seriously considering in the coming days. Whether to let them start the chemistry together, or decisively split the use and find a more reasonable rotation order. If it's the latter, a very real question arises, who will play on the bench? Pepper is obviously impossible to substitute, the question is only whether Harden or Wei Shao will go to the bench.
Actually, the best solution is Harden off the bench. Why? Let's look at this set of data. Prior to the Harden trade, there were 272 trios in the league who played at least 70 minutes. Among the 272 groups of trio, the highest score in 100 rounds is Wei Shao + George + Xiaoka, the three played 5 games and played 114 minutes in the same game, with an offensive efficiency of 128.1, a defensive efficiency of 90.7, and a 37.4 points to win the opponent in 100 rounds!
Therefore, letting Wei Shao, Xiaoka and George play together has proven to be very effective, but if you add Harden, it may reduce the offensive and defensive efficiency. After all, both Harden and Westbrook are used to holding the ball, and that's one thing that's hard to change. The easiest and most effective way is to let Harden play as a substitute, on the one hand, it retains the efficient trio of Wei Shao, Xiaoka and George, and on the other hand, Harden can activate the second team and play more comfortably.
Paul is a great example of that, you don't put him in the starting line-up as well as you put him on the bench. The Warriors' bench performance has improved this season, and Paul has a lot of credit, and Harden can replicate such a scene in the Clippers lineup. After the Clippers' two-game losing streak, one fan commented, "If Chris Paul can put his pride aside and come off the bench for the Warriors, then Harden can do the same." ”
Do you think Harden playing off the bench will solve the Clippers' problems?