The Clippers have won 10 of the last 12 games, the true shooting percentage is the first in the league, Harden adapts to his new role, and the 3 major changes perfectly activate Leonard and George, and the Clippers 9-for-3 deal is really right!
Text: Lao Kan Kanqiu
Editor|Lao Kan Kanqiu
The new NBA season has been going on for more than two months, and the situation in the league is gradually becoming clearer, with teams in the East and West performing differently. In the East, the Celtics, Bucks and 76ers are the top three teams, forming a three-legged situation. The Celtics are known for their excellent defense and solid offense, the Bucks have the best player in the league, and the 76ers have two stars, Embiid and Maxey, who are in good hands. In contrast, the situation in the West is more complex and extremely competitive, with 10 teams winning more than 50% of the time.
However, the Lakers, Warriors and Suns, as the favorites recognized by the outside world at the beginning of the season, all have strong lineups and strength, but their performances in the game are not satisfactory. Despite the fact that the three superstars James, Durant and Curry still maintain good stats and efficiency. But truth be told, their dominance is gradually declining. While they are still some of the best players in the league, they are not as influential in the game as they used to be, and the reason for this is that these superstars are entering the latter stages of their careers, while other new generations of players like Alexander, Doncic and Edwards are also on the rise and leading the team to better results.
Similarly, the Clippers had high hopes for Harden after completing a 9-for-3 trade at the beginning of the season, but the results were a big surprise. Despite forming a luxurious "Big Four", the Clippers were once in trouble, with a win hard to find, suffering a six-game losing streak, and the record was the lowest in the West. It once made the outside world question and criticize the Clippers' trade.
However, after the Clippers reflected and adjusted, Wei Shao took the initiative to return to the bench, and Tyronn Lue also decided to use Mann to replace Wei Shao as the starter. This adjustment allowed the Clippers' new starting five (Harden + Mann + Leonard + George + Zubac) to begin to show strong and efficient offense and defense, ranking fourth in the league in net efficiency during the same period, winning opponents by 16.5 points per 100 possessions. In just the last 12 games, the Clippers have proven their mettle with a 10-2 record, and this new starting five is becoming an important weapon for the Clippers to compete for a championship.
Over the past few years, Harden has begun to transform his role, and his three major changes have not only improved his performance, but also successfully activated Leonard and George. First, Harden's three-point shooting has risen from 27 percent last season to 35 percent this season, and his three-point shooting has soared to 43.4 percent, indirectly increasing the off-ball threat on the offensive end. Second, Harden has also made adjustments in terms of time with the ball. Compared to last season, he has reduced his average time with the ball per game, from more than nine minutes to less than six minutes. This shift not only eased the burden on Harden, but also improved his efficiency when playing alone with the ball. This season, Harden averaged 1.35 points per single, which ranks first in the league.
Thirdly, Harden has also improved in terms of connecting the whole team and improving defensive motivation. This season, Harden has been defined by head coach Tyronn Lue as the Clippers' defensive sweeper, averaging 1.5 steals per game, which ranks 12th in the league. His outstanding performance has improved the overall defensive level of the Clippers and made the team more fluid on the offensive end.
With Harden's transition, Leonard's dribbling and ball handling decreased significantly, but that didn't affect his rhythm and instead allowed him to focus more on scoring and defending. In the process, Xiaoka has been completely liberated, and his scoring and defensive abilities have been more fully played. In nine games in December, he averaged 29.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, shooting 61.5 percent from the field, 50.2 percent from three-point range and 95.8 percent from the free-throw line.
Similarly, George is another beneficiary of Harden's role shift. The data shows that after Harden joined, George's turnover rate dropped significantly. Last season, George's turnover rate was as high as 13.6 percent, and in '21-22 it was a whopping 15.4 percent. However, so far this season, George's turnover rate is just 10.2 percent, which is a new low in his Clippers career. This shows that with Harden's playmaking and passing, George was able to focus more on his offense and defense, reducing unnecessary turnovers.
As head coach Tyronn Lue said, "The great thing about Harden is the transformation he brings to the team. In the past, every shot [Leonard and George] had to create every shot themselves, and the arrival of Harden changed that. His arrival has eased the burden on Kappy and made it easier for them to play. Apparently, Harden successfully activated the strongest card pepper state,
Today, the Clippers have become a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference. Over the past 12 games, the Clippers have shown amazing offensive efficiency. Their offensive efficiency is as high as 123.2, which ranks third in the league. At the same time, their true shooting percentage is as high as 62.8%, which ranks first in the league. The Clippers started to get better and better after Harden joined. I have to say that the Clippers made a big 9-for-3 trade and really made the right bet, and they successfully built a championship-winning team!