The NBA Western Conference is full of smoke, and the Lakers, Warriors, Suns, and Clippers are all shining together. Right now, the Clippers are in fourth place in the West with 18 wins and 12 losses, which is remarkable. When Harden first joined the Clippers, the six-game losing streak raised questions, but after Wei Shao came off the bench, Harden and Cajiao worked together to lead the starting lineup to rise and bring the Clippers to life. Harden's recent performance has been eye-catching, averaging 35+9 per game,
The NBA Western Conference is like a fierce competition, with four strong teams, the Lakers, Warriors, Suns, and Clippers, like four Raptors, stirring up the football world. At the moment, the Clippers are in fourth place in the Western Conference with an 18-12 record. Such a ranking undoubtedly makes fans full of expectations for this team that has fallen into a trough.
Harden's arrival was like a timely rain, but it was not without stumbling. When he first arrived with the Clippers, he suffered a six-game losing streak with the team, and there were many questions about Harden's fit into the Clippers lineup. Unexpectedly, after Wei Shao became a substitute, the tacit combination of Harden and Cajiao made the starting lineup full of firepower, and the Clippers' record showed a counterattack trend. Harden's performance has become more and more eye-catching, averaging 35+9 per game recently, and with his strong performance, he has become the league's singles king and led the Clippers to a rebirth.
The Clippers, led by Harden, Leonard, and Paul George, once won nine in a row. Leonard's absence due to injury left the team on a two-game losing streak to the Green and Thunder, led by Harden, Paul George and Westbrook. At this time, Wei Shao and Paul's performance was highly praised, especially Paul's transition to play as a substitute, Wei Shao volunteered as a substitute, and the two superstars gave each other for the team's victory, showing fearless courage.
When Harden and Capepper were on the same floor, the Clippers had a net efficiency of +20.3, fully demonstrating the tacit understanding and dominance of the two stars. In the game against the Pacers, Harden efficiently chipped in 35 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block to win the team. In the game against the Hornets and Warriors, Harden also led the team to victory with an efficient performance, contributing 29 points + 6 rebounds + 8 assists and 28 points + 7 rebounds + 15 assists respectively. In the past 12 games, Harden has contributed an average of 21.4 points + 7.6 rebounds + 9.8 assists + 1.6 steals + 1.3 blocks per game, with an average shooting rate of 51.2% per game and a three-point shooting rate of 46.5%.
Harden's presence became a barometer for the Clippers, who went 4-0 this season when he scored 25+ and 8-2 when he was 20+. His consistent performance has injected constant vitality into the team. On the list of NBA players' effective shooting percentage of dry pull-up jump shots, Harden's performance is particularly impressive, playing 138 times and hitting 60.5% of the effective shooting rate, ranking first in the league. On the singles efficiency list, he can score 1.33 points per single, which is also the best in the league, showing strong individual ability.
Harden's status as a super MVP, scoring champion and assist champion makes his performance on the court extremely intelligent. His ability to switch between scoring and passing playmaking at will makes him feel at home on the pitch. This season, Harden joined the Clippers, not only a personal rebirth, but also a leader in his teammates, making the whole team more tacit and easily coping with various difficulties. For example, under the guidance of Harden, Zubac has greatly improved the efficiency of eating cakes and blocking and dismantling, and has recorded 18 points + 14 rebounds + 4 assists + 1 steal + 2 blocks in a single game, 18 points + 16 rebounds + 3 assists + 3 blocks, 23 points + 14 rebounds + 2 assists + 2 blocks, 16 points + 11 rebounds + 1 assist + 1 block and other outstanding performances.
Head coach Tyronn Lue revealed that Harden often has pick-and-roll Xi with Zubactes after practice. This dedication not only boosted Zubac's performance, but also injected a shot in the arm for the morale of the entire team. While the addition of Harden has brought the Clippers back to life, the team is not yet at its best. In the last five games, Terence Mann has shot only 23% from the field and 12% from three-point range, and his offensive and defensive performance is poor. It is also a reminder that the team still needs to keep grinding and strive to win more games. The tacit understanding and cooperation of Leonard, Harden, and Paul George still need to be further improved in order to better meet the challenges of the future. Under Harden's leadership, the Clippers are ushering in a new era and are full of expectations.
The rise of the moment of truth
Under Harden's leadership, the Clippers have emerged in key moments. Harden, who was once questioned, showed amazing dominance in the game, not only becoming the team's scoring leader, but also making key decisions in key moments. With the combination of Harden and Cayenne, the Clippers have a net efficiency of +20.3, and almost no one can stop them. This makes the team more dangerous in key moments of the game, and whether it is facing a strong opponent or getting into trouble, Harden can step up and be the savior of the team.
Harden's offensive prowess
According to reports, Harden's scoring ability is not to be underestimated, especially when it comes to singles, where he is almost unstoppable. This season, on the NBA league player singles efficiency list, Harden can score 1.33 points per single, which can be called the first in the league. His exceptional singles skills make it difficult for opponents to deal with, and whether it's against tight defenses or tight spaces, Harden is able to find a breakthrough in the offense. This allows the Clippers to rely on Harden's individual ability in key moments to break down the opponent's defense and earn crucial points for the team.
Harden's leadership is a tacit fit with the team
Harden's arrival not only brought about a surge in individual performance, but also showed excellent leadership at the team level. His tacit cooperation with his teammates has improved the overall strength of the team. Especially in the partnership between Harden and Capepper, their tacit understanding can be described as complementary. The team's net efficiency was as high as +20.3 when the two were on the pitch, showing their chemistry and dominance on the field. It's not just Harden's individual success, it's a sign of the team's rise and the power of the team.
Team change under the new coach
In addition to the player-level changes, the Clippers have also undergone a comprehensive team change under new coach Tyronn Lue. Tyronn Lue revealed that Harden often conducts blocking and dismantling Xi exercises with his teammates after practice, which makes the tacit understanding between the players continue to improve. This kind of team building makes the team's tactical execution in the game more precise and more tacit. The arrival of a new coach has injected new energy into the team and given the entire Clippers a new look.
Harden's rebirth not only changed the fate of the Clippers, but also brought an intriguing basketball feast to the entire NBA league. His individual performance and leadership have allowed the team to emerge at key moments and show the quality of dominance. The team still needs to keep grinding and solving problems before they can reach a higher level in future games. The addition of Harden is not only the joining of a player, but also a journey of transformation for the team and individuals, which makes people look forward to their more brilliant performances on the NBA stage in the future.
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