Nine straight wins are great, but if they are all weaker opponents or big players are absent, the real test is in the Nuggets, where Jokic's shooting performance is quite sluggish. In the last three games, Xia Lei Kai has been one of the best verifications. Although the Knicks did not send Kenneth Irving and Jordan Caruso, they still won the game without a thrill. In the past 12 games, the most difficult teams are the Thunder and the Green Army, both teams who are good at using space, and winning one of them is enough to prove their strength. Two consecutive defeats are not surprising, but the process has been extremely difficult and has shown a complete collapse. This begs the question of the actual value of the previous nine-game winning streak, whether it was all for the weak team and cowered at the strong team.
Can Leonard's return rely on efficient performance to fill the gap of 30+ points? Can it improve Zubac's inability to defend? Does the offensive defense continue to have vacant positions? Is there a problem with two players being abandoned in the rotation? Does the bag carrier cause role players to be vacant? Mann's recent three-point shooting is terrible, can he be improved?There are only four reliable three-pointers on the team, how to deal with it? When facing a really strong team, the problem is bound to be exposed, and at this time Leonard is just leaving the court early. The Clippers' fundamental problems are only two: 1) lack of offensive strength, and 2) a porous defense.
Many people feel that Leonard did not perform well in the regular season, but in fact, his regular season win rate is more than 70%, the highest among active players. Even when playing for a strong team, the win rate has not decreased. After leaving the Spurs and Raptors, the results of both teams are still excellent, showing the influence of Leonard. The stats don't tell the whole story of his contribution to the team's victory, but it's still strong and worth sticking to.
As a basketball player, Leonard didn't have a stellar record since he became a core player. Although he helped the San Antonio Spurs win an NBA championship in 2014, his leadership was not immediately recognized. Beginning in the 2015-16 season, Leonard was seen as the true leader of the Spurs, leading the team to an excellent record in the Western Conference. Over the next two seasons, the Spurs finished in the top two in the West, in which Leonard played a crucial role. He helped the Spurs win the playoffs with his excellent defense and accurate shooting. However, during the 2017-18 season, Leonard missed most of the games due to injury, but even so, the Spurs managed to make the playoffs, demonstrating Leonard's strong influence and power as a leader.
And in the season of his departure, the Raptors didn't have a bad regular season performance, still ranking second in the East. Lowry is older and his form has declined, and the main players such as Xiaojia and Ibaka have left the team, and many factors have caused the decline in performance. Leonard's move to the Raptors, who have a rich basketball culture, is actually the equivalent of the NBA's top-tier superstars moving to the Philadelphia 76ers or the Boston Celtics, who have long been the powerhouses of the East. The improvement of the team is significant, and as long as the injuries are properly controlled, the regular season results are naturally good. But to judge whether it meets the supergiant standard, it can only be tested by performance in the playoffs.
Leonard's performance for the Clippers can be described as unique, and he has become the team's most relied on player with his excellent ball skills and excellent technical movements. He has been able to show unrivalled quality on both the offensive and defensive ends, bringing boundless energy and passion to the team. As long as Leonard can stay healthy, he will lead the Clippers all the way to a high level. However, Paul George's absence has greatly reduced the team's strength, but Leonard's performance has remained strong, and he has used his strength and determination to hold up the sky for the team.
If Paul George is given plenty of time to recuperate, he will be back to his best in no time. However, if he is suspended due to injury, his strength will drop dramatically, which will have a detrimental effect on both the offensive and defensive ends of the team. Unless Leonard has recovered well from his injury and he has had enough time to adjust to his condition. In addition, Lameli's return from injury is also a big boon for the team, and his return will bring more energy and strength to the team.
During Leonard's brief break, the team will need to find other players to fill his void. Theis, as Leonard's replacement, can keep the team solid at the No. 4 position. Theis has been outstanding, especially on the defensive end, and he has been able to bring consistent scoring and defensive ability to the team, keeping the team both offensively and defensively assured. Tucker's role on the bench is also very important, as he can provide consistent performance on both the defensive and offensive ends, both in the starting lineup and in the early lineup, as well as in the timely support of the bench to strengthen the team. Tucker can also be relied upon in key moments of the game, and he can provide important help to the team. Therefore, the roles of Theis and Tucker are very important during Leonard's rest, and they can provide consistent performances for the team and keep the team competitive in the game.
For Mann's defence, he needs to strengthen his strength across the board and improve his success rate in open positions in order to bring more opportunities to the team. In short, as long as the Clippers are fully prepared, they will be able to minimize the impact on the team and keep the team competitive during Leonard's short break.