25-5, the first in the league, the Clippers Big Three have a complete showdown, and if they continue like this, there will really be no suspense about the NBA championship!
Text: Lao Kan Kanqiu
Editor|Lao Kan Kanqiu
Halfway through the regular season of the new NBA season, the situation in the East and West is very different. In the east, the situation is chaotic, and the competition between teams for the rankings is becoming more and more fierce. The Celtics, with their strong starting five, made their way through the regular season and topped the league. However, after the Bucks took over Rivers Sr., the team's record plummeted, which was a big surprise. At the same time, the Cavaliers and Knicks have emerged as strong contenders for the top two in the East, overtaking the Philadelphia 76ers.
In contrast, the western side is clearly layered. The fourth group, the Grizzlies, the Spurs, etc., are directly rotten, the third group, the Lakers, the Warriors, are still struggling for playoff tickets, and the Mavericks are about to fall behind in the second group, and the Suns are playing better and better. In contrast, there isn't much fighting in Group 1, with the Thunder and Timberwolves alternately leading and the defending champions Nuggets fighting and clearly saving their strength for the playoffs. The most surprising is the Clippers, from the opening 3-7, the ranking once fell to the bottom of the West, with the return of Wei Shao to the bench, after Tyronn Lue adjusted the lineup, the Clippers ushered in a strong rebound, since December, the team record 25-5, the same period ranked first in the league, ranking all the way to the top three in the West.
Today, the Clippers are the biggest favorites in the league. Their strength, experience and tacit cooperation have become the biggest rivals of other teams. Leonard and George's outstanding performances on both ends of the floor, as well as Harden's playmaking skills, have given the Clippers an advantage on the road to the championship. The data shows that the Clippers have ranked first in the league in offensive efficiency and two-point shooting percentage in the past 30 games. 25-5, the first in the league, the Clippers Big Three have a complete showdown, and if they continue like this, there will really be no suspense about the NBA championship!
It is worth mentioning that the reason why the Clippers have undergone a radical change this season is inseparable from Harden's contribution. This season, Harden's excellent playmaking skills have allowed every player on the Clippers team to play their best characteristics and play the highest offensive efficiency. According to statistics, since December, Harden has a whopping 14.7 points of difference when he is on the floor, which is the highest in the league. Among the top five players in the league in terms of goal difference, four are Clippers players, except for Harden, the other three are Leonard, Powell and George. In addition, when Harden has more than 10 assists, the Clippers have a staggering 15-2 record, a win rate of nearly 90%. This statistic further proves that Harden is the 'key key' that really activates the Clippers, and his passing and playmaking skills make it easier for the Clippers to play.
Obviously, Harden not only freed up Leonard and George to better play their strengths, but also fully mobilized the energy of role players, with players such as Coffey, Powell, Theis and Mann also showing greater potential under Harden's leadership and becoming an important force on the Clippers' championship journey.
Compared with Harden, the 'key key', Leonard is the soul of this team, able to really hold the bottom of the team, stabilize the team's position, and lead the team to victory. Looking at the data, the impact of Leonard's presence on the Clippers is obvious. When Leonard plays, the Clippers' 100-posing net efficiency is as high as +11.9, and when he's not on the court, the Clippers' net efficiency is down to -4.3.
In fact, if Leonard stays healthy, he will undoubtedly be the top star in that league. He has five 30+ points and zero turnovers this season, ranking first in the league. Not only that, Leonard, as a superstar in the league with an offensive and defensive integration, has a net efficiency of 12 this season and also ranks first in the league, and it is no exaggeration to say that Leonard this season has played the most efficient season of his career.
Now, the Clippers are playing perfectly on both ends of the floor. Defensively, they showed excellent ability to help and switch defenses, making up for the lack of interior defense. Leonard and George, two super defensive players, can directly strangle the opponent's offensive core at critical moments. On the offensive end, the Clippers mobilized the motivation of each player through Harden's playmaking and pick-and-roll ability. The team blossoms more, everyone is the point of attack, so that the opponent is unguardable. And Leonard's super one-on-one finishing ability and George's big heart ball at critical moments are the most important killer features for the Clippers.
It has to be said that this team already has all the ingredients to win a championship: excellent defense, efficient attack, strong team spirit and excellent performance of leading players. If the Clippers stay healthy this season, and if they continue to play in this state, there will really be no suspense about the NBA championship!