Discuss the review | From a 6-game losing streak to the top of the Western Conference on the Northern Expedition, how exactly did the Clippers do it?

Happiness came so suddenly.

On February 6, Beijing time, the Clippers ended a difficult seven-game journey with 6 wins and 1 loss, and they returned to Los Angeles with a full harvest. Then on February 7, the Clippers, who had done their best, were favored by God, and they waited for good news, the Timberwolves and Thunder lost one after another, and the Clippers rose to the first place in the West with a 69.4% win rate over the two Northwest powerhouses.

On November 15 of last year, the Clippers had just suffered a wave of six straight losses, with a record of only 3 wins and 7 losses. But now, the Clippers have made their way to the top of the Western Conference on the Northern Expedition. How exactly do they do it?

Wei Shao applied for a substitute

The Clippers' 6-game losing streak exposed all the problems that arose after the formation of the Big Four, and Wei Shao took the initiative to apply to play off the bench to help Coach Lu solve the problem of insufficient balls, and then Coach Lu clarified the role of Harden as the core of the ball. Clippers management brought in Theis to bolster the interior, and Lue abandoned Tucker to determine the final rotation. Aside from Tucker's frustration that he fell out of the rotation, no one expressed displeasure.

Wei Shao has been praised for taking the initiative to apply to play as a bench, his value is not only in the spirit of sacrifice, when he actively defends, becomes a source of energy for the Clippers, and completes the tandem on the premise of fewer mistakes, he is a "real fragrance" for the Clippers with an annual salary of only $3.85 million this season.

For such a young man, the Clippers commander is willing to call him a "leader". Coach Lu praised Wei Shao for his "endless energy, which he can use to boost the team every night", and Harden summed up Wei Shao's value perfectly: "He accepted the role of a bench, he shot the basket when necessary, he sent some accurate passes, and he was very active on the defensive end. ”

The celebration of the Clippers players illustrates their brotherhood, and the "cradle dance" between Wei Shao and George is not mentioned, and there is a very warm story between Wei Shao and Tucker. Tucker hasn't played since late November, but during a pregame shooting practice in December, Willis found Tucker's signature celebration after learning Tucker's three-pointer. Against the Trail Blazers, Wei Shao made this celebration after hitting a three-pointer.

"I can't play, so Wei Shao represents me, he is my brother, he is just expressing love for me," in Tucker's eyes, Wei Shao is a big warm man, and Wei Shao uses this way to appease Tucker who fell out of the rotation.

Harden's system

"I'm not a system player, I'm the system itself!"

Does the 34-year-old Harden want to come to the Clippers with Leonard and George to become the system itself?

But Harden did. The original Clippers were known as "dual-core drives", but unfortunately they couldn't catch up with the fastest opponents at full power, and the dual-core had to enter the factory for maintenance from time to time. With Harden's arrival, the Clippers have installed state-of-the-art engines, and the top point guards that have been in place for the past few years are in place.

In a better space environment, Harden has achieved a downgrade and increased efficiency, and his true shooting percentage is the highest since leaving the Thunder to bid farewell to his status as a super sixth man.

This season, Harden averaged 17.3 points, 8.6 assists per game, and only 2.5 turnovers, he has become an indispensable presence for the Clippers.

The sacrifice of Ka Pepper

With the addition of Harden, Leonard and George are undoubtedly the biggest beneficiaries, and their offensive burden has been reduced a lot.

The addition that Harden brings to Leonard is reflected in Leonard's offensive efficiency, Harden can allow Leonard to receive the ball in a more comfortable position, and Leonard is shooting 53.3% from the field and 45.7% from three-point range this season.

George's changes are reflected in fewer turnovers and more offensive efficiency, with fewer rounds to advance with the ball and instigate offense in the half-court positional battle, which allows him to make fewer turnovers and focus more on offense. In addition, George embraced the transition and increased off-ball offense, especially catch-and-shoot shots, to great effect.

A scout from an Eastern Conference team explained the new version of the Clippers: "They still have a lot of singles, but they also have the ability to play fast because they can open up space and have a top passer like Harden, they can kill opponents with far more means than before." ”

Lu instructed the employing of people

When the Clippers lost 6 in a row, there were also rumors that Coach Lu might be out of class, but Coach Lu used his super coaching ability to make all those rumors disappear.

In the use of Harden and Willis and the lineup, Coach Lu found the most suitable style of play and lineup for the Clippers. In terms of on-the-spot coaching, he developed three versions of the five-small lineup, and used the five-small to win many times at critical moments. In terms of tapping into the potential of the interior, Lu directed the development of Coffey's value.

Now that the Clippers are at the top of the Western Conference, they have shown a strong dominance, whether they are fighting offense or defense, they will not refuse.

George said: "Keep it up, it's hard for us to beat in a best-of-seven series. ”

The premise of all this is always health.