The king of basketball is making waves again, and the Western Conference is exciting
God really turned a blind eye, and when the Eastern Major League Basketball was still in full swing, a new round of war was also ignited in the Western Conference. Last week's result was a bombshell, shattering the calm and setting off waves after waves.
Overnight, the top three teams were turned upside down, and several mid-table teams were also bubbling up and down the wave. Honestly, the competition for teams in the West has always been fierce, but this time the change was so dramatic that even veteran fans sighed.
If you want to say that the biggest winner of this round of the game, it is none other than the Nuggets. The Green Army, led by Jokic, won big last week against the Spurs, with an aggregate score of 110-105. Jokic stepped up at critical moments, single-handedly challenged the enemy front, and finally broke through the encirclement with outstanding individual ability, leading the team to the top of the Western Conference.
As the undisputed number one superstar among active NBA players, Jokic has once again proven his worth to the world. I believe that with him, the Nuggets will definitely be able to harness this fierce horse and go to the next level in the playoffs.
In contrast, the Lakers' performance was much more humble. However, their 128-111 victory over the Raptors is still a breath of fresh air in this round. This veteran division once again showed a tough temperament and tenacious perseverance. James and Bushy Eyebrows were the first to charge forward, leading the team to play beautiful offensive combinations, suppressing the opponent to the point where they were almost powerless.
Throughout the game, the Lakers' performance was indeed commendable, especially their tight and accurate defense was impressive. However, to say whether the Lakers can successfully advance to the playoffs, I am afraid there is a big question mark. After all, they are currently only in 9th place in the West, and they are still some way from the top 8. However, given that the margin between the 7-9 teams is also narrowing, as long as the Lakers maintain their current momentum, there is still hope of a breakthrough.
Of course, if you want to talk about the biggest loser in this round, it is naturally the Clippers. In a civil war with the Kings, the Clippers ultimately lost 95-109. This result is really surprising, although the Clippers have no first-class superstars in the lineup, but the shelves are not too low.
In this case, what was the reason for their defeat in this battle? Judging from the specific process of the game, the answer is also traceable. Harden, the team's leading scorer, was unexpectedly cold in this game, and his contribution on the offensive end was limited;
In addition, Leonard, an interior strongman, was sidelined due to injury, which made the Clippers lose control of the interior. Without the escort of these two cores, the Clippers' offense is naturally stretched, greatly slowing their pace. Even so, though, the Clippers are still fourth in the West, not far from the top three. As long as they regain their fighting spirit and play steadily in the next stage, there is still hope for playoff qualification.
In addition to the three teams of the Nuggets, Lakers and Clippers, the Thunder's performance is also impressive. In a desperate battle with the 76ers, although the Thunder finally won 105-109, the competition in the whole court was still fierce and charming.
As a strong team that once occupied the top spot in the West, the Thunder's strength is undoubted. The defeat certainly dropped them to third place in the West, but they were not far from the top two. Judging from the overall trend of the game, the Thunder have always firmly controlled the initiative on the court, but unfortunately made some low-level mistakes in the crucial final stage, resulting in a regret.
However, as the saying goes, "winning and losing are inevitable", an occasional loss cannot erase the goal set by the Thunder before. I believe that as long as they regain their spirits and stick to their style in the next games, there is still hope of returning to the top two.
Looking at the situation of several mid-table teams, Portland and Memphis, two young powerhouses, also suffered setbacks in this round of the tournament. However, in terms of overall strength, they are not far from the top eight, and as long as they bite their teeth in the remaining games, the door to the playoffs will remain open to them.
In contrast, the outlook for the Kings and Spurs, two veteran teams, is not promising. Although they won this round, the overall record shows that their hopes of breaking into the top eight are slim. However, for both teams, even stopping the regular season would be a good summary, after all, they are already the few "old antiques" left.
Overall, the competition in the Western Conference is as brutal as ever. In this dramatic land, victory and defeat are often precarious, only in the blink of an eye. Every team is doing their best for themselves, and the majestic peak is just one step away from the abyssal ghost gate. However, it is this kind of sharp contrast and reversal that makes this arena full of excitement and highlights, and has become a gorgeous scenery in the basketball world. We'll have to wait and see which teams can finally break through on this "Wild West" and have the last laugh.