As one of the first confirmed matchups in the West this season, the matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks has attracted a lot of attention. Not only because the Clippers have assembled a new Big Three after acquiring Harden, but also because of the Mavericks' strong performance after All-Star Weekend, which has made this team full of expectations. It's just that compared to the previous battles between the two teams, this time the Mavericks are likely to have the upper hand.
Although the two teams are not in the same division, the two teams have met in the playoffs three times in the past five seasons, and the Clippers have a landslide advantage, which is why many people have expressed confidence in the Clippers after this matchup is decided. After all, the absolute core of both teams has not changed much, and the Clippers' style of play is also somewhat restrained by the Mavericks, if nothing goes wrong, the Clippers still have a great chance of winning.
However, the growth of the Mavericks in recent seasons is also obvious, especially this season, the Mavericks have shown more strength in the game than they have ever seen before. Doncic and Irving have a growing chemistry that will cause the Clippers a lot of problems on the offensive end. In the middle of the regular season, the Mavericks strengthened Washington and Gafford again, and the arrival of the two made the Mavericks' tactical rotation richer, and they had a certain advantage over the Clippers.
On the other hand, the Clippers were in crisis again in the closing stages of the regular season. Harden has been the Clippers' most important target this season, but after a consistent mid-season performance, Harden once again exposed the poor execution of key shots and the decline in offensive efficiency in the closing stages. In the playoff matchup, the Clippers need Harden to lead the team with offense, and even change the team's tactical rotation, but Harden's current slump makes the Clippers unable to have confidence in him.
Most importantly, Leonard's injury has put the team's future in jeopardy. Since April 1, Leonard has been on the waiver card because of an inflammation in his right knee, and now the swelling recovery is not good enough, once he can't play in the first round of the matchup or has hidden injuries, then it will no longer be easy for the Clippers to advance smoothly, and the Mavericks are also likely to seize the Clippers' pain point to slam in.
The Clippers' biggest advantage now is the rotation of the front line, and Leonard's contribution on both offensive and defensive ends is the most important. Perhaps it was also anticipated in advance that the Mavericks would strengthen their front line in the middle of the regular season. The Mavericks' forward rotation and mobility are so good these days that if the Clippers don't have Leonard, the Clippers will hardly be able to find an advantage in the matchup with the Mavericks.
Regardless of Leonard's recovery at that time, the Clippers will still consider him carefully on this point, or they will also limit Leonard's playing time. Under such a premise, it is not so easy for the Clippers to continue to play the role of the Mavericks' "nemesis". If the Mavericks can continue their late regular-season form and pounce on the Clippers' flaws, they have a good chance of making it to the next round.