After the Clippers' Game 2 loss in the first round series, Gilbert Arenas took a deep dive into the stark differences between Kawaii Leonard and Nikola Jokic in their game-making decisions. In the face of the Clippers' disappointing performance, the focus of public opinion naturally focused on Leonard's sluggish offensive form, and Arenas was even more vocal in his criticism and highly praised Luka Doncic's outstanding performance on the defensive end, even if he was not known for his defensive performance.
Looking back at the key moments of the game, Leonard took the initiative to ask for a single at the top of the three-point line under Doncic's tight defense, intending to break through the Slovenian guard's defense with his personal strength. However, the Mavericks' clever formation caused Leonard to struggle with his mid-range shots and failed to score as he wanted.
Arenas deplored the scene and was unsparing in pointing out Leonard's mistakes in key moments: "When there are only 10 seconds left in the offensive time, a good scorer will not deliberately look for the weakest opponent defensively, because the opposing team will often provide him with additional support. Admittedly, Doncic's defensive performance at the moment is remarkable, but behind it is more effective defensive coordination. Leonard's decision at this moment was unwise. ”
Arenas further suggested that he expects Leonard to give the ball to Norman Powell, who is unmarked in the corner, at that moment, rather than insisting on forcing a shot. He contrasted Leonard's decision-making with Jokic's, believing that if the ball was in the hands of the Denver Nuggets, a super-center, he would not hesitate to pass the ball to open teammates to optimize the team's offense.
Arenas even mentioned Russell Westbrook's aggressive response in the same round by setting up pick-and-rolls to help Powell get out of the defense, and if Leonard can pass the ball at the right time, Powell has every chance to shoot from beyond the three-point line in the bottom corner, and with his 43.5% three-point shooting rate this season, this scoring opportunity is very likely to translate into a score.
Arenas's argument is so loud that it's hard to refute. Although the Clippers clearly had the advantage of a complete roster, Leonard repeatedly showed excessive dedication to individual performance in the game, causing his decisions at key moments to deviate from the team's interests, which in turn affected the game and caused the team to swallow the defeat at home. Now, the Clippers are about to make a two-game streak in Dallas, and whether they can win back at least one city will greatly affect their fate this season.
Whether Leonard can adjust his style of play in the next games, abandon overly personal choices, and instead pursue the maximum benefit of the team will not only be a matter of personal reputation, but will also be the key to determining the direction of the Clippers throughout the season. This game of superstars and wisdom will undoubtedly become a highlight of the subsequent games.