Contradictions within the Clippers team intensified, and Wei Shao was marginalized
In the first round of this season's NBA playoffs, the Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks is undoubtedly the most watched matchup. The two teams have a gorgeous and balanced line-up, and both have the ambition to win the championship. But in this desperate struggle, the contradictions and rifts within the Clippers began to emerge.
Once upon a time, the Clippers were regarded as a popular team, with four popular superstars, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Harden and Westbrook, known as the "Galaxy Battleship". They joined undoubtedly to fulfill the championship dream. However, it was this season that dreams began to shatter.
Kawhi Leonard, the former Pistons-wielding supergiant who relapsed with an old knee injury, was sidelined at a critical moment. At the end of the season, he was even diagnosed with surgery and could be out for a longer period of time. Leonard's injury is undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Clippers, who is the team's leading scorer and the core of the defense.
The second is that George's form is seriously sluggish. The All-Star forward, who played for Indiana and then the Clippers, averaged 23.8 points per game in the regular season, but when it came to the playoffs, his touch was completely gone. In the six series games against the Mavericks, George averaged only 17.5 points per game, shooting less than 40% from the field and 25% from three-point range, and was also full of holes on the defensive end.
Then there is Wei Shao's situation. The former NBA MVP of the year, who shone with the Thunder, has been sidelined since joining the Clippers. In Game 6 of the crucial game against the Mavericks, Wei Shao only got 8 minutes of playing time before being replaced by head coach Tyronn Lue, setting a record for the shortest playing time in his career. After the game, Wei Shao was sprayed by Rocket fans and was called a "real tumor".
As the main combination of the Clippers, Leonard, George and Westbrook's sluggish performance this season is undoubtedly an important reason why the team stopped in the first round. On the other hand, although the arrival of Harden has added a lot of strength to the Clippers, it has also exacerbated the internal contradictions of the team.
Harden joined the Clippers as a new signing and has been trying his best to play the role of the team's first assistant, creating opportunities for his teammates on the court. However, the poor form of Leonard and George forced Harden to step up and shoulder the scoring burden at critical moments.
For example, in Game 6 with the Mavericks, Harden alone had a quasi-triple-double of 16 points, 7 rebounds and 13 assists, but even so, the Clippers still lost 109-115 and were eliminated with a score of 2-4. After the game, Harden hugged Irving and Doncic for the first time, and it seems that he already has a deep affection for this Clippers.
Harden's arrival has also caused discontent among other players on the Clippers roster. It is reported that Wei Shao has shaken his position in the team, he was once the top star of the Thunder, but now he can only sit on the bench on the cold bench, and it is inevitable that he will be affected psychologically.
On the other hand, Leonard and George, two old Clippers courtiers, are also worried about Harden's arrival. They are worried that their position in the team will be weakened, and with injuries and injuries, their performance on the field will be greatly reduced.
Just after the Clippers were eliminated by the Mavericks 2-4, news broke that there was a physical altercation between Wei Shao and Doncic, and the two were ejected from the game at one point. It seems that the contradictions within the Clippers have evolved into open confrontations, and the atmosphere within the team can be imagined.
Faced with such a passive situation, head coach Tyronn Lue also seemed powerless. Some commentators have bluntly said that Lue's annual attempt to turn a team plagued by injuries and instability into a championship team is untenable in the long term. He should leave the Clippers and seek a new owner with a more consistent roster and hard-working players.