The Clippers' take-off comes from a profound change in the team. The story started with a rough start, and at the start of the season, they were three wins and two losses and were in mediocre form. However, when James Harden joined the team, the Clippers experienced a nightmarish six-game losing streak and seemed to sink into the abyss of despair.
Discerning people have long seen the problem, the team's starting lineup, although luxurious, is too slow, and the attack is in a bottleneck. Harden and Westbrook played together, the slowest starting lineup in the league, and the offense lacked variety, and the outcome of the game became as uncertain as a flip coin. And, at some moments, with Westbrook, Zubac and Tucker on the court at the same time, the space became crowded and the team's offense and defense were restricted.
To solve this problem, they took bold changes. Willis volunteered as a substitute, a move that breathed life into the starting lineup, with Mann emerging as the new starting point guard, forming a formidable trio with Capepper and Harden. This new configuration not only increases the diversity of the offense, but also increases the intensity of the defense. Mann was also impressive, contributing an indispensable amount of energy to the team, while also taking the pressure off Paul George and Leonard on the defensive end, allowing them to focus more on the offense.
In addition, the Clippers brought in Tess Jones, adding a layer of insurance to the vulnerable No. 5 spot. Theis was also impressive, repaying the trust of head coach Tyronn Lue with his excellent eating and defending. However, the change also meant less playing time for veteran Tucker, a controversial decision that brought tangible benefits to the team. Due to Tucker's diminished corner three-point ability, he has become almost a "waste" on the court, unable to contribute to offense and defense. This decision, while unpopular with some fans, was necessary.
However, the Clippers' changes are not limited to the tactical level, and the strong return of Kawhi Leonard has also been a huge help to the team. At the start of the season, the youngster was mediocre, but over time he gradually found his form and became a key attacking firepower for the team. In recent games, Leonard has averaged 286 points, 54 rebounds and 50 assists, shooting an astonishing 60% from the field, 52% from three-point range, and 100% from the free-throw line. His performances on both the offensive and defensive ends provided the Clippers with dominance and became the leader of the team.
Leonard's return has changed the overall dynamics of the Clippers, and his stellar performance has attracted pinch shots and created more opportunities for other players. The team's attack became more fluid and each player found their niche. Leonard is no longer just the main attacker, other players can also play in high-quality space, and the offensive mode has become more diverse.
To sum up, the recovery of the Clippers comes from many changes. They rediscovered the logic and unity of winning through tactical adjustments, a new line-up set-up and the strong return of Kawhi Leonard. The team has overcome the initial difficulties and returned to the winning track to achieve higher goals. This story teaches us that even in difficult times, as long as we maintain unity and courage, we can overcome all difficulties and achieve success.