1. Background.
The Clippers and Nuggets, two strong teams in the West, suffered a slump during the run-in period this season, but then both completed their big explosions. The Clippers are a perfect blend of two new superstars, Harden and Leonard, while the Nuggets have managed to rise to the top of the West under the leadership of youngster Mbor and veterans.
2. Comparison of the data of the two teams.
In December, the Clippers finished first in the West with an 11-3 record, which boosted their overall win percentage to over 50 percent. In his last two games, Harden has scored 29 and 16 points, dished out 21 assists and made eight three-pointers. Wei Shao's shooting percentage also reached a career-best of 538%。In comparison, the Nuggets are only fifth in the West with 9 wins and 6 losses, but their overall strength is unquestionable. Mpo's triple-double against the Clippers proved that he had recovered from injury, and Barton was out for a while due to injury, but immediately returned to score 27 points, five rebounds and five assists. With these two guys and Gobert, the core of the defense, the Nuggets have the depth and overall strength of the top roster in the West.
3. The characteristics of the playing style of the two teams and the outcome of the game.
The Clippers relied heavily on the perimeter shooting threat of Harden and Leonard, as well as the cut-and-go style of play from Willis. They have a reasonable age structure of players and lead rookies with veterans. Harden and Leonard have also perfected the run-in and can top the No. 1 scorer position when the opponent is injured. Leonard, despite his injury troubles, has Harden playing the regular season and only needs to return in the playoffs. Leonard's playoff form is unmatched, and Harden has led the team to the playoffs several times in his early years. The two have joined forces, and the Clippers' hopes of winning the championship have never been greater.
In contrast, the Nuggets are known for their team basketball. Gobert dominated the penalty area, and Mbo and Barton formed a multi-point burst of outside firepower, which left the opposing team unguarded. They are also the most evenly balanced team in the West, scoring in double figures for every starter. Mbo and Barton also shared most of the task of organizing the offensive. The Nuggets don't have the same regular season results as the Clippers, but they have the strength to sweep strong opponents in the playoffs.
Fourth, the focus of the field.
The biggest highlight of this game is the Clippers' backcourt double-gun Harden and Leonard's matchup Nuggets rookie Mbau.
Harden and Leonard are the "stars of the stars" among the players, and ESPN experts also rated them as the biggest favorites for MVP this season. Harden is widely regarded as the best playmaker at all, with top-notch passing and dribbling ability, as well as an excellent three-point shot. Leonard is one of the league's top two-sided doubles scorers, scoring efficiently from the perimeter and from the outside box. After the two joined forces, the strength of the team increased exponentially, which also made everyone optimistic about the Clippers' hope of winning the championship. And Mbo is not only on par with the two in terms of statistics, but also has a stability far beyond his peers in key balls. His defense will also be the biggest test for the Clippers' backcourt. This matchup of star defenders PK will also directly affect the schedule pattern of the west.
On the other hand, the confrontation between Wei Shao and Gobert is also very interesting. Although the two play in different positions, they both play a pivotal role in the team. Westbrook is the strongest and highest-status player on the Clippers, and Gobert is the backbone of all of the Nuggets' playbook. If the core players of either side are limited or out of order, it will directly affect the outcome of the match. Therefore, the battle between Wei Shao and Gobert, the king of the inside line, will also be the key to determining the victory.
5. Ending. In this game, the Clippers finally won 118-104 against the Nuggets.
Harden slashed for 45 points and eight three-pointers, and Leonard also scored 21 points. The two combined to score 66 points and perfectly suppressed the Nuggets backcourt. Although Wei Shao only made 4 of 16 shots in the game, he stabilized the score with 18 of 21 free throws. In the end, the two led the Clippers to successfully defeat their opponents on the road.
Mbo alone had 40 points, 13 assists and seven three-pointers, but unfortunately could not prevent the team from losing. Barton also played well in this game, but Gobert was troubled with a number of fouls and eventually left the game early. With the confrontation between the two teams' core of strength, the game opened with a wave of big scores in the fourth quarter. In the end, the Clippers relied on the highlight performances of Harden and Leonard to defeat the number one opponent in the West.
This game is a sign that the Clippers are likely to beat all Western Conference opponents to reach the Finals. The peak form of Harden and Leonard, as well as the consistent contribution of Willis, make them the strongest team in the West. Although the Nuggets have young players, they still need more run-in before they can really pose a threat to the Clippers. The Clippers seem more likely to sweep the West in the playoffs, both individually and on a team level, and no one can stop the emerging team from making their way to a championship.