100 help plan
The Los Angeles Clippers have won nine consecutive games in the past ten games, ranking all the way to fourth in the West, becoming the hottest team in the league at present. In the past two months, the Clippers' record has been like eating sugar cane, first swallowing six consecutive losses in November, and the whole month record is only 5 wins and 9 losses, but these defeats have not been in vain, but have become the Clippers' next nutrients.
The execution of the Clippers' team tactics and the tacit understanding between the players were finally verified in this wave of 9 consecutive wins, and the voices that were not optimistic about Harden joining the Clippers at the beginning of the season disappeared without a trace. The collaboration between the trio of Leonard, George, and Harden is enough to be called the underrated Big Three. The partners of the three may not have any eye-catching data performances, but they are willing to contribute to the supremacy of the team, which is the simplest and most difficult detail behind the topic of the integration of the three giants.
After all, there are too many stars in history who have combined but thundered and rained, and look at the Suns, who were regarded as the favorites to win the championship before this year's season, have been unable to meet with a full lineup because of player health problems, and are still struggling in tenth place in the West. On the other hand, on the premise that Leonard, George, Harden, and even Westbrook are not too much injured to worry about, several mature stars have finally found a comfortable matching mode for each other to make the team more competitive.
Staying healthy, Leonard is still quite terrifying, with nearly 10 games of 287 points 61 rebound 37 assists, shooting 60% from the field. As for this season's new recruit Harden, he quickly integrated into the Clippers system in more than 10 games, bringing the chemistry that the team is looking forward to. Harden is averaging 17 per game this seasonAlthough 1 point is a 12-year low, his bonus to the team and the improvement of individual efficiency are obvious to all. Harden's two-point and three-point shooting percentages this season are based on the following. 9%, both wrote a 15-year career high, while single-game turnovers increased from 34 times down to 23 times, which is also a new low since the time when he switched to the Rockets to take over the first brother.
Harden, who doesn't stick to the ball and doesn't play hard, and knows how to be more intelligent and mature to interpret the dynamics of the game, is adding points to the team on the court, although he may occasionally be able to recreate the scoring style of the Rockets when he dreamed of returning to the Rockets, or it is simply difficult to see Harden score like that again. However, the current Harden gives the team a more reassuring sense of trust, with a plus/minus of +20 and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4 in the last five games25. Harden has perfectly transitioned into a team-oriented player, rather than still thinking of him as a system.
Harden's playmaking ability frees up offensive space for Leonard and George, and the transition and sharing of balls and off-ball between the three adds richness to the Clippers' tactical changes. More importantly, Harden's willingness to recognize his role with the Clippers is key to being able to work well with his teammates in a short period of time. His regular season scoring average is less than in the past, and he is more reasonable in some offensive options, reducing a lot of singles spending, and through tactical cover, teammates create opportunities for him to take shots, saving him physical wear and tear, allowing him to focus more on defense and the decisive quarter and fuel on the court.
In addition, the current Westbrook is mostly off the bench, with 10 points, 6 rebounds and nearly 5 assists at most, but he is not only an important sixth man for the team, but also an indispensable engine for the second team. These two long-time veterans gathered with the Clippers, and it is the most valuable link that they can focus on the team, be willing to give up their past habits, re-adapt, and adjust the most suitable style of play for this position.
The Clippers' triumvirate combination, or even the four-star connection, was not so optimistic at the time, but the output was not just about starryness. A willingness to make changes to help the team fill in the gaps is the best way to create positive benefits.
Regardless of whether the Clippers' winning streak will end in the hands of the Thunder, the Clippers have accelerated their voyage to the ranks of the leading group in the West, and as long as the main players remain healthy, then the terrifying Clippers who pose a threat to the West will continue to affect the Western power map.