On November 15, 2023, the Clippers have a record of 3-7 and are in the midst of a losing streak, ranking 12th in the West. Eighty-four days later, on Feb. 7, the Clippers finished first in the West with a 34-15 record.
Yesterday I also said that the Clippers were in the ranks of competing for the first place in the West, but I didn't expect the Clippers to play today, but the Timberwolves and Thunder in front of them were reversed by their opponents, and the Clippers "lay down" to the first place in the West.
I still remember the first game the Clippers got better, the one that ended a six-game losing streak. Harden ended the losing streak with a 3+1 replica of the "judgment shot" in the final moments, and then started his "terrifying moment" with the Clippers.
When Harden said in November, "It's going to be a scary moment when we figure everything out," I'm sure a lot of people took Harden's words as fun. After all, Harden also mentioned the word horror moment in the Nets, and then they didn't play a few games in total.
Harden later said, "I'm not a system player, I'm the system." Now that Harden has turned all the he has boasted into reality, the Clippers storm has swept the league, Harden has played the effect of his own system in the Clippers, and the Big Four have stepped on the top of the West after more than two months of running-in.
Lu said that when the Clippers lost six in a row, he didn't panic at all. I believe that's true, and I think he was purely experimenting with the Clippers' margin for error, and he took the four of them apart and paired them with role players to figure out the best solution.
When the Clippers get out of the losing streak, you will find that the original lineup combination that was not so correct can also play well on the court. It's because the whole team is in a positive chemistry, and even if mistakes are made, they are quickly corrected, and no one is dwelling on past mistakes.
During this period, Wei Shao's initiative to go to the bench must have played the greatest role. Fans can see that Wei Shao should go to the bench, and Coach Lu must also understand this truth. But he couldn't "ask" Wei Shao to go, and he gave Wei Shao enough respect.
Wei Shao also went to the bench knowing how to go to the bench, and the ball holding time with Harden was staggered, so that both brothers could play comfortably. Nowadays, in many decisive periods, Wei Shao stayed on the field as the center of the five elementary schools, and he played very pleasantly.
Wei Shao on the bench brought more energy, and Wei Shao in the five-small lineup focused on defense and rebounding. "There were a lot of different emotions [after being traded by the Lakers] at the time, there were so many things going on at that time, and after joining the Clippers, I felt like the fun of playing was back. ”
At this stage, Wei Shao may not have such a big pursuit of the championship, and he has mentioned many times that he just plays for fun. In order to be happy for himself and to see the whole team happy, Wei Shao was able to make a lot of sacrifices, which created a good atmosphere for the Clippers and created the Clippers' Northern Expedition.
At present, it seems that the Clippers are the strongest team in the West and deserve the first place in the West. Both the Timberwolves and the Thunder look too young, and the Nuggets often lose some inexplicable games.
On the Clippers' side, because of Leonard, they have the biggest back. After Bede's injury, Xiaoka became a contender for MVP, and the Clippers' record also gave Xiaoka enough confidence. Including George, both of them have been very good in attendance and form this season, and both have made All-Star breaks.
The Clippers are said to have to strengthen the No. 4 spot, and they have a lot of chips to do so, and of course their owner is the richest and most willing to spend money in the league. Bridges for the Hornets and Finney-Smith for the Nets are both targets for the Clippers.
If the Clippers add a starting No. 4 spot without paying too much cost, and let Mann go to the bench with Willis (their chemistry has always been great), then the overall strength of the Clippers will go to another level. Taking a step back, even without any trade reinforcements, the Clippers at this stage are definitely the first echelon of championship contenders.
The Clippers are in the best of times, even in the last five years. For five years, the Clippers have been ridiculed for being reversed, looked down for their duo injuries, and ridiculed for their annual disappointments.
But this year, it may really be their year.
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