The Clippers beat the Green Army lightly, and the Harden effect is significant
As the second stop of the Eastern Seven-in-a-row, today's North Shore Garden did not stage a suspenseful battle, but the Clippers completely crushed the Green Army with an amazing performance. The expected stalemate was broken soon after the game began, and the Clippers turned the game into a one-sided show, winning the game 115-96 to extend their five-game winning streak. What is impressive is that in the third quarter, the Clippers extended their lead to more than 30 points with a wave of 21-0 offensive attacks, and the Green Army failed to score in 6 minutes, which is really stunning.
The Clippers showed amazing energy and commitment on both ends of the floor, and their Big Four once again led the team to victory with a stellar performance. What's even more surprising is that even when the dust has settled on the victory, they remain fully engaged. Harden reportedly even massaged Leonard's shoulder after the game to reward him for his efficient play in the game. This team spirit and mutual support is one of the keys to the Clippers' success.
Leonard spoke highly of Harden's performance after the game. He said Harden's arrival has solved the team's organizational problems and made it easier for him and George to play on the court. Not only did Harden play a huge role on the offensive end, but he also shared the pressure on George's ball-handling playmaking before. As a result, the Clippers' offensive efficiency has increased, and the threat on the defensive end has increased, and this game is the best proof of that.
While Harden hasn't scored much in stats, his role on the court goes far beyond the face of numbers. In the first half, Harden missed a three-pointer, but his plus/minus was a game-high +19, fully demonstrating his value on the court. At the end of the game, he had a plus/minus of +36, which further confirmed his contribution to the team.
The Clippers' recruitment of Harden this season can be said to be very successful, and they have made full use of Harden's organizational and leadership skills to improve the overall strength of the team. This also provides a typical case for other teams that in the process of building a team, if you want to build a strong two-forward team, you first need to lock in a playmaker like Harden. In contrast, the Celtics, who didn't make a timely move to compete for Harden last offseason, may regret missing out on a valuable opportunity.
The Clippers have the potential to continue their victories against the next five opponents in the Crusade. The Cavaliers, Wizards, Pistons, Heat and Hawks are not top teams, and if the Clippers can maintain their current form, it won't be difficult for them to make it five in a row. However, as a strong team, they need to remain humble and work hard and give their all in every game to achieve better results this season.
In this game, the Clippers showed their quality and team spirit, and the addition of Harden brought new energy and opportunities to the team. For the Clippers, this victory is not only a victory, but also an affirmation of their overall strength and recruitment strategy. For other teams, they may want to learn from the Clippers' success in order to achieve better results in the future.