The Clippers' comeback to victory exposes interior problems.
In a 112-106 comeback victory, the Clippers finally got the win. It's not a game to celebrate. The Clippers exposed their biggest weakness – the inability to cope with the interior defense. Even more unbelievable, they were completely crushed by the Detroit Pistons, who were in the bottom of the list, and suffered heavy losses.
At the start of the game, the Clippers at home played well, playing a dream 12-2 start. The Pistons quickly equalized the score with Averly's breakthrough and outside shots, and the two sides fell into a tug-of-war. The Pistons, the visitors, continued to gain momentum, and the Clippers lost their scoring touch in the second quarter, leading by the Pistons by nine points at halftime. In the third quarter, the Clippers relied on Leonard's leadership to close the four-point gap and enter the fourth quarter for the final fierce competition.
Paul George took over the game in the final quarter and contributed 15 points to lead the Clippers to a comeback and retain their home dignity. In this game, five Clippers players scored in double figures. George scored a game-high 33 points, plus five rebounds and three assists; Leonard had 24 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists; Harden contributed 14 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists; Westbrook 13 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists; Coffey had 12 points and one assist. The Pistons' five players also had two double-digit scorers, with Cunningham chalming for 22 points, six rebounds and 10 assists and Averley for 23 points.
Surprisingly, the Clippers were completely crushed by the Pistons in the rebounding battle. The Clippers had 35-57 rebounds as a team, with a net minus 22, including 0-14 rebounds in the frontcourt, setting a record of zero offensive rebounds for the first time in team history. While the Clippers were able to win the game by losing 22 rebounds, it's puzzling.
If the opponent is not the Detroit Pistons, who are the bottom of the league, they may not be so lucky to get out of this difficult situation. Although the Clippers pulled off a high-profile comeback victory, it wasn't enough to cause joy and even cause concern. Imagine a team with the league's bottom-to-bottom record being able to crush the Clippers' inside rebounds, casting doubt on their prospects of competing for a championship this season. It has always been believed that the inside line is the key to the road to a championship.
It's clear that the Clippers' interior problems have become their Achilles wound in the race for a championship. The three centre-forwards, Zubac, Plumlee and Theis, have been terrible on the inside. If you rely on such an inside configuration to hit the championship, you may be too optimistic and confident. Aren't they worried about being torn apart by their opponents in the heat of the playoffs? Interior problems have always been a concern for the Clippers. In this game, the problem is once again magnified. The Pistons' Detroit players are impressively dominant on the rebound. The Clippers' three centers, Zubac, Plumlee and Theis, have poor defensive and rebounding capabilities on the inside, which makes the Clippers look incredibly vulnerable on the inside.
Despite the concerns on the inside, the Clippers have been shining in other areas. Paul George stepped up at crucial moments to lead his team to a comeback victory. Players such as Leonard, Harden, Westbrook and Coffey have also shown great individual ability, contributing to the team with scoring and playmaking that cannot be ignored.
In this game, the Clippers' offensive firepower was fully displayed, and the tacit understanding between the players was also improved. For greater success in the playoffs, offense alone is not enough. The interior defense needs to be addressed urgently, otherwise the Clippers' weaknesses will be more exposed against stronger opponents.
The Clippers came out on top in this game, but that doesn't mean they can take it lightly. Interior issues continue to be something that the team needs to focus on and improve. If we can't find an effective solution on the inside, the Clippers' championship dream will become even more distant.
In the coming games, the Clippers will need to strengthen their interior defense and improve their rebounding ability in order to remain invincible in the fierce playoffs. The solidity of the interior defense will be a key factor in determining whether the Clippers can win a championship. Whether or not they can step up and solve the interior problem at critical moments will be the key to the Clippers' journey to the championship.
The above content information is ** on the Internet, and the author of this article does not intend to target or insinuate any real country, political system, organization, race, or individual. The above content does not mean that the author of this article agrees with the laws, rules, opinions, behaviors in the article and is responsible for the authenticity of the relevant information. The author of this article is not responsible for any of the above or related issues, and does not assume any direct or indirect legal liability.