The Clippers have been on a hot streak lately, winning five in a row to secure the top three in the West, just one win away from the top-ranked Thunder. This also allowed the Clippers to quickly climb to the top of the league's power list. With the addition of Harden, the Clippers have become both offensive and defensive, and their style of play has been continuously improved. The Clippers' offense can be said to be almost perfect, and the addition of Harden has set off an offensive storm. At the same time, the defense has become more solid, and the team's overall defensive intensity has been greatly improved. As long as the team can continue to maintain good health, the Clippers are undoubtedly the favourites to compete for the championship this season.
Embiid missed the matchup with Jokic due to injury, which caused the displeasure of Nuggets coach Malone, who called on the league to intervene to find out if Embiid deliberately did not play. According to NBA reporter Shams, Embiid was not included in the injury list and decided to miss just 15 minutes before the game began, which also caused concern in the league. Therefore, the league decided to launch an investigation into the matter to ensure the fairness of the game and the professional attitude of the players. If the results of the investigation confirm that Embiid deliberately missed the game, then he could be punished accordingly. Embiid's performance as one of the best centers has been in the spotlight, and for three seasons, he and Jokic have nearly monopolized the MVP award and become the top contenders for MVP in the regular season. However, Jokic has already gained championship experience by leading the team, and Embiid's performance in the playoffs leaves much to be desired. Moreover, Embiid's fear of Jokic is no secret, and the difference in strength between the two players makes one wonder who is the real king of centers.
Russell of the Lakers was fined $15,000 by NBA officials for kicking a basketball into the audience during a game against the Warriors. This kind of uncivilized behavior, the alliance is basically zero tolerance. The game was one of the best matchups of the 23-24 season, and the two teams battled it out in two overtime periods before the Lakers narrowly won 145-144.
The Lakers have been a competitive team in recent years, but with their record in the West hovering around No. 9, the team's top brass was looking to make up for it through trades. As the Lakers' starting point guard, Russell was once the focus of trade rumors. However, Russell's recent performance has made it seem like the Lakers are giving up on trading him. The team's hierarchy may decide to continue with the current core squad and continue to play the remainder of the game.
After these important news came out, we can see a direct correlation between the changes in the NBA league and the performance of players. With a five-game winning streak, the Clippers are firmly in first place in the league's power rankings and have become one of the favorites for the championship. Embiid's absence from the game and Russell's uncivilized behavior triggered the league's investigation and punishment, which further reflects the league's strict requirements for player behavior. These news show the fierce competition in the NBA this season and the personal charm of the players, and also make us look forward to the next games to be more interesting. In general, the NBA, as the world's top basketball competition, is full of infinite passion and mystery in all kinds of changes and news, which makes us unable to **and**. Whether it's the team's performance or the individual achievements of the players, it will surprise and excite us. Let's wait and see the exciting NBA basketball game together!