The Eagles scored 144 points and lost.
This season, the Eagles lost their three game-topping games without overtime. Compared to the previous two losses to the Pacers and Mavericks, the Hawks played better this time, but they met the Clippers, who were also hot. At 1 minute 07 seconds in the fourth quarter, Harden hit a 24-second extreme whistle 3+1, as if it was the end of a gymnastics team competition, kicking the back hand flip body 180 degrees to connect the straight body front flip body for two and a half weeks, and Harden locked the championship for the Los Angeles Clippers men's basketball team.
Of course, the actual game of this ball is not so acrobatic. The Clippers and Hawks each scored some difficult hard shots, but most of the offensive options on both sides were not reluctant, and it could even be said that most of the offense was the result of seeking tactical coordination, with smooth ball transfer being the main theme, and a total of 67 assists as a good proof. The number of three-pointers shot by both sides is not a lot, the Hawks shot 39 times, and the Clippers shot 35 times, which is completely normal in today's NBA, but because of the high degree of control, it will give people the illusion of ten thousand arrows.
So what kind of game is this?
A high-quality game in the style of true modern basketball. The Clippers, who are ranked No. 1 in the league in offensive efficiency and are also a defensive powerhouse, played at a high level on both sides of the court. And the Hawks, who have been in good shape recently, even beat the Lakers, Suns, and Warriors, and perfectly match the intensity of the Clippers. Both teams looked in a mirror for many rounds. The Clippers are afraid of Young's state and pinch Young's pick-and-roll, and Young's direct shots, or with the help of a 45-degree forward transition, can always create opportunities for players to attack the basket.
Harden did something similar, and he fed the ball to his next player at the right time, and the most obvious thing was the pause in the frame of hitting the ground to find George.
The movement of the shooters on both sides of the corner is more precise and fluid. It can directly give the ball in place from a long distance, and can also quickly transfer the ball through the center or three-point line, so that the formation change caused by the blocker or breakthrough player can be successfully realized into an empty three-point hit.
Pick-and-roll, or re-scoring after receiving the ball at a fixed point. In terms of play, both sides are very distinct ball-driven basket play, driving down the center and outside shooters. In addition to the backcourt blocking and dismantling, there are many transition points that can dominate the ball in other positions, so that they can deal with the pinch attack and joint defense calmly, and both sides have almost not been confused because of the opponent's targeted defense, 1 2 high-quality shots and processing, breaking the game in minutes.
Modern basketball based on pick-and-roll and space play, on this track, the completion of the Clippers and Hawks has been quite amazing. Leonard scored a game-high 36 points, along with five assists, one steal, and one block, and was strong and well-rounded, but strictly speaking, it wasn't a Leonard-style game, or rather, it was a game closer to Leonard's original version, and instead of winning with a mid-range one-on-one hard breakdown, he was impressive with his spot-on-set catch.
Except for a few rounds in the fourth quarter, Leonard cut to the front court and called Bogdan, and for the most part, it was a game in which the Clippers put Harden on the court and Leonard came out in the background. Without seeing all of Leonard's hideous face, the Clippers took away 149 points.
You can play pick-and-roll, and you can play forward singles.
The Clippers were indeed strong, and the firepower was more ferocious than expected. It also has to be said that, at least so far, the Clippers have handled the tactical distribution of Harden and Cajiao very well. Harden dominated the offense for most of the time, and then Pepper stepped up and made the final decision when they were needed. For the most part, Willis is a transition variant, and the Clippers change posture after he plays. But in some cases, Wei Shao can also fit in without disobedience.
The offense in the fourth quarter was particularly impressive, with Harden cutting out to catch the ball from the waist position, and Kazige using the off-ball cover to find a misplaced catch, but to no avail. Note Wei Shao's position, which was originally designed to cover George in the bottom corner. But after seeing that Kazige failed to catch the ball, Wei Shao mentioned the transition to the free throw line and successfully fed Kazige an empty cut.
It was one of my favorite rounds of the whole game. Everyone present showed their own functionality:
Harden is the decision-maker, Kazige is the main point of attack, and the starting and ending points of the tactics are here with the two of them;
George opened up space in the corner, and his threat and speed were enough to drag Wei Shao, who didn't have a basket to cover;
And Wei Shao, in addition to the plan of making wall and air cuts, turned back one after another, and hit his former resume on the screen - don't forget, we used to be MVP point guards.
Coffey is an unexpected being. According to common sense, it is impossible for Lu Shangwu to be without Powell. In terms of preference, Mann won't be behind Coffey either.
But Coffey deserves Lugh's trust, and in a game that seems undefensible on both sides, Coffey has taken such a big risk against Murray.
This season's Coffey is reminiscent of the bench bandits who dominated many big comebacks in a no-card and almost no-pepper season. Compared to the time, Coffey couldn't get the ball in such a Clippers team, but he shot the best three-point shooting percentage of his career, and his size was the most like a backup forward on the Clippers bench.
Wei Shao + Coffey, two defensive options, instead of Powell + center, joined the other three stars to become the Clippers' lineup to close the game. It is also by relying on the defensive flexibility of this lineup that the Clippers held down the Hawks' blocking and dismantling in certain rounds, and Wei Shao's interception of the pie feeding connection to the center this time is an important evidence.
And Wei Center's move this time is also one of the ways to include him in the Clippers' small lineup.
In addition to the ace lineup that won 44 points in 100 rounds, the Clippers' five small also played?
So far, the Clippers have used 345 rounds without a pure center lineup, winning 24 per 100 possessions8 points. As you can imagine, this lineup that can switch defenses and is extremely flexible, and the short-term offensive and defensive aggression will work wonders against those lineups that rely on pick-and-rolls and are unable to penalize height.
can play a large lineup, and can also put five small.
The Clippers are really strong. If the Clippers are on the right track because Lue eliminated all the wrong answers and achieved the result of smooth operation after everyone was in place, then the Clippers gradually rushed to the top because some of the team's potential exploded. One of the most important things to ignore is accuracy.
Kofi's accuracy is just a microcosm, and the Clippers are far more than the best crosshairs of their careers
Leonard, 45 three-point shooting7%, the best of his career;
Powell, who shot 45% from three-point range, a career best;
George, 41 three-point shooting2%, tied for the best of his career;
Harden, 41 three-point shooting8%, the best of my career.
I don't know what to attribute to the Clippers' multi-player crosshairs, is it an accident of form, or is it a collective benefit from Harden's arrival?
One thing is certain, though, that Harden is shooting up to 50 percent of his three-point shots at the top of the arc, shooting the league's top ball-handling shooting efficiency, and using a very hardcore way to reduce production and increase efficiency, which makes us still underestimate his value.
Perhaps most defenders in the league have forgotten the fear of being dominated by Harden's step-back three-pointers, which is a strange legend for a young man like Okongu. He gave Harden space to break with his left hand, and then recklessly pounced on Harden the moment he collected the ball and raised his hand.
It seems that the training of young people on how to prevent Harden still cannot be relaxed. In some ways, Harden is still top-notch.
In the 20-21 season, the Clippers had a situation where all the players were not accurate. At the time, you wonder if the Clippers can carry their crazy touch into the playoffs. In fact, they basically did. Compared with the Clippers who were "quasi-win-to-win" at that time, they now undoubtedly have more ways to win.
We can't judge the playoffs starting in April before the deadline, but at this point in time, seeing the Clippers like this, they do have the ability to touch any opponent without falling behind.