In the fierce competition of the NBA regular season, the Clippers suffered a choked comeback defeat. In the final quarter of the game, they were expected to seal the victory, but suddenly collapsed at a critical moment.
The remnants of the Bucks counterattacked 113-106, and a wave of 0-15 shockwaves engulfed the Clippers in an instant like a stormy wave. In a rollercoaster matchup, Coach Tyronn Lue stuck with a five-man lineup.
Faced with the Bucks' fierce counterattack, he was caught off guard. Portis was in the low post and could easily score a layup when he turned around, while the Clippers felt cold on the outside and were helpless against the defense.
The rigidity and inflexibility at both ends of the offensive and defensive ends make the audience regret it. Although there is still plenty of time to go before the end of the game, the Clippers seem to have given up their interior advantage early.
Even when the opponent's foul count reaches the upper limit, he still chooses to shoot from a distance instead of attacking the basket, such a tactical arrangement is incredible.
The Lakers and the Bucks, who were beaten by nearly 20 points in the final quarter of two consecutive games, made one wonder if the championship-aspiring team had enough resilience and adaptability.
On the other side, the Lakers showed tenacity in the face of double-digit adversity in the opening game, and finally defeated the Thunder with a score of 116-114, and at one point established a whopping 22-point advantage.
Harden had a brave performance, shooting 9-of-16 from the field and 5-of-10 from three-point range, scoring 29 points and contributing eight assists. However, at the crucial moment that decided the victory, he chose to pass the ball instead of scoring it himself.
This overly conservative choice seems to make people see the shadow of the past, and can't help but wonder if he lacks the determination and responsibility to stand up in the difficult situation.
In the picture, Harden faced Lillard after many blocks, and could have taken advantage of the victory to chase after him, but repeatedly gave up the opportunity to others, which made people lament that he did not do his best.
The performance of the Clippers duo Kawhi Leonard and Powell was difficult to match people's expectations, the two felt cold, Leonard only 6 of 19 shots, and 2 of 8 shots from beyond the three-point line, scoring only 16 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in the game;
Powell was also in a slump, shooting 2-of-8 from the field and 1-of-6 from three-point range to just six points, three rebounds and three assists. Losing to the Lakers and the Bucks, who are short of soldiers, the Clippers have reproduced the phenomenon of "weakness in the last quarter", and fans are deeply disappointed.
In particular, there are questions about head coach Tyronn Lue's on-the-spot scheduling. Since the dramatic reversal of the Nuggets, Leonard seems to have fallen into the iron curse whenever he faces a critical juncture.
The failure to show Kobe's tenacious and decisive temperament, and the all-reliance on jump shots, did not work, which undoubtedly cast a shadow on the Clippers' playoff journey.
Although George played against Da Lopez in this game, and Mann shouldered the heavy responsibility of restraining Lillard, these could not suppress the burning battle spirit in Lillard's eyes.
Back in the key battle of the playoffs of a certain year, Lillard faced George, and scored a step-back step that was too far away for three points like a flying immortal, killing the Thunder double stars George and Wei Shao, and directly sending them into the offseason fishing trip.
At this moment, even if the Bucks lineup is incomplete and lacks the two cores of Brother Alphabet and Middleton, Lillard alone leads the whole second half.
He seemed to travel back in time to Portland's glory days, and he single-handedly led the team to a turnaround. This season's Bucks have repeatedly turned the tide when they trailed by more than a dozen points in the fourth quarter.
It shows the value of Lillard – his ability to score on his own when it matters most, and to attract and create opportunities for his teammates. As a proverb in the basketball world says, "When you are strong, you are brave, but when you are weak, you are unsure."
The Lakers' performance is a true portrayal of this sentence: when facing the Western West's powerhouse, they can burst out with amazing energy to win; When encountering weaker opponents, they may fall into a bitter battle or even overtime.
The Lakers' win rate against the league's top teams is unique, but they can't do anything against the Nuggets. The Nuggets' lineup seems to be the Lakers' nemesis, especially Jokic, whose presence is like an insurmountable barrier.
This alignment is delicate and crucial, as the Lakers were able to easily suppress the Thunder in the regular season, because the presence of Davis made it difficult for the Thunder to parry.
However, when facing teams like the Nuggets or the Timberwolves, the advantage of thick eyebrows is weakened, and both the offensive and defensive ends are stretched.
James' style of play has always been wary of fighting against powerful interior players, from the Spurs' iron-blooded defense in the Duncan era, to the interior dominance of the Rockets Yao Ming in the Yao Mai era, and then to the peak of the Magic Howard, all of which have verified this.
And when Davis is a lanky interior player like the Thunder, he can do everything like a tiger going down a mountain, but when he encounters a heavy center like Jokic, there are not many options.
In fact, Bushy Eyebrows is better suited to play the role of a number four in order to maximize his all-round skills. Recent games, such as against the King.
Bushy Eyebrow is a little tired in front of Sabonis, mainly due to his reduced shooting firepower and more reliance on secondary offense and scoring under the basket.