Despite George's absence due to injury, it still could not stop the Clippers from moving forward, after the home victory over the Warriors, the Clippers have won a series of six consecutive games, their winning streak is currently the longest in the league. Half a month ago, the Clippers were a team separated from the Warriors in the 10th and 11th in the West. Now, they have firmly occupied the top 8 seats in the West (the 7th in the West), and the Clippers are only 0.5 wins away from the 6th Lakers in the West. As long as they continue to maintain their current momentum, the Clippers return to the top 4 ranks in the West. It's not impossible. Give up $5.1 million, join the Clippers, once again show the top ability, offense and defense your goal is only a championship.
Without George, the Clippers need more people to step up and fill the void. As a long-term caretaker of the "water cooler" player, Amir Kofi was suddenly put on the starting lineup, and played a very good offensive and defensive performance, which was somewhat unexpected. Powell also scored 21 points off the bench, with good efficiency. In terms of core, Leonard continued his excellent state, he shot 9 of 16, including 2 of 4 three-pointers, and personally scored 27 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. However, the biggest contributor to the Clippers' win is undoubtedly their core guard James Harden, who not only shot the luxurious data of 28 points, 7 rebounds and 15 assists, but also the defensive end. Harden had one steal and four blocked shots, and he gradually made Tyronn Lue dependent on him.
Playing close to 43 minutes, Harden is the Clippers' highest appearance time player, and from his role on the court, Harden has become the Clippers' tactical core, and he did not live up to the trust of the coaching team, confident Harden, he not only found the personal efficient offensive efficiency, but he also improved his performance on the defensive end, removing his negative label. In this victory, Harden repeatedly stood up at key moments and stabilized the situation for the Clippers, which was impressive. What really impressed Harden, though, was his performance on the defensive end. In this game, Harden directly got rid of the negative evaluation of defensive loopholes.
1 steal 4 blocks, even the data can not reflect the role of Harden on the defensive end, the Warriors several times to arrange the ball holder to play Harden alone, the latter not only has been kept in front of the ball holder, and he cut the ball several times are fast, accurate, ruthless. Harden's successful defense is not only able to stop opponents from attacking, but most of it can be directly converted into the Clippers' own fast break. A defensive round, into the Clippers counterattack, to the last moment, the warriors can only give up the "roll call" single Harden this tactic, because this often makes the Warriors attack, into the Clippers counterattack. With the passage of time, Harden gradually into the better, during the six consecutive wins, Harden 4 points on the 20, an average of 9.5 assists, an average of 2.7 steals and blocks per game.
In terms of this winning streak alone, it is not too much to call Harden a "offensive and defensive integration". Offensive end he maintained close to 20+10 level, defensive end Harden is no longer the Clippers loopholes, know shame and then brave, see their own problems, Harden did not complain about the environment, but he started from their own, in the defensive end to improve aggression, it can be seen that Harden has made changes, in order to championship, he is really willing to do everything he can do. Previously, Harden in order to compete for the championship, he took a pay cut of more than $14 million to help the 76ers strengthen. Now that Harden is leaving the 76ers, he has also made concessions in terms of salary.
Harden's contract originally had a 15 percent trade guarantee, and once he was traded, Harden could earn an additional $5.1 million. However, in order to successfully join the Clippers and express his sincerity, Harden decisively gave up the $5.1 million trading margin, which also, to a certain extent, let the Clippers see Harden's sincerity. In addition, after Harden joined the Clippers, the Clippers' championship odds were reduced (probability increased), and they were widely believed to have formed a Galactic warship. Harden in the first stage, he convergence, once let people think that he really can't, but when the team really has a problem, he needs to stand up, Harden is in charge.
Turns out, Harden is not to mix the championship, although apparently, Leonard is the team's leader, George is the second, Westbrook initiative to step aside, Harden is the third core of the Clippers. But from Tyronn Lue's use of Harden today, Harden has become the tactical core of this team, the basic all position battle attack, the Clippers will give the ball to Harden, let him decide what tactics to play, to whom to execute, or to attack the pick-and-roll. The Clippers are on a roll right now, and with Harden improving on the defensive end, they really seem to have no holes in their core.
