This game was not just a disappointment; many fans were completely let down. Why? The Clippers had a great opportunity to jump from 7th to 4th in the West when the Nuggets were playing back-to-back and Jokic was resting, but they ended up suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of an undermanned Nuggets team. The gap between expectation and reality was simply too large. Behind this loss, the absence and return of Kawhi Leonard became the focus of many issues. The Clippers' defeat really broke the hearts of their fans. When everyone was eagerly expecting the team to seize the opportunity and make a push, they were met with such a result. Losing to an undermanned Nuggets team and missing the perfect chance to improve their ranking caused the fans' expectations for the Clippers' performance this season to instantly collapse. This disappointment is like preparing to receive a big gift with great joy, only to find an empty box upon opening it. It's hard to describe how terrible that feeling is. Clippers fans are deeply resentful of Leonard's absence. Rationally speaking, when Los Angeles suffered a massive volcanic disaster, he went back to take care of his family, which is understandable because life is bigger than basketball. However, looking at the entire team, the coaching staff and players, many have settled or bought houses in Los Angeles, with Harden and Westbrook being native Angelenos. When their hometown was in trouble, others confirmed the safety of their families through phone calls and videos and continued to persevere, but as a…

The Clippers are determined this season to secure a spot among the top six in the Western Conference playoffs. Currently, the top three spots are firmly held by the Thunder, Rockets, and Grizzlies, with intense competition for the fourth, fifth, and sixth positions. The Clippers are not backing down, especially after Leonard's return, setting their sights on the top four in the West, which is quite exciting! Leonard's return is a significant event for the Clippers. This superstar's defensive capabilities have always been consistent, like a solid line of defense that makes it hard for opponents to break through. However, his offensive performance since returning has been somewhat concerning, with a shooting percentage of only 10 out of 31 attempts, which isn't great. But don't worry too much; he's just returned and needs time to adjust. Coach Tyronn Lue also mentioned that Leonard is expected to have his minutes restriction lifted in February, at which point he'll be able to play more freely. Harden expressed in an interview that Leonard is working hard to recover, and we need to give him some patience. I believe that once Leonard regains his offensive touch, the Clippers' strength will definitely reach new heights. While Leonard's state hasn't fully recovered, Harden has taken up the mantle for the Clippers. Averaging 21.5 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1.4 steals per game this season, his career regular-season total points have reached 26,660, just a little short of surpassing Dominique Wilkins for 15th place in history. Not only is Harden great at scoring, but his organizational…

On January 18th, Beijing time, the Lakers won the game, but James and his former teammate Russell have completely broken up, with no communication after the game, and James also refused to shake hands and left directly. The Lakers narrowly defeated the Nets. Honestly, although they won the game, there's really nothing to boast about. After all, this is a team that was just beaten by the Clippers by 59 points, and it's a team that suffered a back-to-back crushing defeat at the hands of the Clippers, lacking both ability and stamina, basically giving everything away. And yet, the Lakers still played so hard, and the league arranged such a favorable schedule to help them, almost missing the opportunity, which is really embarrassing. And a post-game camera shot could also show that James was indeed dissatisfied with the team's performance in this game, and was very unhappy, which also revealed the relationship between him and Russell, which had completely broken up. Because facing this former teammate, James refused to greet him, and even did not want to shake hands to pay tribute, turning around and leaving. Generally, after winning a game, James would take the initiative to hug the opponent, but in this game, Russell missed the decisive three-pointer, and the Lakers narrowly escaped. After grabbing the rebound, James immediately walked away with the ball in his arms. Russell, who missed the shot, gritted his teeth and was very dissatisfied. James threw the ball into the air without even looking at Russell and walked past him directly. There was no…

NBA Regular Season: Clippers Win by 29 Points, Leading Lakers by One Game to Consolidate Fifth Place; Harden Shows Off His Muscles in Three Quarters The Los Angeles Clippers achieved a decisive victory over the Portland Trail Blazers with a 29-point margin, securing their fifth place in the Western Conference standings by leading the Los Angeles Lakers by one game. James Harden led the Clippers to dominate the Blazers, extending their lead to 32 points during the third quarter. Despite a comeback attempt by the Blazers, the Clippers maintained their advantage and ultimately won 118-89, securing their third consecutive victory. This win also ended the Clippers' four-game losing streak on the road, while the Blazers suffered their fourth consecutive loss. Key Players and Statistics: Clippers: Leonard was rested and did not play. Harden played for three quarters, scoring 19 points and providing 6 assists despite shooting only 1 out of 8 from beyond the arc. Norman Powell contributed 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Ivica Zubac added 10 points and 8 rebounds. The team had six players score in double figures. Blazers: Damian Lillard scored 16 points and provided 6 assists, Deandre Ayton had 14 points and 7 rebounds, Anfernee Simons contributed 23 points, and Josh Hart added 12 points. The Clippers entered the game with a record of 22 wins and 17 losses in their first 39 games, having won their last two games against the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets. These victories allowed them to surpass the Lakers and move up to fifth place in the…

In order to enhance the team's competitiveness and give James another chance to compete for a championship in the twilight of his career, the Lakers completed a trade in the middle of the season, sending Russell away in exchange for Finney-Smith to bolster their frontline strength. On this game day, the two teams that completed the trade, the Lakers and the Nets, faced each other directly. Russell returned to Los Angeles to lead the Nets against his former team, the Lakers. After the game started, the Lakers, led by James, once established an 11-point lead. Although Russell helped the Nets overtake in the second half, Reeves' hot hand allowed him to score the highest points in the game, and the Lakers eventually defeated the visiting Nets 102-101! 【Game Highlights】 The Nets, who are in the rebuilding phase, have the most important goal this season to aim for high draft picks while training young players with potential. However, all teams will pay the price for growth. In the previous away game against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Nets suffered a crushing defeat by 59 points. However, in this game, Anthony Davis, the core of the Lakers' interior, missed the game due to plantar fasciitis, greatly reducing the strength of the Purple Army. Russell, returning to his old stomping grounds, also saw the hope of a surprise away victory. 【Game Review】 Although Russell did not start in this game, he was still the best performing player on the Nets. After coming off the bench, he took on both scoring and organizing against…

To talk about the teams that have performed impressively this season, I believe the Clippers definitely count as one of them. With Westbrook leaving, George departing, and Leonard missing most of the season... Harden has managed to lead this underdog team to a fifth-place finish in the West! Recently, with Leonard's return, the Clippers have finally welcomed their complete lineup. So what is this Clippers team still lacking? Let's first look at the current composition of the Clippers' roster: Starting lineup: Harden, Powell, Little Jones, Leonard, Zubac; this starting lineup is relatively balanced in both offense and defense: Harden handles the ball and organizes the game, Powell provides firepower, Little Jones and Leonard are the defensive anchors on the wing, and Zubac finishes plays around the basket and protects the rim (if the opposing team's interior isn't too strong). If Leonard fully recovers from his physical condition, his ability to make key shots could even elevate the Clippers to another level! Bench: Dunn, Little Kevin Porter, Coffey, Batum, Bamba. Among the bench players, Little Kevin Porter can be considered a lucky draw for the Clippers this season. Dunn's defense and Coffey's long-range shooting mean there's no need to worry about the backcourt reserves; however, the frontcourt players Batum and Bamba are old and rough, so we can't expect too much from them. DNP: Mann, Hield, Tucker; as for other players like Christie, Kobe Brown, and Jordan Miller, they have nice names but not many strengths. It's surprising that Mann has been largely benched, considering that the Clippers almost missed out…

In the brutal arena of competitive sports, every match is like a move in a chess game, either exquisitely executed or leading to a complete loss with one wrong step. Recently, a game by the Lakers seemed to pour cold water on the hearts of all fans. Facing the Mavericks without Doncic, Irving, and Gafford, this seemingly "weak" opponent crushed the Lakers with an almost overwhelming manner, with the point difference once widening to over 20 points. This defeat was not only ugly in terms of score but also served as a significant wake-up call for the Lakers' overall attitude and tactical execution. The three missing key players from the Mavericks have a combined salary of as high as $97 million, accounting for more than half of the team's total salary. Even in such a "depleted lineup," they still demonstrated their strong overall strength and tactical quality. Especially considering that the Mavericks had previously experienced a five-game losing streak and this game was a back-to-back battle, the Lakers' defeat seemed even harder to accept. After the game, even Anthony Davis, the star player of the Lakers, left the court directly, refusing to be interviewed, showing the impact of this defeat on the team's morale. So, why did the Lakers suffer such a crushing defeat in a game that seemed like an easy win? Was it underestimating the opponent? Fatigue? Or a major tactical blunder? These questions may require the entire Lakers team to reflect deeply. However, judging from the game process, the Lakers appeared disorganized on both offense and defense,…

Klay Thompson, known for his cold-blooded three-point shooting on the NBA court, recently faced a chill in his career during the Mavericks vs. Thunder game. In the crucial moments of the game, he was benched by head coach Kidd, unable to play a key role as usual. This decision left Thompson feeling unprecedented dissatisfaction and disappointment. In a post-game interview, his words revealed deep frustration, and he openly expressed his stance: "In the Warriors, no one would dare to bench me in the critical moments." Thompson proudly recalled his glorious past, where he had won four championships with the Warriors, contributing significantly with his precise three-point shots. His name is closely linked with the Warriors' illustrious history. However, now with the Mavericks, he feels neglected like never before. Thompson firmly believes he still has the ability to change the course of the game in critical moments. He hopes to be heavily utilized in his new team to prove his worth. The four-time champion chose to leave the Warriors during the offseason and join the Mavericks, stating that even with a pay cut, he sought opportunities to prove himself. He longs to regain respect in a new environment and demonstrate that he still possesses the skills of a top player. However, reality dealt him a heavy blow. Thompson has not been able to lead the Mavericks to expected success, and his own performance has declined. This season, his three-point shooting percentage dropped to 36%, lower than last season, causing him great concern about his future. Thompson's statements are not only a…

On January 18th, Beijing time, the Lakers defeated the Nets 102-101 to secure their second consecutive victory. In a game without Davis, the Lakers' interior was riddled with weaknesses, making it difficult even against an Eastern Conference weak team like the Nets. They only led by 6 points at halftime, and by the end of the third quarter, the lead had been reduced to 4 points. However, in the final quarter, Reeves entered a state of Zone, scoring 15 points and providing 2 assists to help the Lakers secure the win. Russell's buzzer-beater attempt missed, and James protected the rebound to lock in the victory. In a game where Davis was rested, the Lakers' interior became even weaker, with Hayes, Koloko, and Jamison (one on minimum wage, two on two-way contracts) starting. The Nets immediately capitalized on this, grabbing multiple offensive rebounds. The aging LeBron was truly unable to hold his ground. Christie hit two three-pointers, and after James left the court, both teams went through five scoreless rounds before Jamison entered the game. When James returned, he hit two three-pointers, relying on the 40-year-old veteran to take the lead by one point. In the first quarter, James shot 4-for-3, scoring 9 points, the only player with a shooting percentage above 50%. In the second quarter, Reeves also hit a three-pointer, followed by Hayes' two-handed dunk. Reeves drove to the basket again, extending the lead to 6 points and forcing the Nets to call a timeout. Reeves was fouled on an outside three-point attempt and made all three free throws.…

The Clippers achieved a historic victory at home, defeating the Nets by 59 points and setting several records, including the largest winning margin in team history, the largest losing margin for the Nets, the lowest scoring game for the team this season, and the largest point differential game of the season. The Clippers have consistently performed well against weaker opponents, but their roster still has obvious weaknesses, particularly in the bench's interior line. It seems that the Clippers have identified a target and have already conducted a "home court inspection"! Before the Suns completed a trade with the Hornets, the Clippers were interested in Jamaican center Richards, who offers excellent value for money. However, with Richards now off the table, the Clippers seem to have found a new target. In the game where the Nets suffered a significant loss to the Clippers, he delivered an impressive performance, leaving the Clippers very satisfied! This big man is none other than the Nets' backup center, Sharp. In the game against the Clippers, he came off the bench to play 28 minutes, scoring 12 points and grabbing 14 rebounds, including a total of 8 offensive rebounds, which is two more than the entire Clippers team. This season, he averages 7.8 points, 6.4 rebounds (2.7 offensive rebounds), and 1.6 assists per game in just 18 minutes of playing time. These stats are even more remarkable considering he doesn't have a skilled guard feeding him the ball; he relies on his own ability to grab offensive rebounds. If he were to join the Clippers and…