On January 5th, Beijing time, the Clippers defeated the Hawks 131-105 at home, securing their 20th win of the season and currently ranking 7th in the West. In this game, the Clippers' star player Kawhi Leonard made his comeback after 253 days. Leonard started the game, playing 19 minutes, shooting 4 for 11 from the field, 3 for 5 from three-point range, scoring 12 points, grabbing 3 rebounds, dishing out 1 assist, and making 1 steal, with a plus-minus of +22.
The Clippers seem to be a cursed team, with a strong lineup but never reaching the Finals stage. During the offseason, George left the Clippers to join the 76ers, which cost them a key player. However, Harden and Powell stepped up to carry the team. While Leonard was injured, Harden organized the Clippers' offense meticulously, and Powell took on the offensive burden, keeping the team's record competitive. Now that their star player Leonard has returned, it's as if the entire Clippers team has been injected with a shot of adrenaline. So what changes will Leonard's return bring to the Clippers? A basketball commentator even predicts that with Leonard back, Harden has a better chance of winning the championship this season than James, Durant, and Curry.
With Leonard's return, the Clippers' offense is expected to reach new heights. Although Leonard's attendance rate isn't high, whenever he plays, he performs like an All-Star. In this Clippers team, Leonard is undoubtedly the offensive core and a focal point for other teams' defenses, which undoubtedly creates more opportunities for his teammates.
After the game, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue spoke to the media. He stated that with Leonard's return, Zubac won't get lost in the chaos. Since Leonard can attract more defensive attention from opponents, Zubac and Powell will get easier shooting opportunities. Additionally, Harden's role cannot be overlooked; he can organize the team's offense and also alleviate Leonard's offensive burden, with both players complementing each other to the benefit of the team.
Furthermore, Leonard's return undoubtedly strengthens the Clippers' defense. In today's game, although Leonard only had one steal on the stat sheet, his disruption of passing lanes was enough for a highlight reel, creating a suffocating defensive pressure for ball handlers. It's not hard to see from Leonard's defensive attitude and willingness that he loves playing on the court, and his consecutive injuries are truly unfortunate.
Leonard's return did not disrupt the Clippers' existing chemistry but instead gave his teammates greater confidence, which is why Xu Jingyu dared to say that Harden has a better chance of winning the championship than James, Durant, and Curry.
Basketball media personality Xu Jingyu commented: "Winning by 26 points against the seventh seed in the East, the Hawks, I feel like the Clippers are going to compete for the championship if they stay healthy! Leonard hasn't rusted, and as he said, he didn't steal the show in his first game back, perfectly integrating into the team. This team is still led by Harden, who oversees and allocates everything. With Leonard back, Harden's passes have become even more threatening, as evidenced by his 13 assists in the first half.
"I haven't found a lineup in the West that's closer to flawless than the Clippers'. They have Harden, the top-notch basketball mind, Zubac, the pure center who can attack and defend in the low post, Leonard, the isolation scorer, Powell, the secondary scorer averaging over 20 points per game, and defenders like Leonard and Jones with top-tier frontline strength. The bench also has efficient scorers like Coffey and defensive stalwarts like Mann.
"This is everything a championship-contending team needs! Go for it! Among James, Curry, Durant, and Harden, the Clippers with Harden are the closest to the championship this season and the most exciting team to watch. It's rare to have a veteran championship-contending team that gets old fans excited, so let's cheer them on!"
The Clippers' hardware conditions are indeed excellent, but there are two things that cannot be guaranteed, which are also the perennial problems the Clippers face in the playoffs: 1) Harden's competitive state in the playoffs; 2) How long can a healthy Leonard maintain his form? If the Clippers don't encounter these two major issues in the playoffs, then Harden might be closer to the championship trophy than James, Durant, and Curry.