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 leader, Leonard chose to leave. It's like a team where the leader goes home during a critical moment, which is not wrong in itself, but the impact on the team's performance and atmosphere is real. From Harden's slump to Zubac's positioning being outrebounded by Westbrook, we can see that the emotions in the Clippers' locker room have been severely affected.
After Leonard's return, the help he provided to the team did not seem to meet everyone's expectations. In the two games since his return, he averaged 10 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.5 turnovers, which is average production. Considering the limited playing time (averaging 20 minutes) and still finding his form, this might explain the production issue. However, in terms of efficiency, a 31.8% shooting percentage, even with a 50% three-point shooting rate, is nothing short of a disaster. Fans who watched these two games have significantly lowered their expectations for his future. The once healthy superstar who excelled on both offense and defense seems to be changing.
We can clearly see that Leonard has problems both in ball handling and under the basket. His knees lack power, he can't shake off defenders, and he can't even jump under the basket. Some think he's just being cautious after returning, but if he hadn't tried multiple times in training and daily life to confirm that his knees are 100% healthy, would he have returned so easily? Half a year ago, the U.S. men's basketball team believed that his competitive state and physical condition did not meet the requirements, yet he felt ready at that time. After multiple knee surgeries, even a robot couldn't maintain the same state as when it first came out of the factory, let alone Leonard, who is human and whose body parts cannot be replaced. There will always be differences after each repair. Perhaps he can still maintain a certain level on the defensive end, but on the offensive end, it may not be too surprising if he can only do some role player work in the future.
The Clippers' current situation is indeed worrying. Leonard's decline in form has had a huge impact on the team. The team's performance during his absence and return has exposed many problems. Next, how should the Clippers adjust? Should they continue to rely on Leonard or look for a new tactical core? This is a difficult problem facing the team. For the fans, all they can do is hope that the Clippers can quickly find a solution and regain their competitiveness.