The NBA regular season is more than halfway through, and the overall situation in the West is gradually becoming clear. The Thunder stands alone in the top tier, basically securing the first place in the Western Conference for the regular season, with teams behind unable to catch up. From the Rockets to the Clippers, the overall records are not too different, and the Rockets face a tough challenge in their remaining schedule. The Nuggets and Grizzlies have been relatively stable, while the Clippers, with Harden leading the team to at least sixth place, have added Leonard, which, according to Su Qun, would make them a Western Conference Finals-level team and one of the favorites to win the championship if the playoffs started immediately. In comparison, teams like the Lakers, Mavericks, and Timberwolves are less competitive; the Lakers lack defense and Davis is disengaged; the Mavericks miss Doncic; and the Timberwolves' competitiveness has significantly declined due to Towns' departure. These are basically the playoff teams in the West. As for the Suns and Warriors further back, even if they make the playoffs, they don't have much room for improvement; the Warriors lack a ball-handler; the Suns only have Durant and Booker as single-shot options. ESPN conducted a summary of the first half of the season and voted on the most surprising team in the West. According to a columnist, the Clippers' performance has made everyone reevaluate the team. From being predicted to finish 13th in the West at the beginning of the season to being firmly in fifth place at halftime,…

On January 20th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the Lakers lose 102-116 to the Clippers as visitors. LeBron James played for 35 minutes, shooting 9 of 20 and 2 of 6 from three-point range, scoring 25 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals. He made his first appearance at the Clippers' Intuit Dome, tying Scottie Pippen for seventh place in career steals. However, he went 1-for-8 in the fourth quarter and conceded early, resulting in another loss on a milestone night. This was the first matchup between the Lakers and Clippers since they stopped sharing an arena, and it was a crucial game for positioning in the rankings. It was also James' first time playing at the Clippers' $2 billion Intuit Dome. Before the game, James was seen practicing his three-point shots during warm-ups, even nailing consecutive long-range shots from beyond the logo. The Los Angeles derby officially began, with James committing a turnover in the first quarter but quickly making up for it with a steal against Harden. He then hit two consecutive three-pointers from outside, to which Harden responded with a 3+1 play. James attempted a super-long three-pointer but missed. Kawhi Leonard hit a three-pointer, and James scored by driving to the basket. In the first quarter, he shot 3 of 6, scoring 8 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists, while the Clippers' stars Harden and Kawhi scored 7 and 5 points respectively. In the second quarter, despite James and Reeves leading the team, they were continuously suppressed. After James took a break, the Lakers…

The Clippers and Lakers game was something everyone saw, after all, every Los Angeles derby sparks different fireworks. Judging from the final result, the Clippers were the winning side, achieving a significant 14-point victory. This win not only secured their place in the standings but also accumulated victories for themselves. So, analyzing from the Clippers' perspective, how should we interpret this game? A big win with widespread success, four players contributing to the victory, the Clippers' three giants becoming four, and one player deserving an All-Star spot. Those who frequently watch the Los Angeles derby know that the Lakers have been suppressed in recent years, while the Clippers have played with their own insights. This game was no exception; the Clippers controlled the pace throughout the match, leading by as much as 26 points at one point, ultimately securing a 14-point victory. For the Clippers, they are already familiar with such a game rhythm, and there are too many people capable of scoring during the game, presenting a widespread success. The Clippers won in their own way, which was quite lively. So, who contributed to the Clippers' victory? The first is Harden. It's true that Harden's shooting efficiency wasn't high in this game, but his value cannot be measured solely by shooting. While scoring 21 points, Harden also dished out 12 assists, securing a stable 20+10 stat line. This season's Harden is like Paul when he was with the Thunder, experiencing a second spring. It can be foreseen that Harden will make it to the All-Star team this season, though…

On January 20th, Beijing time, the Lakers suffered a heavy blow as Reeves went down in the final four minutes, with LeBron James losing his third superstar, and details of his exit were concerning. The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers in this season's first matchup between the two teams. The Lakers were thoroughly dominated throughout the game, trailing by as much as 26 points at one point, leaving no hope for a victory, ultimately losing by 15 points. More importantly, in the last four minutes of the game, the Lakers' misfortunes compounded as their core guard, Reeves, painfully fell to the ground while vying for a rebound, limping off the court. This was a truly desperate scene for the Lakers, as they had already lost Russell, and now Reeves was also out. During a scramble for an offensive rebound, Reeves collided head-on with the opposing player, Coffey. As a result of his height and weight disadvantage, Reeves was brutally knocked to the ground. Since he initiated the collision, the referee immediately called a defensive foul on him. Reeves committed the foul, and at that moment, his left foot appeared to twist at a suspected 90-degree angle, forcing him to limp off the court. Another detail emerged: after falling, Reeves could no longer stand on both feet. He first clutched his left knee before hopping back to the bench on one leg. Upon reaching the bench, Reeves continued to receive treatment in obvious pain. From these details and footage, it appears…

In the last game, the Clippers defeated the Trail Blazers 118-89, and according to American media statistics, this is the eighth time this season that the Clippers have won by more than 20 points. Among them, since entering 2025, the Clippers have won three games by more than 25 points. We can only say that the Clippers made a great deal, as they did not retain George during the offseason last year, which laid the foundation for the Clippers to introduce defensive strongmen. The addition of Jones and Dunn greatly increased the defensive capabilities of the Clippers' backcourt and flanks. With Van Gundy becoming an assistant coach, Tyronn Lue operates with Harden as the core. Judging from the current situation, Harden has proven his talent. Because his teammates around him have benefited, Zubac's data broke his career-high, and Powell's scoring also set a career-high record. In January, Powell scored over 20 points in five games, including one game where he scored 30 points. Famous journalist Tim Bontemps believes that under the circumstances of George leaving and Leonard unable to play in the first half of the season, Harden is the reason why the Clippers can rank fifth in the West, and Powell's outburst also comes from Harden. Tim Bontemps bluntly stated that Harden helped Powell attract defense, and these two complement each other's strengths and cover up their weaknesses. Powell needs someone to help him attract defense because he was originally afraid of being targeted. Harden is the perfect bait; he has been double-teamed his entire life. With Harden present,…

This is not just an ordinary victory, but a shocking battle that heralds the return of Harden - the 36-year-old Harden scored an astonishing 41 points in the game with only 17 attempts, an efficiency that can be described as remarkable. It must be said that although Harden is already a veteran in the league, his form has not declined at all due to age, but rather there is a sense of getting fiercer with age. In this game, Harden was like a living basketball monster, completely disorienting the opponents, and the Clippers also took advantage of this big win to show their strong potential in the West. You know, Harden's scoring efficiency is not something to be taken lightly, 41 points in 30 minutes, this data would make anyone's eyes light up in any game. What's even more amazing is that this score did not rely on a frenzy of three-pointers, but rather on precise mid-range shots and strong breakthroughs, Harden's performance makes people can't help but think of those young days - strong, decisive, accurate. Nowadays, although Harden is already 35 years old, he still maintains that explosive power and scoring desire, and can still carry the team's offensive banner in critical moments. This game also made the Clippers' head coach Tyronn Lue praise Harden's performance, believing that such efficient scoring is rare in players of any age, and Harden's competitive state is simply astonishing. After this big win, the Clippers have finally made a breakthrough in their record. With this victory, the Clippers' record has risen to…

In the Los Angeles derby, the Lakers were completely overwhelmed by the Clippers, suffering a 102-116 defeat. Clippers center Ivica Zubac had a breakout performance, going 9-for-16 from the field and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line to finish with 21 points, 19 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks, filling up the stat sheet. In this game, Zubac dominated Anthony Davis, who went 5-for-14 from the field, 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, scoring 16 points, grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing out 3 assists, recording 1 steal, and blocking 3 shots. Zubac has been playing at the best level of his career this season, averaging 15.0 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 61.5%. In today's NBA, where many big men are attempting three-pointers, Zubac sticks to tradition, refraining from shooting threes and focusing on inside scoring. He has set new career highs in both points and rebounds. Notably, Zubac always seems to be particularly motivated when facing the Lakers, as he started his career with them before being traded to the Clippers. NBA journalist Nalbandian tweeted, "Despite his overwhelming dominance over Anthony Davis and the Lakers tonight, these numbers feel effortless. Zubac is facing the team that inexplicably traded him away and has once again delivered an outstanding performance." These words are likely to strike a chord with the Lakers' management once more. In this game, Zubac grabbed 8 offensive rebounds, while the Clippers as a team secured 11 offensive rebounds, compared to only 5 for the entire Lakers squad. After the game, Rui…

NBA regular season, the Clippers defeated the Lakers 116-102. The Clippers played very easily in this game, especially in the first half when they dominated the Lakers, allowing them to maintain their advantage and ultimately achieve a big victory. After the game, the Clippers welcomed four pieces of good news. This game was crucial for both sides as it was a positioning battle. After the Clippers defeated the Lakers, they were able to surpass the Lakers, moving up to fifth place in the West and leading the Lakers by 1.5 games. At the same time, the team also achieved a four-game winning streak, with their momentum improving significantly during this period. Zubac's dominance in the paint is becoming increasingly terrifying, scoring 21 points, grabbing 19 rebounds (8 offensive), with 3 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks. He can easily handle Davis. Moreover, his average annual contract is less than 20 million, which is excellent value for such a salary. With Zubac's outburst, the Clippers have a clear pillar in the paint. Of course, all of this is still based on Harden, who can elevate the interior play, and Zubac is also working hard, which is something to be happy about. Little Porter has been performing very well recently. Especially against strong opponents, Little Porter stands out both offensively and defensively. For example, in today's game, Little Porter not only maintained efficiency but also had many assists and few turnovers. He also possesses strong problem-solving abilities. Defensively, Little Porter maintains a high level of intensity, restricting Rivers from being able to…

NBA regular season, tomorrow's January 21st point spread win/loss analysis and prediction for the second part: Suns vs Cavaliers (-7.5) Pre-game analysis: The Suns defeated the Pistons in their last game to secure a two-game winning streak. Durant struggled in the first half but found his form in the second half, finishing with 36 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists on 13-of-27 shooting. Booker had a good shooting night, scoring 35 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists on 11-of-22 shooting. Newcomer Richards was impressive, contributing 21 points and 11 rebounds on 7-of-8 shooting for a double-double. However, the Suns' defense is not strong, and they may struggle against the Cavaliers, who have an excellent offensive capability. Mitchell and Garland both performed well as the Cavaliers won without Mobley. Mitchell scored 36 points with 8 rebounds and 7 assists on 12-of-27 shooting, while Garland has been playing more reasonably this season, scoring 29 points with 5 rebounds and 6 assists on 8-of-19 shooting. The Cavaliers have a deep roster with players who can shoot well and score effectively, ranking second in the league in average points per game. Point spread win/loss prediction: The Cavaliers are favored by 7.5 points at home, and I predict that the Cavaliers will win, covering the spread at home. Celtics vs Warriors (+6.5) Pre-game analysis: The Celtics have been in poor form recently, with a record of 2 wins and 3 losses in their last five games. They lost in overtime to the Hawks in their last game, making continuous mistakes. The "Two Towers" underperformed,…

In this highly anticipated LA derby, the Clippers defeated the Lakers with a score of 116-102, not only securing a thrilling victory but also giving team owner Ballmer a glimpse of the team's limitless potential. After the game, the outstanding performance of Kawhi (Leonard) and the overall play of the team brought to light three exciting facts. Harden's Steady Play Bolsters the Clippers' Foundation Since joining the Clippers, Harden's role has become increasingly prominent. In this game, he scored 16 points, grabbed 2 rebounds, and dished out 10 assists. He is like the team's stabilizing force, firmly protecting the Clippers' foundation. With his points in this game, Harden's career total surpassed that of his predecessors, climbing to 14th in history. This achievement is not only a highlight of Harden's personal career but also injects a strong dose of confidence into the Clippers. With Harden on the team, the Clippers always maintain strong competitiveness in the Western Conference, staying at the forefront and not falling behind. Kawhi's Full-Fledged Performance Raises the Team's Championship Ceiling The recovered Kawhi (Leonard) displayed astonishing dominance in this game. No longer hiding his strength, he showed an all-around offensive and defensive performance, raising the Clippers to championship level. Kawhi operates like a highly efficient basketball machine; offensively, his one-on-one moves are unstoppable, and every shot is a threat. He finished the game with 19 points, 1 rebound, and 4 assists from 9 out of 13 shots. The coach's reasonable rest schedule allowed Kawhi to maintain ample energy in key games, maximizing his advantages. Such a state…