On January 19th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continues to unfold. The Clippers have recently regained momentum and achieved a three-game winning streak, moving up to fifth in the Western Conference. In their next game, they will face a crucial matchup against the sixth-placed Lakers, which is also the first Los Angeles derby of the season. Prior to the game, the Clippers updated their injury report, with four players listed as questionable due to illness, including James Harden. After a three-game winning streak, the Clippers' morale has been greatly boosted, and the team atmosphere remains positive. Despite some trade rumors, the players remain focused on the games. In the past two games, they have achieved significant victories, including a 59-point win over the Nets, setting a new record for the largest point differential in team history. Following that, they won by 29 points against the Trail Blazers in a back-to-back game, accumulating an impressive 88-point margin over two games, demonstrating their excellent competitive form. However, the Clippers are about to face a challenging schedule, playing four games in the next five days, including two back-to-back matches. Fortunately, all these games are at home, so there's no need for travel. The first game will be against the Lakers at home, marking the first Los Angeles derby of the season. With both teams currently ranked fifth and sixth in the West, the game is expected to be particularly intense. However, the Clippers have encountered trouble before the game, as Harden has fallen ill. Recently, several NBA players have been affected by…

Durant: Only four super scorers in the 21st century, Curry and Harden are not qualified! Throughout the long history of the NBA, many outstanding super scorers have emerged, from Chamberlain to Jordan, from the "Big Four Guards" to today's James, Durant, Harden, etc. These players have not only conquered countless fans with their top-notch offensive abilities but also made the NBA the most watched sports event. Recently, Durant shared his list of the strongest scorers in the 21st century during an interview, which has sparked widespread attention and discussion. Surprisingly, superstars like Curry, Harden, and Irving, who are famous for scoring, did not appear on Durant's list. So, who are the super scorers in Durant's mind? Let's take a look. Kobe Kobe is hailed as the player closest to Jordan. His style is elegant and spectacular. In terms of scoring, Kobe is also one of the strongest in history. He once set records such as 81 points in a single game, 62 points in three quarters, and four consecutive games with 50+. At critical moments, Kobe is also the most reliable choice, having performed countless solo-saving buzzer-beaters throughout his career. McGrady At his peak, McGrady was undoubtedly one of the top scorers in the league. His pull-up jumper was almost unsolvable back then, and the "35 seconds, 13 points" feat is well-known. He also won the scoring title for two consecutive years. It's worth noting that Durant's draft template was McGrady, and he has openly said that many of his techniques were learned from McGrady. Durant Durant putting himself on…

According to Law Murray, a Clippers reporter, head coach Tyronn Lue is gradually increasing Kawhi Leonard's playing time, with the expectation that the latter will have his playing time restrictions lifted in February. This is undoubtedly good news for the Clippers. The departure of Paul George has not affected the overall combat effectiveness of the Clippers. James Harden's solo leadership has been remarkable, and Powell and Zubac have taken on more responsibilities. The Clippers have worked hard as a team to minimize the impact of Leonard's absence. With the regular season nearing its halfway point, the Clippers' ranking remains at fifth in the West, which continues to give hope to Los Angeles fans for this tenacious team. Recently, American media "NBA Analysis Network" suggested that the Clippers management should target experienced veteran Jeff Green for recruitment. The Rockets have many available players at the forward position this season, even with injuries to Jalen Green and Tari Eason, Jeff Green has not had many opportunities to showcase his skills. The media provided a three-team trade offer to the Clippers and Rockets, with the Mavericks participating as a third party. If negotiations go smoothly, PJ Tucker will join Dallas to support the Eastern European duo. The specific trade plan is as follows: The Clippers send PJ Tucker + a 2031 second-round pick to receive Jeff Green. The Mavericks send Maxi Kleber + a 2030 second-round pick to receive PJ Tucker. The Rockets send Jeff Green to receive Maxi Kleber + a 2030 second-round pick from the Mavericks + a 2031 second-round pick…

The NBA season is already halfway through, and recently ESPN journalists have commented on the most impressive players in the first half of the season, listing eight players. Most of them are young people under 30 years old. Harden is the only player over 30 among them; he is currently 35 years old and tops the league, with no veteran able to match his influence in the first half of the season. The other seven are Towns, CC Cunningham, Wembanyama, Daniels, Ball, the Nets' Johnson, and the Clippers' Powell. Powell also shines brightly in Harden's system. Because Harden can attract defensive resources to swarm around Powell, Powell has played the most efficient and outstanding game of his career this season. According to statistics, when Harden is unable to play, Powell's data and shooting percentage experience a cliff-like decline. Many people say that Harden is not the core of the Clippers because of his low shooting percentage and the fact that Powell and Zubac have thick legs, but the fact is that Harden is the leader. When ESPN praised Harden as the most impressive player in the first half of the season, renowned journalist Tim Bontemps also evaluated him. Bontemps believes that Harden's performance in the first half of this year is the reason why the Clippers can rank fifth in the West. Bontemps also compares Philadelphia and the Clippers. George, who earns 50millionayear,lefttheClippers,whileHardenrenewedhiscontractfor50 million a year, left the Clippers, while Harden renewed his contract for 50millionayear,lefttheClippers,whileHardenrenewedhiscontractfor70 million over two years. However, the results of the two teams are different; Philadelphia's…

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…

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…

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…

Kawhi Leonard's return to the Clippers is truly terrifying, as the Atlanta Hawks were the first team to experience it firsthand. Honestly, there were doubts among spectators about whether Leonard could play normally upon his return and if the Clippers would perform better. It's unclear why there was such high anticipation for Leonard's comeback. However, it turned out that Leonard was indeed worth waiting for. Despite being cautious on the court and not making too many moves, an undeniable fact is that whenever Leonard is on the court, he exerts a deterrent force, causing other Clippers players to become naturally excited. This may be where Leonard's value lies. Even after 253 days of recuperation from injury, Leonard's offense has yet to fully recover, but his defense remains top-notch. This is a powerful gene inherent in him, which is essentially talent. On the court, with just a stretch of his hand, opponents feel the pressure. The two classic steals against the Hawks reminded fans of Leonard's steal against LeBron James in a previous battle. At that time, Leonard was still young, while James was at the peak of his career. Yet, even the mighty James fell short against the "concrete-like" defense of the young Leonard. That match made Leonard famous overnight. A healthy Leonard is undoubtedly one of the top small forwards in the league, capable of creating endless "trouble" for top-tier opponents. He is truly deserving of being a two-time Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY). As Leonard matured, he entered the pinnacle of an NBA star with the glow…

James Harden successfully surpassed legendary shooter Ray Allen by consecutively scoring two three-pointers, ranking second in the NBA's all-time three-point shooting list. Speaking of the top spot, there is no need for more words; the 09 duo - Stephen Curry and Harden, as the two best three-point shooters currently active, have always been a hot topic among fans. On the night Harden set his new record, the Clippers celebrated with a victory. The league also seemed to have foreseen this historic moment, cleverly arranging the schedule at the beginning of the season to make this critical moment in Harden's career shine even more. The game between the Clippers and the Warriors at the Clippers' home court became another peak confrontation between the two three-point shooters, Harden and Curry. In the first quarter, both teams' offenses were somewhat slow, with the Clippers, playing back-to-back games, choosing to conserve energy. Meanwhile, the Warriors made frequent mistakes, giving away five turnovers within the first five minutes, which the Clippers took advantage of, with 10 out of their first 14 points directly benefiting from the Warriors' "generosity." The Warriors exposed obvious problems on both offense and defense in the first quarter, making continuous mistakes and having leaky defense, causing headaches for head coach Steve Kerr. If it weren't for the Clippers experiencing an offensive outage during the lineup rotation at the end of the first quarter, the Warriors would have found it difficult to catch up and reduce the point difference. In the second quarter, after a brief stalemate, the Clippers once again stood…