The Thunder defeated the Timberwolves 113-105 to achieve a 12-game winning streak, making this season an impressive one. Although the Thunder had the best record in the West last season, it was due to a late surge, and there were still many teams that could compete with them for first place. However, this year the Thunder has left their competitors far behind, with a five-game lead over the second-place Grizzlies. The Thunder's goal is no longer just to be the best in the West but to claim the top spot in the league. It must be said that Alexander is now the biggest favorite for this year's MVP. Despite Jokic still leading the race, there is a sense of fatigue among the public, who believe that Alexander is more deserving of the MVP than Jokic. Firstly, the Thunder's record completely outshines the Nuggets', and secondly, Alexander's recent performances have been incredible. This season, he averages 31.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block per game, with a shooting percentage of 53% and a three-point percentage of 35%. In December and on the first day of the new year, Alexander has scored over 40 points three times. These include 45 points against the Pacers, 41 points against the Wizards, and 40 points against the Timberwolves. Alexander's performance has also made the Clippers envious, as they regret their decision. After the game today, two Clippers reporters praised Alexander on social media, with journalist Tomer Azarly saying that with nearly half the season gone, Alexander is the most valuable player…

This season's NBA regular season has been going on for more than two months, and the Western Conference is in chaos. Several top teams such as the Clippers, Nuggets, and Lakers have slowly caught up with the fourth-place Mavericks, making it seem that a 60% winning rate is not a safe threshold for playoff tickets! Over these two months of games, my most direct feeling is that there are fewer and fewer stars in the entire league who can lead their teams to a guaranteed bottom line! Let me give you some examples: Curry, at nearly 37 years old, has seen his average stats drop to 22 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.4 assists this season, with a record of 12 wins and 14 losses in the games he played. In many tough matches, Curry always seems to be in a slump, such as shooting 4 out of 14 against the Cavaliers, 2 out of 13 against the Pacers, and 0 out of 7 against the Grizzlies. The Warriors also suffered defeat after defeat, dropping from first place in the West at the beginning of the season. Another example is the Suns, who have a record of 1 win and 9 losses when Durant is absent; when Booker is absent, the team's record is 1 win and 5 losses. The Suns' total salary exceeds 220million,butwithoutasuperstarworth220 million, but without a superstar worth 220million,butwithoutasuperstarworth50 million, they become a mediocre team. Where did the remaining 170milliongo?EspeciallyBill,whoearns170 million go? Especially Bill, who earns 170milliongo?EspeciallyBill,whoearns50.2 million but averages only 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists,…

The Clippers have embarked on a three-game road trip, defeating the Pelicans 116-113 today and securing their third consecutive victory. In recent games, the Clippers have won against the Grizzlies away, the Warriors at home, and the Pelicans today. Their next game is against the Spurs, followed by the Thunder. We previously mentioned that for the Clippers, winning one game on this road trip would be satisfactory, two would exceed expectations, and three would be unimaginable. Today's game against the Pelicans was almost a loss, and the Spurs are not an easy opponent this year. Finally, against the Thunder, the Clippers might even rest Harden as it may not be worth the effort. Therefore, for the Clippers, today's win against the Pelicans guarantees them a minimum score, and they should focus on winning against the Spurs in the next game. They can then prepare to welcome Leonard's return at home against the Hawks. This time, it should not be a false alarm; Leonard initially wanted to return against the Warriors but may have been afraid of getting injured. Facing the Hawks, Leonard should be able to play, and now Harden has established a solid foundation for Leonard. After defeating the Pelicans, the Clippers' record surpassed the Lakers, placing them fifth in the West, just one win behind the fourth-placed Mavericks. The Clippers have a 19-13 record, while the Mavericks have a 20-12 record. This means that the Clippers have a chance to climb to fourth place in the West before Leonard returns, which would be a dream start for Leonard…

The Western Conference has always been a fiercely competitive division in the league, where the win-loss difference between teams is often minimal by the end of the season, and a single game can determine whether a team makes it to the playoffs. Therefore, every game in the West is crucial. The Clippers have not been overshadowed in terms of attention compared to the Warriors and Lakers in the league. This season, after the departure of George and Westbrook, many people were concerned about the Clippers' prospects. However, under Harden's leadership, the Clippers have presented a surprising record so far. And recently, they received another piece of good news: Leonard, who has been out since the beginning of the season, is expected to return and may choose to come back in the next one or two games. With Leonard's return, Western Conference teams might start feeling nervous as the Clippers will immediately become a top-tier powerhouse. Although they lost George, Powell has performed exceptionally well this season, averaging 24.2 points, which is already at an All-Star level. In fact, his performance this season far exceeds that of Paul George, making him one of the Clippers' giants in a strict sense. After Leonard's return, the Clippers will still have a trio of superstars. Harden, Powell, and Leonard will set sail again for the Clippers. The significance of Leonard's return lies in the fact that the Clippers will have more players capable of deciding games in critical moments. As we all know, Leonard is a player with excellent clutch abilities, averaging 24+6+4 last…

Golden State Warriors' Future Leader: Kuminga The Golden State Warriors recently defeated the Phoenix Suns with a score of 109-105, swapping their records and moving up to ninth place in the West, avoiding consecutive losses. With a current record of 16 wins and 15 losses, it seems unlikely for the Warriors to win the championship this year, as Stephen Curry is aging and Draymond Green was never considered a cornerstone player. This may explain why the Warriors are reluctant to trade away future draft picks; the management may be relying on Curry to sell tickets for a few more years, saving on luxury taxes, and then rebuilding through the draft after Curry's retirement. Kuminga, who was almost traded last season, has now become an indispensable asset for the Warriors. If the team decides to rebuild in the future, Kuminga could lead the team's resurgence. At just 22 years old and already in his fourth year, he is younger than some rookies. Kuminga was selected as the 7th pick in the first round of the 2021 draft. In December, Kuminga scored over 30 points three times, including a game against the Houston Rockets where he scored 33 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, outperforming fellow top pick Jalen Green and leading the team to victory. He also scored 34 points in recent games against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Suns. In the game against the Suns, Kuminga played like a true assassin, scoring 34 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal in 34 minutes, shooting 12 for 20 from…

The Lakers managed to win against the Kings without James, which has made things difficult for the Clippers as they have now dropped to sixth in the West. The uncertainty surrounding Leonard's injury has left the team in an awkward position. The Lakers' victory was unexpected, especially since they were able to win without James. This has put the Clippers in a difficult situation, as both teams now have the same record of 18 wins and 13 losses. However, the Clippers are ranked sixth due to their inferior record against Western Conference teams. The Lakers have been performing better than expected recently, with other players stepping up in James' absence, particularly Davis, whose consistent performance has helped maintain their competitiveness. The Clippers are currently feeling uncomfortable, as they had hoped that the Lakers would lose to the Kings without James, allowing them to secure the fifth spot in the West. However, reality has dealt them a heavy blow. The outcome of this game has significant implications for the Clippers, as they are about to embark on a three-game road trip against opponents of average strength. However, playing away is physically demanding, and their current lineup is not complete. Leonard is scheduled to return on January 5th against the Hawks, which is good news for the Clippers. However, it also presents new challenges, as the team will need to readjust their lineup and tactics. The Clippers have been doing well without Leonard, with other players taking on more responsibility, especially Paul George and Harden, whose stable performances have kept the team…

How Hard Is It to Conquer the Entire League? Only 5 People Have Done It in the Last 20 Years, Durant Falls Short In the NBA, a league filled with geniuses, winning a championship is already an impressive feat. However, to "conquer the entire league" requires a performance that's out of this world! This isn't just about technical skill; it also demands psychological resilience, leadership, and an unwavering will to never give up. To truly "conquer the entire league," one must not only silence opponents on the court but also earn the respect of all fans and media. In the past 20 years, only a few players have achieved this, surprisingly including Kevin Durant, such a strong player, who still falls short. Shaquille O'Neal: Why do they say I'm invincible? Because I am "The Great Shark"! Let's start with Shaquille O'Neal. Twenty years ago, that "shark" swept everything away. In the 1999-2000 season, O'Neal reached the pinnacle of his career, averaging nearly 30 points and 13 rebounds, ravaging the opponent's paint like it was his own swimming pool. In the finals that year, the Lakers faced the Pacers, and O'Neal was like a bulldozer, averaging 38 points and 16.7 rebounds, with no one able to stop him. The Pacers' big men were crushed to the point of questioning their existence, as O'Neal used his dominance to lead the Lakers to the championship and took home the FMVP trophy. At that time, no one could match him, and you had to admit, "The Great Shark" truly conquered the entire league. Even…

The Clippers' record continues to rise, and the Western Conference landscape is quietly changing. During Harden's leadership, the team has climbed to sixth in the West, with the same record as the Lakers in fifth place. The potential of this team seems far from being fully activated. Recently, in a home game against the Warriors, the entire Clippers squad delivered a resounding victory. The trio of Powell, Zubac, and Harden showed remarkable chemistry, contributing a comprehensive stat line of 62 points, 18 rebounds, and 12 assists. Such a performance evokes memories of the Clippers' glorious past. Even more exciting is the steady improvement in the team's overall strength. Bench players like Derrick Jones, Dunn, and Coffey have repeatedly broken their personal scoring records, showcasing their impressive offensive and defensive capabilities on the court. This all-team blooming approach makes the Clippers' games more unpredictable and difficult to defend. With the Nuggets suffering two consecutive losses, the Clippers seized the opportunity to overtake them and are now only 1.5 games behind the fourth-place Mavericks in the West. At this moment of great anticipation, Leonard's return will undoubtedly inject a strong stimulant into the team. Speaking of Harden, his performance this season is truly eye-catching. Behind the average stats of 22 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per game lies his outstanding organizational skills and seasoned match experience. In the league, there are very few players who can lead their team to the playoffs for 15 consecutive years, which is exactly where Harden excels. It is worth mentioning that Harden has already scored…

During the offseason, Clippers star Kawhi Leonard chose to undergo knee surgery and has now officially stated that he will not be joining the team for their upcoming three-game road trip. This means that the All-Star small forward will miss all of the 2024 games, spending the remaining time in San Diego for rehabilitation training. However, this behavior has sparked considerable controversy. As early as mid-December, it was reported that Leonard had already resumed partial on-court training, and if everything went smoothly, he was expected to return to the court in two weeks. Now, everyone who cares about him has become a clown, leaving the team to rely solely on Harden and Powell to carry the load. Despite achieving an 18-13 record since the start of the season, without Leonard, it seems unlikely that they can compete for the championship. According to the latest report by renowned journalist Shams, Leonard is set to make his comeback on January 5, 2025, marking his first appearance of the new season. The versatile player, who averages 20 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in his career, will alleviate the pressure on James Harden at both ends of the court. Currently, competition in the Pacific Division is fierce, with the Los Angeles Clippers securing the top spot in the division thanks to their strong defense. Meanwhile, the Lakers, Suns, Warriors, and Kings behind them are experiencing significant internal lineup issues. The Sacramento general manager took the initiative to challenge the status quo by firing head coach Mike Brown. The Suns'…

NBA regular season action continues, and despite the Clippers not being scheduled for a Christmas Day game, their ranking has been affected by other matchups. Among them, the Lakers defeated the Warriors 115-113 on the road, a result that indirectly impacted the Clippers. The Clippers Need to Rely on Themselves to Return to the Top 6! After the Lakers' victory over the Warriors, both the Clippers and Lakers have a record of 17 wins and 13 losses. The Lakers temporarily rank ahead of the Clippers due to their record against Western Conference teams, leaving the Clippers in the seventh spot in the West, back in the play-in tournament zone. However, the Clippers don't need to panic too much as their upcoming schedule isn't particularly challenging. Their next game is at home against the Warriors, who are currently struggling, and the Clippers haven't lost to the Warriors this season, earning them the nickname "Warriors Killer." Following that, the Clippers will face the Pelicans, Spurs, Thunder, and Hawks in succession. Aside from the Thunder, the rest are on the fringes of playoff contention, with the Pelicans even at the bottom of the West. If the Clippers seize these opportunities, returning to the top 6 in the West should be manageable. Aiming for the Championship, the Clippers' Strength Is Promising! Clearly, even though they're currently seventh in the West, the Clippers' overall performance far exceeds expectations. With Leonard out due to injury, Harden has stepped up, and Powell has become the most stable offensive force, leading the team in scoring. Zubac continues to…