In the midst of the NBA season, as the league landscape shifts and teams fiercely compete for rankings, there are three star players who stand out with their exceptional leadership and consistent performance. They steer their teams forward like steady captains through the competitive waves. James Harden: The Helmsman of the Clippers' Comeback This season, Harden, earning a salary of $33.65 million, is undoubtedly the backbone of the Clippers. During the difficult period when Kawhi was out for an extended time, Harden took on the responsibility of leading the team. Surrounded by players who may not seem particularly outstanding, Harden has managed to unite the team and deliver impressive results. The Clippers currently hold a record of 23 wins and 17 losses, ranking fifth in the West, far exceeding expectations for a team without its main star. Harden's personal performance is equally remarkable, averaging 21.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. His sharp breakthroughs, accurate shooting, and skillful passing have become the driving force behind the Clippers' continuous progress. Nikola Jokic: The Core Power Behind the Nuggets' Rise Jokic, with a salary of $51.42 million this season, fully justifies his high pay with his performance. As a consecutive MVP winner, Jokic is considered the top player in the current league. At the start of the season, the Nuggets struggled, but Jokic single-handedly brought the team back on track. Currently, the Nuggets are fourth in the West with a record of 25 wins and 16 losses. Jokic's personal statistics are comprehensive and astonishing, averaging 30.1 points, 13.2 rebounds, and…

On January 15th, Beijing time, the Nuggets defeated the Mavericks 118-99 on the road, securing their fourth consecutive victory. Their record now stands at 24 wins and 15 losses, closing in on the top three in the Western Conference, just half a game behind the Grizzlies, with the potential to overtake them soon. The Nuggets were in top form, leading by 26 points at halftime, making the second half almost a garbage time. If not for their relaxation in the fourth quarter, the margin of victory would have been even greater. The Mavericks, without Doncic, suffered their second consecutive loss, dropping to sixth in the West with a record of 22 wins and 18 losses, only half a game ahead of the Lakers, risking falling out of the play-in tournament. In this game, Murray was the standout performer for the Nuggets. He fought hard for 37 minutes, shooting 18 times out of 26 attempts, scoring an impressive 45 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. This marks the fifth time in his career that he has scored 40+ points in a regular-season game, setting a new high for the season. With the season nearing its halfway point and the entire Nuggets team back in action, they are expected to further improve their ranking, undoubtedly becoming one of the top contenders for the championship. Jokic willingly played a supporting role, shooting 4 out of 7, securing an economical triple-double with 10 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists. Porter shot 5 out of 9, scoring 13 points. Westbrook also contributed with…

Victory! Jokic with 20+14+10, Banchero 17 for 4, Westbrook Makes a Big Contribution, Western Conference Landscape Changes Beijing time January 20, 2025, the 23-20 Magic hosted the 25-16 Nuggets. The Magic were missing the Wagner brothers, Suggs, and Bitadze, suffering a significant loss in combat power. On paper, they were not considered strong opponents for the Nuggets. However, the Magic are an iron-blooded team known for their tenacity and strong defense. Could the Magic pull off an upset against the Nuggets today? The Magic's starting lineup featured Anthony, Pope, Silva, Banchero, and Carter, while the Nuggets started with Murray, Westbrook, Braun, Porter, and Jokic. In the first quarter, Carter and Pope opened with a 4-0 lead. Westbrook hit a three-pointer, followed by Carter and Pope scoring another four points, putting the Magic ahead 8-3. After a timeout, Jokic and Murray scored, to which Silva and Carter responded, maintaining the Magic's lead at 13-7. Braun scored four consecutive points, Banchero made a putback, and the Magic led by four. Jokic made a layup, Silva responded with a three-pointer, and the lead was five. Porter hit a three-pointer, Pope responded in kind, and the lead remained at five. Jokic and Westbrook scored again, while Quinn and Xiustan hit three-pointers, extending the lead to seven. Jokic and Strasser narrowed the gap to one point, and the first quarter ended with the Magic leading 29-28. In the second quarter, Quinn made a layup, giving the Magic a three-point lead. Gordon also made a layup. Banchero, Quinn, and Xiustan combined for seven points, extending the…

On January 20th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued with the Nuggets visiting the Magic. The two teams were locked in a seesaw battle, with the Magic able to take some initiative and even lead by as much as 10 points at one point. However, Murray and Jokic led the team to turn the tide, and they further widened the gap in the following quarters, with the fourth quarter quickly losing suspense. Ultimately, the Nuggets defeated the Magic 113-100, securing their second consecutive victory while maintaining their position as fourth in the West. The Nuggets have been in excellent form recently, but they initially found themselves in a passive situation. However, the team's multi-point scoring and the outstanding performance of Murray and Jokic helped them reverse the situation. They took control of the game in the third quarter, finishing with a 16-point lead. In the fourth quarter, the Nuggets extended their lead, allowing Jokic to rest early, and the game lost its suspense early, resulting in a 13-point victory for the Nuggets. The Nuggets' outside shooting was not impressive this time, only making 7 three-pointers throughout the game. According to current league trends, such a performance would be difficult to win a game. Surprisingly, the Nuggets achieved a big win. This is largely due to their dominance in the paint, with Jokic anchoring the team, giving them an absolute advantage inside and ultimately helping them secure the victory. The Nuggets shot 40 out of 77, with a field goal percentage of 51.9%, encountering little trouble. Jokic played exceptionally well,…

On January 15th, Beijing time, in the home game against the Nuggets, the Mavericks lost to the Nuggets with a score of 99-118. The two teams had just played each other before, and although the Mavericks suffered a reversal, they also showed their strength in the game. This time they met again, with Irving returning, the Mavericks hoped to avenge the Nuggets. This game was crucial for them, as another loss would widen the gap in wins and losses with the Nuggets, who currently lead by 1.5 games. The starting lineup for the Mavericks was Irving, Clay, Marshall, Washington, and Lively, while the Nuggets started with Westbrook, Murray, Braun, Porter, and Jokic. In the first quarter, the Nuggets took an early lead with an 11-4 run, followed by Gafford scoring to stabilize the situation. However, the Mavericks struggled, with Murray and Porter making consecutive shots, giving the Nuggets a 10-point lead. After a timeout, Westbrook hit a three-pointer, and Dinwiddie responded with a score. Murray and Porter continued to score, extending the Nuggets' lead to 15 points. In the closing stages, Dinwiddie made a 2+1 and Jokic scored, with Murray helping the Nuggets maintain their advantage, ending the first quarter with a 15-point lead. In the second quarter, Jordan and Gordon helped the Nuggets expand their lead, with Clay hitting a three-pointer at a critical moment. The game went back and forth, with Grimes and Irving hitting three-pointers, allowing the Mavericks to close the gap. However, Murray, Dinwiddie, and Porter followed with three-pointers, and finally, Clay hit another three-pointer, leaving…

Victory! Murray with 30+7+8, Jokic's triple-double, Westbrook is amazing, the Western Conference landscape changes On January 18, 2025, Beijing time, the 20-win and 19-loss Heat hosted the 24-win and 16-loss Nuggets. Butler returned for the Heat, while Jokic and Gordon also returned together for the Nuggets. With both teams' core players present, who would win this battle? The Heat's starting lineup was Herro + Deng Luo + Butler + Hayesmith + Adebayor, while Gordon came off the bench for the Nuggets, with the starting lineup being Westbrook + Murray + Braun + Porter + Jokic. In the first quarter, Adebayor dunked, Murray responded with a three-pointer, Herro made a layup, and Murray, Jokic, and Porter scored 7 points in a row, giving the Nuggets a 10-4 lead. Butler cut through for a dunk, and Murray and Braun added another 4 points, extending the Nuggets' lead to 8 points. Herro made a layup, Westbrook responded with a three-pointer, and the Nuggets led by 17-8, forcing a timeout from the Heat. After the timeout, Westbrook made a layup, and the gap widened to 11 points. Herro, Adebayor, and Harkless narrowed the gap to 4 points, but Jokic and Westbrook extended it back to 11 points. After the timeout, Jovic scored 5 points in a row, and the first quarter ended with the Nuggets leading 30-24. In the second quarter, Strasser made a three-pointer, giving the Nuggets a 9-point lead. Well and Herro scored, while Gordon added 6 points, widening the gap to 11 points. Jovic and Rozier narrowed the gap to 6…

NBA regular season is in full swing, and the league has officially announced the third phase of fan voting results for the 2025 San Francisco All-Star Weekend. Giannis Antetokounmpo leads with a whopping 3,489,956 votes, securing his position as the top vote-getter for the third consecutive period! Additionally, seven other players have received over two million votes: Tatum, Towns, Jokic, James, Durant, Wembanyama, and Alexander. According to the initial voting results, the starting lineups for the East and West are as follows: In the West, it's Jokic + LeBron + KD + Alexander + Curry; in the East, it's Giannis + Tatum + Towns + LaMelo Ball + Mitchell. In the first and second stages of voting, Giannis from the East outpaced Jokic from the West to become the top vote-getter, a title well-deserved with the highest number of votes in the league! On one hand, Giannis' abilities are unquestionable. This new season, he has played 33 games, averaging an impressive 31.3 points + 11.8 rebounds + 6.1 assists + 1.4 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 60.1%. On the other hand, Giannis' popularity is at the top among mid-career stars, with even strong contenders like Jokic and Tatum unable to match him. Moreover, Giannis' explosive playing style aligns with American aesthetics. It's worth noting that Giannis received a total of 3,489,956 votes, making him the only player in the league to surpass three million votes. In comparison, the second-ranked Jokic received "only" 2,924,436 votes, 560,000 fewer than Giannis. This is a significant gap that will be hard to close,…

The Rockets defeated the Nuggets 128-108 in an away game today. The Rockets played relatively easily, as Jokic of the Nuggets did not participate. The Rockets maintained control on both offense and defense, leading by a large margin in the first half and maintaining that advantage in the second half to secure a big win. Three players had perfect scores in this game. Among them, Green continued his explosive performance, maintaining his good form throughout the game and finishing with 34 points and 5 assists, demonstrating that his abilities are now without any issues. VanVleet also completed his tasks effectively, showcasing excellent playmaking skills and strong defensive intensity. He shot 4 out of 9 from beyond the arc, finishing with 16 points and 8 assists, solidifying his role on the team. Amen remains an all-around warrior, contributing 11 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks in the game. His current strengths lie in his rebounding and defensive prowess, along with high shooting efficiency, making him the team's absolute core. Shen Jing, Dillon, Whitmore, Jeff Green, Williams, Tate, and Adams all had passing grades. Shen Jing had a flaw in the first half, missing many shots and wasting opportunities. Fortunately, he improved in the second half, making better choices in both playmaking and offensive plays, ultimately recording 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Dillon mainly focused on defense, not attempting many shots but contributing 6 points and 2 steals. Whitmore dominated in this game, shooting 7 out of 11 for 16 points and 9 rebounds, achieving a very high…

In the history of basketball development, the evolution of tactical concepts is always closely related to the characteristics of the players of the era. The ball-dominant core play, as a tactic that has received much attention in recent years, has become the offensive core of many NBA teams. However, this style of play carries both risks and opportunities, hiding deeper game philosophies and paths to success. The concept of the ball-dominant core can be simply understood as a player leading the majority of the team's offensive rounds, not only scoring but also organizing and scheduling their teammates' offense through ball control. In a narrow sense, modern basketball players like James Harden and Luka Doncic are representatives of this style; while in a broader sense, traditional point guards like Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, and Steve Nash were also typical examples of the ball-dominant core approach. However, throughout history, few players have won championships solely relying on the ball-dominant core style. This tactical system can produce dazzling performances in the regular season but often fails in the playoffs. Taking Jason Kidd as an example, he led his team to the finals twice during his peak period but never won a championship until the twilight of his career when he played a supporting role for the Dallas Mavericks. The core issue with the ball-dominant core style is the excessive concentration of ball possession. This is particularly evident in the experiences of James and Harden. For instance, in 2009, the Cavaliers were almost invincible in the regular season, but in an away game against…

If we were to ask fans to select the top five current NBA players, would a 40-year-old James appear in your answers? Don't rush to a conclusion just yet, as former NBA player Baron Davis has shared his thoughts on the matter. The former Warriors player with a beard similar to his own discussed his insights on the five best current players on the latest basketball podcast hosted by Draymond Green. In the announced results of this selection, James did not make the cut, while Harden ranked fifth. According to Baron Davis, in the current league, the list of the top five players does not include James. Even though he had experience playing for the Warriors, Curry was also not included in his top five list! If we consider the overall performance of the season, including leadership abilities and personal statistics, I personally believe that James, Durant, and Curry would indeed face some difficulties in ranking within the top 5. Of course, everyone can have their own differing opinions on this view. Looking at the Clippers' current performance, Harden can be considered to have returned once again, and even more brilliantly than before! With Harden selected in the fifth position, it's also worth noting his past experiences with Embiid at the Philadelphia 76ers, which led to a change in Harden's playing style, and this change has had an impact on the current Clippers. In the related rankings, Tatum is third, followed by Antetokounmpo in fourth place. Thirdly, let's talk about Jayson Tatum! Next up is Antetokounmpo, who successfully turned around…