NBA regular season, the first day of 2025 game point spread win-loss analysis and prediction: Raptors vs Celtics (-16.5) Pre-game analysis: The Raptors have suffered ten consecutive losses, their strength is weak, and the road to rebuilding is long. The Celtics' home court used to be a devil's home court, but this season they have already lost six home games, making it less intimidating. In the last game, the Green Army lost at home to the Pacers, with Brown shooting 21 for 13 and scoring 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, but it was not enough to prevent defeat. The team is plagued by injuries, with Holiday and Porzingis both out due to injuries. The Celtics are strong in both offense and defense, and compared to the Raptors, the two teams have a significant difference in strength. Point spread win-loss prediction: The Celtics are giving too many points, and I favor the Raptors winning on the road with the points. Bucks vs Pacers (-1.5) Pre-game analysis: The Bucks have been in poor form recently, with Antetokounmpo and Lillard both out due to injuries. In the last game, Lillard returned, but the team still lost to the Bulls. Lillard shot 19 for 8 and scored 29 points, 6 rebounds, and 12 assists, but there were issues with the team's tactical execution. After Lillard passed the ball, he couldn't get it back. Middleton has struggled to live up to expectations since his major injury, and his performance in the last game was disastrous, missing shots and committing turnovers in crucial moments.…

NBA regular season, the Clippers narrowly defeated the Pelicans 116-113. This game was very close between the Clippers and the Pelicans. The Clippers trailed in the first quarter but managed to catch up in the second half. The final moments were very intense. Fortunately, Powell and Harden continued to exert themselves to lead the team to victory, ultimately securing the win. Two players had excellent performances throughout the game. Powell's performance in the final moments was still effective. He could score continuously, helping the team turn the situation around. In the entire game, Powell scored 35 points with 13 out of 27 shots, which is a huge scoring impact. Every time they reached the decisive period, he could deliver stable output. Harden also had a very high three-point shooting rate in this game, scoring 25 points with 5 out of 10 shots. This level of play was enough. There were also crucial free throws in the final moments that sealed the game, consolidating their advantage. Zubac, Xiao Jones, Dunn, Batum, and Bamba all had passable performances. Zubac protected the rebounds perfectly in this game, scoring full marks for his ability to "eat cakes." However, he was constantly targeted by opponents on the defensive end, and CJ played him very easily. Offensively, Zubac faced some disadvantages against Misi, but a key jump shot helped change the situation. The strengths and weaknesses of Xiao Jones and Dunn were very obvious. Their defense was solid, and both could contribute to the perimeter defense system. Unfortunately, they missed their three-point shots, which was a…

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 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'…

Latest Clippers Injury Report: 1 Player Returns, 3 Absent, Team Prepares Happily, Harden Thrilled On December 30th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continues. The Clippers will embark on a three-game road trip. Due to the tight schedule, Leonard did not travel with the team and stayed in Los Angeles to train with the G League team. Their first game will be against the Pelicans in New Orleans, and before the game, the team also updated their injury report, with Kobe Brown returning. In the latest injury report, Kobe Brown has been removed from the injury list, meaning he can return, but it is still uncertain whether he will get playing time. Previously, during Mann's injury period, he had a chance to enter the rotation, but unfortunately, he also suffered an injury and has been absent until now, missing many opportunities. This comeback is estimated to be difficult to re-enter the rotation, and he will have to continue waiting for opportunities. Leonard, Mann, and Tucker will continue to miss games. Among them, Leonard and Mann are slowly recovering. Leonard is likely to make his debut in the new season after the three-game road trip and will return in the home game against the Hawks. Currently, Leonard is actively rehabilitating and has undergone contact training. After Mann underwent finger surgery, he has also been recovering, and the progress is going well, with hopes of making a comeback during the three-game road trip. As for Tucker, he is no longer with the team and is waiting to be traded, but the progress…

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…

Recently, Spencer Dinwiddie lavished praise on James Harden, calling him one of the strongest offensive engines he has ever seen. This is not just idle talk; it comes from Dinwiddie's firsthand experience of playing alongside Harden. It's a significant statement – for an athlete to receive such an evaluation in the NBA, where stars shine brightly, is truly remarkable. Dinwiddie's admiration is not unfounded; he openly states that Harden's offensive capabilities are unparalleled. During his peak, Harden's scoring and assist statistics were insane, making him virtually impossible to defend against. Imagine a season where Harden scored over 2000 points and assisted teammates to score 2000 or even 3000 points. Such numbers are akin to an unstoppable offensive machine, running at full throttle. Dinwiddie describes Harden's offensive threat as "crazy," which is no exaggeration. This level of performance stands up to comparison with NBA legends. While the debate often centers around LeBron James and Michael Jordan as the greatest players in history, when focusing solely on offensive prowess, Harden's achievements cannot be overlooked. Scoring, assists, long-range shooting, drawing fouls...Harden excels in almost every aspect, like an all-in-one offensive toolbox, capable of adapting to any situation with few defenses able to contain him. Dinwiddie also notes that while Harden's dominance was once unquestionable, his offensive power has indeed diminished somewhat. More accurately, his physical stamina and speed are beginning to limit his once-sharp offensive game. However, his ability to read the game has improved significantly. He no longer relies solely on speed and penetration but compensates for his physical decline with higher…

In a recent game, the Clippers defeated the Warriors 102-92 and currently hold the fifth spot in the Western Conference with a win rate close to 60%. This win rate is reminiscent of James Harden's time in Philadelphia, where he led the team to a 63% win rate when Joel Embiid was not playing. However, Harden's performance with the Clippers is slightly lower than his solo efforts in Philadelphia. This could be attributed to the team configuration, as in Philadelphia, when Embiid was absent, Harden had Maxey to rely on for scoring and Harris also had more opportunities due to the absence of the "Emperor." Additionally, Philadelphia had a young defensive specialist like Melton, who was similar to a younger version of Beverley. The difference between Philadelphia and Brooklyn lies in their approach; Philadelphia didn't have grand ambitions and simply focused on building around Harden when Embiid was out. The Clippers, on the other hand, have a purer strategy, combining Leonard's playing style to revolve their tactics around Harden. This is because Leonard's style can fit into any team, making him akin to a cheat code that can be plugged into any system. As Harden mentioned in an interview, Leonard expressed anxiety about his return, fearing it might disrupt the Clippers' established chemistry. Harden reassured him, stating that his playing style naturally complements the current roster, likening it to upgrading Dunn to Leonard. Leonard was immediately pleased and no longer worried. Leonard's return doesn't significantly affect Harden individually; he remains the tactical core but may see a slight decrease in…

The Lakers managed to defeat the Kings without James, which has made things difficult for the Clippers as they have now dropped to sixth in the Western Conference. However, with Leonard set to return to play soon, the Clippers' future looks promising. The recent performance of the Lakers has been puzzling. Despite James being unable to play due to a cold, they managed to defeat the Kings at home. After this game, the Lakers' record caught up with the Clippers, and because they have performed better against Western Conference teams, their ranking is now ahead of the Clippers. The Clippers have not been playing smoothly recently. In their last few games, their offense has seemed off, especially in critical moments when they struggle to find someone to score. Although Harden has joined the team, he appears to have not fully adapted to the team's style of play, making the Clippers' offense appear disorganized. In fact, the Clippers' defense has always been solid, with a top-five defensive efficiency in the league, indicating that they are quite capable on the defensive end. However, the current issue is that the offense is too reliant on individual ability. When Leonard is not on the court, the team's offensive options become particularly limited. Leonard is finally returning to play. Previously, there were reports that he could return before Christmas, but it has been delayed until now. However, it has now been confirmed that he will make his comeback in the game against the Hawks on January 5th, which is a timely boost for the Clippers.…