The Clippers lost to the Hawks 102-105 and suffered a five-game losing streak. The Nuggets will be played in the next game, and Harden's inner language may be "blue skinny mushroom" (uncomfortable and makes him cry).
Harden was indeed too tired. He played for 38 minutes and 45 seconds, scored 35 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists and still failed to stop the loss. Not only was he physically tired, but he was also mentally tired.
The Hawks double-teamed Harden like crazy, and we also understand the reason: Jones, Dunn, and Zubac started at the same time to drag space. Jones and Dunn lacked stable three-point ability. The Hawks boldly let one of the weak-side open three-pointers go - the upper line double teamed Harden, and the lower line rotated to cover Zubac. They deliberately missed one of the five defenses and four, and bet on whether Jones, Dunn, and Collins' weak-side fixed-point open three-pointers could kill people.
Jones and Dunn combined for 1 of 6 wide-open three-pointers. Collins accidentally missed 1 of 6 three-pointers from this point. The weak-side three-point firepower of the Clippers' starting lineup was simply impossible to see. Substitute veteran 3D Batum made 0 of 3 three-pointers, and Christie made 1 of 4 three-pointers. The five points were unable to provide stable three-point firepower, which meant that the Clippers had basically no firepower on the weak side, and all the pressure was placed on Harden, who was holding the ball in front of the strong side.
To be honest in this game, Harden was the only one trained by both teams. Harden scored 35+10+11 and lasted 38 minutes and 45 seconds. He was really burned out.
I believe everyone sees the Clippers' difficulties. Harden is double-teamed and no one can help him handle the ball effectively.
In the same period last year, Powell was also able to help Harden share the pressure. Harden/Powell + Zubac pick-and-rolls can change the defense-both brothers can shoot suddenly, launch high pick-and-rolls with the ball, and Zubac's screen quality can attract a flank attack with a high probability.
Powell holds the ball to attract flankers, Harden is comfortable without the ball; Harden holds the ball to attract flankers, and Powell floats without the ball. The simplest, Harden + Powell pick-and-roll and call out weak links in perimeter defense can defuse bombs. Now, the Clippers have lost to the Hawks, which shows that they do not have such a configuration. In other words, there is no useful second ball-holding point to reduce Harden's burden.
Dunn and Jones are defensive functional cards that are stronger at defense than shooting. The three-pointers at these two points have been missed by opponents all year round. The two brothers and Zubac are on the same court, and the space is extremely constipated - the two men attack the basket and the threat is much greater than shooting, and the defense is easy to target.
Harden's pick-and-roll attracts flankers → Zubac/Jones/Dunn is an established formula, but the Clippers' starting lineup of "three missed baskets" does not have space support.
The Hawks can double-team Harden on the line, and crowd the line with people to block the penalty area. With Harden being flanked by bright cards, Zubac only scored 13 points. The reason is obvious. There is no strategic depth and operating space. Jones and Dunn can be released. The defensive rotation only needs to be against Harden, Zubac, and Collins. The Hawks' light forward and guard group of Wallace, Daniels, Lisa Che, and Johnson in positions 1-4 is full of rotational mobility, and can even boldly defend five and three.
The same applies to the bench. Bogdan and Paul were DNP. Christie, Brown, Batum, and Luo did not have the ability to face the basket, hold the ball, and make sudden shots to help reduce Harden's burden.
Harden is purely a single-core player when Kazek is absent. The Clippers miss Powell's attendance rate, ability to dominate the ball, and output of firepower. After all, Bill's attendance rate and performance this season have been greatly surpassed by Powell. Collins is a pie-eating end point and is not good at facing the basket and holding the ball as a secondary offense. Powell's role is currently unfilled, and Harden can only play a lone single-core role.
The Clippers were armed to the teeth during the offseason. They had 3 wins and 7 losses in 10 games before the start of the season, but the braces fell off first.
Kazko and Bill are absent, Bogdan and Paul were DNP, and the depth of the Clippers' lineup that was armed to the teeth during the offseason has collapsed.
According to common sense, Harden + Paul can achieve 48 minutes of seamless field control at the 1st position, but Paul's aging has made the Clippers' ideas in the offseason come to nothing.
Paul played 28.0 minutes per game for the Spurs last season, averaging 8.8 points, 7.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He shot 37.7% from three-point range and scored 1.7 three-pointers per game. So far this season, he has bottomed out in the eight games he has played, shooting 24.0% from the field and 26.3% from three-point range, averaging only 2.3 points and 3.6 assists per game.
It is no exaggeration to say that the 40-year-old Paul is obviously a different person from last year. He averaged 12.9 minutes per game, a career low. His legs and feet are old and he is unable to adapt to high-intensity games. Moreover, he and Da Luo, two veterans on the bench, seriously dragged down the overall defense. Coach Lu had to choose DNP Paul.
Bogdan's situation also makes the Clippers helpless. He still averaged 11.4 points per game and shot 42.7% from three-pointers last season. He played an important substitute sixth man role last season. His condition declined significantly after suffering a hamstring tear in the European Cup. He averaged only 6.3 points in 22.8 minutes per game this season, shooting 28% from the field and 23.5% from three-pointers. After four games, he fell out of the rotation.
The rapid decline of Paul and Bogdan directly reduced the depth of the Clippers' rotation. The rotation system directly lost two important backcourt rotations. The impact of the collapse of the bench on the Clippers is self-evident.
Injuries, aging, space, and depth of substitutes, these factors jointly determine the Clippers' current difficulties.
Kazi was injured and Paul was DNP, which directly resulted in the Clippers having no useful second ball handler except Harden. Double-team Harden and let others handle the ball. Harden has sent out 13 assists and 11 assists in the past two games, but he has lost both games. He does not have an autonomous ball-handling and secondary attack around him. Harden's fixed style of making cakes has obviously been figured out by his opponents.
Aging also determines the Clippers' difficulties in lineup formation. Paul and Bogdan cannot match the strength, and the depth of the Clippers' substitute backcourt rotation has collapsed; Christie and Brown are working hard in the field, but their abilities are always limited. The bench is currently stretched thin, and only two veterans, Batum and Daluo, can make a difference..
The starting lineup of Jones + Dunn + Zubac lacks space and the bench lacks depth. Coach Lu has to put all the pressure on Harden. After all, the Clippers currently have no backup point guard in their rotation. Coach Lu is showing mercy by allowing Harden to play 38 minutes and 45 seconds.
The Clippers were armed to the teeth during the offseason, so why did they play so badly with a good set of cards?
Injuries were a repertoire of the Clippers during the Kazi brother era, and the system and rotation were directly affected. The performance of Bill and Paul fell far short of expectations, and the effects of the starting No. 2 position and the substitute No. 1 position did not meet the expectations before the start of the season.
In other words, the Clippers did form a luxurious lineup that was well-equipped to the teeth during the offseason. The starting lineup was Zubac + Kazekko + Jones + Bill + Harden, and the substitutes were Collins + Dunn + Paul + De Luo + Batum + Bogdan. The strength of the 11-man lineup on paper is obvious to all. But the Clippers underestimated the difficulties and surprises that would occur in a long season. Some players were aging and even DNP, and the management and Lu's guidance were helpless.
For the current plan, Coach Lu must practice two rotations among Paul, Bogdan, Brown, and Christie. Otherwise, if Harden collapses from exhaustion, the Clippers will really fall apart.
The Clippers' problem is not one person's problem. Directors Paul, Katz, Beal, Bogdan, and Lu don't want it to be like this, but there will always be accidents and mistakes. This is life. At the trade deadline next February, this is the Clippers' last chance. After all, the performance of this lineup in the first 10 games has proven the failure of the team-building plan in the offseason. Fortunately, they still have a chance to make up for it.
Mini-game recommendations:Jungle Escape Game