(Photo : Harry How/Getty Images) LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Pau George (#3) of the LA Clippers reacts as he’s launched in entrance of Kawhi Leonard (#2) earlier than the sport in opposition to the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on December 12, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Have the Los Angeles Clippers figured every little thing out?
The Clippers’ successful streak has been stretched to seven, the longest this season, after a blowout win in opposition to the New York Knicks.
Seven gamers scored in double digits within the 144-122 win over the visiting Knicks, led by Kawhi Leonard, who put up 36 factors. Paul George, who simply returned from a hip damage, scored 25, whereas third-star James Harden recorded 10 factors with 12 assists.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue acknowledged the optimistic adjustments which have been embracing his staff prior to now two weeks however insisted they will nonetheless get higher.
“Progress is being made,” he stated.
“The guys are putting in the work every single day, whether it’s practice that we don’t have a lot of, but shootarounds we use to get better. Each shootaround the guys are putting in the work.”
They can nonetheless enhance and have the free company within the subsequent two months to work on that.
Let’s have a look at how this successful streak got here to be.
Key the reason why the Clippers’ successful streak is one thing different groups ought to check out:
1. Stars are lastly wholesome.
Their issues prior to now have been attributed to the absence of key gamers, which was simply one of many many causes they’re firing on all cylinders of their final seven outings.
They employed two stars – George and Leonard – as their high duo, however seeing them collectively for an extended stretch was a uncommon sight since 2020.
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The pair has performed simply 142 video games collectively (together with greater than 10 this season) from the supposed 410 common season video games since 2019.
Leonard himself is aware of he’s more healthy in comparison with the previous years.
“Just me overall feeling better, trusting myself, and I’m able to show it more than say it,” he stated in October when requested to distinguish the power coming into the brand new season final October.
“Last year I was trying to get into things a little bit slow just because of the feeling I was feeling in my knee, but I feel good. Them being able to see me move around and be agile like I used to, it kinda brings that energy.”
Kawhi has performed all 25 video games for the Clips thus far.
PG13 has been out and in of the lineup currently, however when he’s on the courtroom, it exhibits why the Clippers’ administration went for a partnership between him and the two-time MVP.
2. The proper gamers encompass Kawhi.
The Klaw received a championship with the San Antonio Spurs and one with the Toronto Raptors. In each cases, he had the privilege of taking part in in a system the place he was supported by gamers who would assist him use his type of play.
Lue has a system that’s hardly taken benefit of due to the shortage of gamers. Leonard is surrounded by gritty gamers, able to get bodily with any staff. Norman Powell, Terrence Mann, Amir Coffey, and Ivica Zubac play effectively of their supporting roles.
Harden has been phenomenal, too, for the staff as a ground common, and that permits extra space for Leonard to function.
3. Balance between Starting 5 and the bench.
This half is expounded to the #2. Russell Westbrook took the initiative to have himself relegated to the bench after they acquired James Harden.
PG and the Klaw discovered their proper level guard and nice complementary heart in Zubac.
Powell can also be a revelation as a sixth man as he steps up every time a participant from the beginning 5 is out. Most notable of which was when he scored 21 factors in opposition to the Golden State Warriors with PG nursing an damage. He additionally took PG’s spot when the latter went down with an damage in a win in opposition to the Sacramento Kings.
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