Each out of season There are one or two teams that get all the attention from the fans and the press and quickly become the consensus contenders. Sets that, because of their depth list of names or because of the relevance of their names, they are considered favorites. In the LA Clippers they had to bear this responsibility, even if they were not prepared for such a scenario. That didn’t matter. On paper, they were counting on his return Kawhi Leonard, his presence Paul Georgea top level coach like Tyronn Lue and a supporting cast that could headline any other franchise.
As usual, it was confirmed early on that they weren’t going to be the dominant team everyone thought they would be. Defeats followed and Angelenos settled at about 50%. It was clear that what they needed was time, time to acclimatize, to get to know each other and most of all to fit all the pieces together. More than two months after the premiere the Clippers are getting close to being that teamto be a candidate for ring what was expected The point is that they have done it again without making any noise, without causing many surprises and adding wins little by little.
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After beating the Detroit Pistons in a tight game 142 to 131where they won in overtime, the Californians have done it moved up to fourth in the Western Conference. A step forward that has them knocking the Suns off the home court factor, in addition to being 1.5 games back of the third place Memphis Grizzlies.
While the entire conference midfield struggles to stay above 50% winning, the Clippers have created some margin by being consistent: they have won 6 of their last 10 games, losing only once at home and adding 2 away wins.
In this very positive period, those from Lue have established themselves as the sixth best team according to advanced statistics, recording a +3.7 from net score and being the second best defense of the entire NBA (107.6), behind only the Grizzlies. In fact, the Clippers have recorded the second best defensive composition in the competition in the aforementioned period (101.8), thanks to the perfect union of George, Morris, Leonard, Jackson and Zubacwho wonderfully understand each other back.
The intermediate zones are where the Californians have had the best defensive performance, being one of the teams that protect the paint and the midrange better. All this without reducing his work from the line of three, both frontal and in the corners.
In this silent rise, his good offensive work Paul Georgewhich is the average 24.4 points with 36.8% in triplesbut being his contribution as creative (6.9 assists) the most impressive. In a team like this where forwards are such a presence, for someone like PG to have made such a step in that area is very important. In fact, it’s no surprise that the third-highest assist over those last 10 games has been Kawhi Leonard, who is positively on pace.
George has been the leader of the team for some time now. A very different figure than the one we see under Doc Rivers and who now manages to have a very positive impact on the Clippers in a number of ways.
Still, make no mistake, the Clippers have a long way to go. Kawhi Leonard is moving in the right direction, but he is far from adding the way the team needs him. Angelenos’ offense is still very lacking (29th overall). And the direction of Wall and Jackson very erratic. The important thing is to be in the high zone, avoid unnecessary problems and tensions, and that everyone arrives in perfect condition at April.
The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the NBA or its organizations.
I am a sports journalist who has been writing for a news website since 2015. My work primarily focuses on sports news, but I have also written about other topics such as technology and the arts. I have an extensive background in journalism, having worked as a reporter for a local newspaper before moving to a news website.
Nine regular season games took place in the NBA on the night of December 26-27.
Utah hosted the Eastern Conference leader and won a sensational victory.
The first half of the match was spent with a small lead for the Pistons, who kept their opponent one or two shots away most of the time and entered the long break with a 1-point lead at 68:67. The decisive factor in the match was the third quarter; In this quarter, Jazz made a 16:3 move and took the lead by 12 points, 90:78. The home team had the advantage in the score, but Detroit gradually reduced the gap and 19 seconds before the siren, after two free throws by Cunningham, they equalized the score – 129:129. However, the match did not go to overtime – Utah took advantage of the remaining time with the efforts of George, who scored a two-pointer 3 seconds before the siren – 131:129.
Svyatoslav Mikhayyuk He stayed on the field for 21 minutes and recorded 9 points (3/4 two-pointers, 1/2 three-pointers), as well as 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal.
The most productive player was George, who scored 31 points for Utah, while Nurkic had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
orlando: Black (24), Carter (16 + 8 rebounds), Bane (15 + 10 rebounds), Banchero (13), Jones (8) – start; Richardson (14) and Silva (8), Kane (5), Isaac (2), Howard (0), Penda (0), O. Robinson (0).
Charlotte: Ball (22 + 7 rebounds + 6 for loss), Knippel (16), Bridges (16 + 11 rebounds), Miller (15), Diabate (10 + 13 rebounds) – start; Hall (14 + 8 rebounds), Sexton (13), Hall (7), Green (6), Connaughton (1), James (0), Mann (0).
Chicago – Philadelphia – 109:102 (30:28, 19:24, 32:33, 28:17)
I am a sports journalist who has written for various websites and magazines. I currently work as an author at Sportish, a news website that covers sports news. My main focus is writing about soccer, rugby and other sports in the world.
On the evening of December 25 and the night of December 26, five Christmas games were traditionally held as part of the NBA regular season.
The most important match of the match day was played in Oklahoma, where the Thunder hosted San Antonio.
The home team started the game better and were ahead for most of the first quarter, but they missed a move 0:11 into the quarter, allowing Spurs to take the lead 41:36. Oklahoma was unable to take the lead after that, but San Antonio maintained its lead by keeping the game under control and eventually won 117-102.
The Spurs have won all three games against the Thunder this season, while Oklahoma has lost just two of the other 28 games.
The most productive player of the match was Fox, who brought 29 points to San Antonio, while Vembanyama also scored a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
The Lakers played Houston at home and suffered a crushing defeat.
The fate of the match was decided in the first quarter, when the Rockets won by 12 points (25:37). Afterwards, they increased their advantage by completely controlling the course of the match and eventually won with a score of 119:96.
For Houston, Thompson scored 26 points and Shengyun had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Denver and Minnesota closed out game day.
The first half of the match ended in a draw. Neither team managed to take a lead of more than 9 points, and Denver entered the big break with a 2-point lead at 57:55. In the third quarter, the Nuggets made an attack of 6:0 at the beginning and 10:2 in the middle, reaching a 16-point lead, and at the end of the quarter they were ahead +15 – 90:78. The Timberwolves did not give up and made a 16:2 move midway through the fourth quarter, reaching a lead of 107:108. This gave fans a tense ending; Edwards hit a three-pointer 2 seconds before the siren, sending the game into overtime at 115:115. And there Jokic played a decisive role and scored 18 points in 5 minutes, allowing the Nuggets to win 142:138.
Jokic scored 56 points in the NBA on Christmas Day, falling just four shy of Bernard King’s record. Nikola also recorded a triple-double with 16 rebounds and 15 assists. Murray had a double-double with 35 points and 10 assists.
NBA. Regular season. Christmas Day, 25-26 December
New York – Cleveland – 126:124 (23:38, 37:20, 24:38, 42:28)
I am a sports journalist who has written for various websites and magazines. I currently work as an author at Sportish, a news website that covers sports news. My main focus is writing about soccer, rugby and other sports in the world.
14 games of the NBA regular season were played on the night of December 23-24.
“Utah” hosted “Memphis” and in the middle of the second quarter they were ahead by 15 points at 50:65, but then they made a move at 17:4 and returned to the match 67:69. In the third quarter, the Jazz managed to take the lead with 71:69 and the game was leveled, but the Grizzlies added points at the end of the quarter and took the lead again with 109:101 and then calmly maintained the advantage with 137:128.
Svyatoslav Mikhayyuk The player, who was in Utah’s top 5 and played 22 minutes, recorded 9 points (4/4 free throws, 1/4 two-pointers, 1/5 three-pointers), 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 turnover and 1 foul.
The most productive player of the match was Aldama, who scored 37 points for Memphis, while Spencer also recorded a double-double, adding 11 points and 13 assists.
In the main match of game day, San Antonio unexpectedly defeated Oklahoma.
During the three quarters, there was an even contest in which no team could gain a lead of more than 8 points, and the leader changed 16 times. The fate of the match winner was decided in the fourth quarter, and the 9:0 attack of the home team was effective in this, and then the advantage reached 12 points (98:86). San Antonio then controlled the course of the game and confidently cruised to victory, gaining an advantage of 130:110.
The top scorer of the winning team was Johnson, who scored 25 points, while Castle scored 24 points for Spurs.
I am a sports journalist who has written for various websites and magazines. I currently work as an author at Sportish, a news website that covers sports news. My main focus is writing about soccer, rugby and other sports in the world.
