Reverse Growth Superstar

The start of the season for the Los Angeles Clippers was somewhat unsatisfactory. As the fourth Western Conference last season, the Clippers' current record of 7 wins and 4 losses makes them only ranked sixth, which is also very different from the same period last season. far.

After 11 games, the Clippers are basically a good one. Although the offensive efficiency ranks fifth in the league and looks decent, the gap with the fourth is actually huge.

The Clippers have basically made no major moves this summer, and the lineup has changed very slightly. It stands to reason that they shouldn't have played worse than last season.

A team that does not play as well as last season with the same lineup is generally due to one reason-a problem with the player state.

So far this season, J.J. Redick's overall shooting percentage is only 38.9%, and the three-pointer shooting percentage is only 28.6%.

The ups and downs of the marksman's hands greatly reduced the Clippers' efficiency beyond the three-point line.

You know, Redick contributed 42.7% of his three-pointers last season. This year's sudden drop below the average level is indeed a bit weird.

With the exception of Redick, Matt Barnes's poor physical condition puts the Clippers' flanks stretched.

Whether it is offense or defense, Matt Barnes has fallen sharply this season. After all, he is 34 years old and has reached the age when he should decline.

Barnes is neither fast nor strong enough now, with rebounds and steals falling by more than half every 36 minutes. In the opening game, the Clippers beat the Thunder, Barnes allowed Perry Jones to score 32 points, and the Thunder Jones' previous highest score in the NBA was only 14 points. Barnes became a cash machine.

In the next few games, the Clippers were repeatedly scored by Guy, Hayward and others. So much so that when the Clippers played the Spurs, there was even a desperate scene: Rivers actually had to use Paul to defend Leonard in the low post!

When the Clippers flanks can be more competitive, how can Rivers take the initiative to create dislocation?

According to ESPN's statistics, the average efficiency value of the Clippers' opponents at the third position is as high as 18.4, which is equivalent to having to face a master at least at the Pierce level every night, and this is just an average.

Therefore, Dave Georgel is quite confident in this game. After all, the strong points of the Grizzlies are precisely the two wings of Link and Jimmy Butler.

According to Matt Barnes's previous state, it shouldn't be difficult for Butler and Link to score high points in this game.

The only trouble for the Clippers is Chris Paul and their $30 million inside combination.

The combination of DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin is currently the most expensive insider combination in the league.

Together, their salaries accounted for more than one-third of the Clippers' total salary this year.

Griffin and Jordan have a main attack and a main defense, and they have achieved good results in the game.

What's more, Griffin's mid-range shooting efficiency is steadily increasing every year.

In the new season, Griffin has 38.3% of his shots from the middle distance, and only 29.4% of his shots are from the basket. His two weights last season were 29.9% and 40.7% respectively. This violent forward who was once criticized for only dunking, began to lean more and more toward the middle distance.

Griffin has made more shots in the paint this season than Bosh, who is used to "flying a kite".

Griffin pulls to the middle distance, and Jordan also has room to end the offense at the basket.

Coupled with Paul, the league's top point guard, Griffin and Jordan will not worry about a chance.

Therefore, the Clippers can only rely on offense to win the next game. Their 11th defensive and weak wings in the league are definitely no way for the Grizzlies. The offensive burden on Jordan and Griffin will be heavier than ever.

Only by attacking can we hold up the situation.

Little Jordan knows this too, and is very confident about it.

Because his opponent today is Hassan Whiteside.

Since the day before the game, Jordan said in an interview that "I don't want to be compared with Whiteside", reporters have been very interested in this topic.

So when the Clippers arrived at Memphis International Airport, Jordan's popularity among reporters even surpassed Paul.

"DeAndre, do you really think Whiteside is just a flash in the pan?"

"Can you give the Clippers a huge inside advantage?"

"If Link breaks through the penalty zone, can you complete the defense in time?"

Little Jordan instantly became the most dazzling star of the Clippers, after all, he is considered the only place where the Clippers have an advantage.

"Hassan? I can handle him anytime, anywhere." Facing the reporters' camera, little Jordan showed his white teeth, and didn't pay any attention to the Grizzlies.

Jordan's self-confidence is not groundless. In fact, in Rivers' strategy, the Clippers do need to focus more on the inside.

The Grizzlies are weak inside, and this is something everyone knows now. Although the appearance of Whiteside in the last game seemed to solve this problem, Rivers didn't think that a short-term worker with a 10-day contract could really support the Grizzlies inside.

NBA season is so long, it is common for a player to occasionally break out one or two games.

For short-lived players like Whiteside, Rivers has seen too much.

And Whiteside just went to the Clippers for trial training some time ago, and the guy's performance can only be described as terrible.

People say that players from the Grizzlies can become better than before. But Rivers couldn't believe that Whiteside could become better immediately after the Grizzlies.

He is confident that the Clippers' $30 million inside combination will have an advantage over the Grizzlies.

Little Jordan's destructive power cannot be resisted by two unknown men, Whiteside and Azeri.

On the other hand, Whiteside, who is preparing for the Grizzlies, is very serious today.

Whiteside is a very childish person, so after being bullied by Jordan, he wants to be bullied more than anyone else.

"Some time ago I got the opportunity to try out the Clippers in the past, but they rejected me after only one training game. I was too nervous at the time and didn't show my strength at all, so I was easily defeated by DeAndre. I begged for the second place. A chance, but Rivers directly said sorry to me."

Now thinking of the experience of training in the Clippers some time ago, Whiteside still gritted his teeth.

Rivers is notoriously distrustful of newcomers, and this is also impossible. Unless Whiteside directly played a super giant performance, otherwise Rivers would definitely not want him.

"Okay, Hassan, no matter how angry you are, you have to act according to your plan. Trust me, today you have a chance." Link calmed Whiteside. If the guy's brain is too hot, it will be frizzy. impatient.

"Of course, of course. I listen to the coach, um, and yours." After that, Whiteside continued his shooting practice.

At this moment, everyone from the Clippers entered the field to warm up.

Today, all the Clippers didn't laugh at all, and made the atmosphere very serious after going on the court.

They also know that they have not performed well this season, so they must be very eager to win against the Grizzlies.

When little Jordan saw Whiteside, his eyes were full of desire, as if he couldn't wait to start abusing food.

In an interview with reporters before the game, Rivers also expressed his trust in his luxurious inside line, "The last game was just a warm-up for the Grizzlies' battered inside line, and today is the real test. We are ready and we are eager to continue the winning streak."

Chris Paul is also very serious today. "Last season, we were swept by the Grizzlies 4-0 in the Western Conference semifinals. It was a shame. It's time to turn the page of shame with a victory."

Don't look at Paul's recent denial, but in fact he wants to win more than anyone else today.

People say that this season is the best time for Paul to touch the floor of the Western Conference Finals ~ www.wuxiaspot.com ~ He himself does not want to be a loser all the time.

As a player with strong self-esteem, Paul has longed for revenge since he was swept by the Grizzlies last summer.

And now, it is undoubtedly the best chance for the Clippers to get revenge!

"How are you going to win? Do you rely on the inside? How do you think the Clippers have an inside advantage?"

Faced with this problem, Paul joked, "There is probably a gap between a 10-day short contract and 30 million yuan."

After Paul finished speaking, he glanced at the little Jordan who was also eager to try.

Gasol's athleticism is not good, and Whiteside is just a day job who has been overblown by the media, and they are unable to prevent the Clippers from attacking inside.

Paul believes that tonight, Memphis will be bombarded indiscriminately by aerial attacks under his command.

The $30 million luxury insider is not a display.