coach Jeff Van Gundy, known for building strong defensive units, with Leonard’s help defense and Zubac’s rim protection forming the foundation.
However, health is the biggest concern for the Clippers. Leonard has played fewer than 50% of games in the last four seasons, Harden is already 36 years old, and Paul is 40. The aging core and injury history of the team create uncertainty throughout the season. Additionally, the defensive combination of Harden and Beal in the backcourt may have some weaknesses, requiring Leonard’s help defense to compensate, potentially adding to Leonard’s already heavy load. The team’s locker room chemistry is also a factor to monitor, as balancing the ball-dominant styles of Harden, Beal, and Leonard will be a major challenge for head coach Tyronn Lue. The team also lacks a clear leader who can rally the team in crucial moments. Both Harden and Leonard tend to be more reserved, which could be a liability in tough situations.
展开剩余57%Interestingly, when Pierce’s comments about Harden potentially matching Kobe’s legacy if he wins a championship made headlines, Harden remained calm, responding directly: “Don’t put me in the same category as Kobe. There’s still a gap between us.” He candidly admitted that Kobe is widely considered the second-greatest shooting guard of all time, behind only Jordan, and that he hasn’t reached that level yet.
Industry analysts predict the Clippers will win between 53 and 58 regular-season games, placing them somewhere between third and fifth in the Western Conference standings. Their playoff floor is to get past the first round, with their ceiling depending on the health of key players and their performance in crucial games. The Western Conference Finals, and even the NBA Finals, are not out of reach. However, all of this depends on the team maintaining the health of its core players, especially Leonard. This may be the last true window for the Clippers’ aging roster to make a championship run. If they fail to win the title again this season, the team’s management may consider rebuilding the roster.
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