NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 669 Two consecutive games with double-digit assists

The Lakers' offensive problem is too obvious: they lack spacing.

It seems like all five players on the court have the ability to shoot threes, but "having" and "being able to make" are two different things...

In reality, there are very few outside shots that are truly off-limits, almost none. Just because someone can shoot doesn't mean they can't be allowed to, and allowing them to shoot doesn't mean you can actually punish them.

After Alex Ferguson was sidelined in the second half, Caruso replaced him, but Ferguson isn't a consistent three-point shooter; his role is more on the defensive end. AB has never been an elite shooter; he's better at mid-range shots. Davis needs no introduction; his three-point shooting lacks both volume and accuracy. The "Running Man" has improved his three-point shooting, but the Clippers never really let him shoot. His three-point shooting is more accurate when he has the ball; off-ball three-pointers aren't his forte. Gasol has a decent three-point shot, but without consistent volume, letting him shoot a few is acceptable—he's not going to be a game-changer anyway.

This is why the Clippers dare to double-team Davis so aggressively on the strong side, because your half-court offense is constipated. Moreover, Davis has never been a star player who is very good at breaking double teams. It's already quite good if he can pass out without committing a turnover after being double-teamed. It's too much to ask him to find even a fleeting opportunity.

Anthony Davis's role as the center in small-ball lineups is primarily not on offense, but on defense. He can switch on any defense, his ceiling is double-teaming, he can protect the rim, he has a large defensive range and can protect the defensive rebounds, making him a Spider-type defender, somewhat similar to Kevin Garnett in his prime.

However, on the offensive end, Davis is not a dominant offensive weapon at the 4/5 position. He is indeed quite well-rounded on offense, with a three-point shooting ability, the ability to face up with the ball, and the ability to complete turnaround jump shots and hook shots with certain footwork in the back of the basket. He can attack the rim, finish off the ball and finish with easy baskets, and can shoot mid-range/three-pointers after pick-and-rolls. But can you name his signature move?

At the most crucial moment of the game, does he really have a reliable and effective attacking strategy?

KG, who has a similar physique and playing style, has the same problem. KG's highest single-game score in the playoffs is only 35 points. Can you believe that as an MVP player? But it is true. He can't get to the basket on offense, and he doesn't have any special skills in ball-handling. His best skills are mid-range shots or turnaround jump shots, but these jump shots are not as unstoppable as those of Nowitzki and Durant, and they can't kill anyone.

Anthony Davis is more versatile on offense and has greater scoring explosiveness than Kevin Garnett, but his playmaking ability is far inferior. Therefore, Garnett's overall offensive impact is slightly greater than Davis'.

In fact, both of them are top-notch second-in-commands at heart. If they were to be the main leader, KG would be better than Davis, since KG is more durable and has better playmaking ability.

With both teams down to ten stars in the third quarter, the Clippers steadily gained the upper hand. The Clippers had better offensive spacing and greater flexibility in switching on defense.

The Lakers have better rim protection, but the current problem is that if Anthony Davis can't develop the ability to break double teams, their offense will rely heavily on Anthony Davis.

With both teams losing an All-Star, the Clippers are clearly less affected. This also shows that teams with two stars are actually more resilient than teams with three stars because they have better roster depth and more players contributing.

When it came to the second unit on both sides, the Clippers once again dominated the Lakers' rebounds, and the game was no longer in doubt.

Ultimately, the Clippers defeated the Lakers 99-109 at home, winning this city derby.

贾飞全场出战34分59秒，轻松得到32分10个篮板13次助攻5个抢断2个盖帽的三双数据。

This was his first time this season starting at point guard and playing a full game from start to finish, and his performance was flawless. He had 13 assists but only 2 turnovers, a remarkable 6.5:1 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Moreover, the opponent was the Lakers, a strong team, which speaks volumes. Those who previously questioned his ability to be the starting point guard should take a break; at least in this game, it's hard to find fault with him.

The Clippers avoided a "milestone tragedy," but the players and coaches were far from happy because they lost their key player, Paul George, to injury in this game.

According to the team doctor's initial diagnosis, Paula's injury should not be too serious, but the specific diagnosis results will not be available until the MRI is performed the next day.

Losing a key player in the season opener is certainly not good news for the Clippers. Fortunately, the Clippers stockpiled a large number of players on the wing during the offseason, which can to some extent compensate for the negative impact of Paul George's absence.

In other words, for many young players, the absence of their key players also presents an opportunity; it all depends on whether they can seize it.

On December 24, the Clippers officially announced Paul George's injury; his MRI results were negative, which was a stroke of good luck amidst the misfortune.

The Clippers coaching staff announced that Paul George will be sidelined for two weeks, with the decision on his return date to be made based on the situation. It is possible that his recovery time will be extended.

The Clippers' motto for the past few seasons has been to prioritize minor injuries and focus on long-term recovery, which has helped them manage player injuries well in the playoffs. Their willingness to adopt this approach stems not only from their deep roster but also from the exceptional durability of their star player, JaVale.

With such a star player on the team, the team has the courage to take extra care of minor injuries. Otherwise, if they can't maintain their record, the pressure from all sides will be immense.

The Lakers next door also announced their test results, and the MRI results for facial paralysis were also negative. There is no specific timetable for their return at the moment.

Compared to pickled peppers, the level of secrecy surrounding facial paralysis is much higher. The specific details of the injury are also kept secret. All that is known is that his test results were negative, and nothing else.

This is typical of the Kazi team, which is why he has earned the nickname "Security Card".

On December 26, the Clippers will play against the Nuggets on the road.

This is the first game that Paul George has missed this season.

The Clippers' schedule has been exceptionally tough since the start of the season, with matches against their crosstown rivals, the Lakers, and last season's Western Conference Finals opponent, the Nuggets.

Dillon Brooks replaced Paul George in the starting lineup.

Many believed the Nuggets would get their revenge in this game, as Paul George would be absent, leaving Jia Fei to carry the team alone on the road. Many media outlets had already prepared their articles, predicting Jia Fei would become part of the "empty stats" group...

But the game didn't go as the media described. Jia Fei did put up some great stats, but he didn't make it into the "empty stats" group because they won.

这场比赛，贾飞全场轰下40分，外加9个篮板17次助攻3个抢断1个盖帽的豪华准三双数据。

The Clippers made 18 three-pointers throughout the game, successfully conquering the Denver high-altitude region.