freenovelworld Chapter 619 Entering 2020
Chapter 619 Entering 2020
Chapter 619 On December 29, 2020, the Clippers hosted the Jazz.
Thanks to Jia Fei's triple-double, the Clippers had six players score in double figures in this game, ultimately defeating the Jazz and achieving their sixth consecutive victory.
After a six-game winning streak, the Clippers' 2019 season is over. They currently hold a 31-3 record, continuing to sit atop the league standings.
The year has entered 2020...
On New Year's Day, January 1st, the Clippers will play the Kings on the road.
The Kings are also a rebuilding team, and this team hasn't made the playoffs in far too long. The last time they made the playoffs, the Rockets still had the Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady duo!
The Kings haven't failed to rebuild, but their rebuilding process has been bumpy. Either their high draft picks have turned into busts, or their development methods are flawed, leading to player departures or inexplicable busts. Therefore, they are still in the process of rebuilding…
In a city like Sacramento, you can't expect the free market giants of Los Angeles or New York to flock there and instantly rebuild. All roads lead to Rome, and some people are born in Rome!
Despite the Kings' young players' hard work, they ultimately lost to their more experienced opponents. The Clippers, while young overall, are exceptionally experienced. Two consecutive Finals appearances have provided them with a wealth of valuable experience. This experience is a precious asset, especially in crucial moments.
Two days later, on January 3, the Clippers faced the Detroit Pistons at home.
The Pistons didn't take off after acquiring Blake Griffin. Griffin isn't as durable as a seasoned player, and when he's sidelined, the team lacks a strong star to lead them, naturally resulting in fewer wins. Their current record hovers around that of the Pistons.
The Pistons are probably regretting their decision to acquire Blake Griffin. It's clear Griffin's prime has faded since leaving the Clippers. Acquiring Griffin cleared cap space for the Clippers, while giving them two high-quality draft picks and a talented forward, Jerami Thorgan. Looking back, it seems like a huge loss for the Pistons.
But the real world doesn't offer so many "what ifs." At the time, many experts and media figures believed the Pistons got a steal. Keep in mind that Blake Griffin was only 27 years old when the trade happened, in his prime. And Griffin wasn't just any ordinary All-Star; he had been selected to the All-NBA team and was a regular season MVP candidate. While not a top-tier superstar, he was still a very respectable player. Such players are usually untouchable by teams. If the Clippers hadn't had the opportunity to acquire a top superstar like Kevin Garnett, and if the two hadn't had a personal feud, the Pistons would never have had the chance to snag him.
Since it's a trade, there are bound to be risks, just like Clippers owner Steve Ballmer took on significant risks. If the consequence of trading away 58 and Blake Griffin for Jia Fei is that Jia Fei is sidelined again like in the 2015-16 season and unable to replicate his 2014-15 MVP season, then it's clear that both trades involving 58 and Griffin were failures.
For the Pistons to end the Clippers' home winning streak at Staples Center, a team that hasn't lost in over a year, is nothing short of a pipe dream.
And that's exactly what happened. The Clippers easily defeated the Pistons at home, achieving their eighth consecutive win.
On January 5th, the Clippers hosted the Memphis Grizzlies, led by Ja Morant.
The Grizzlies are considered one of the more successful rebuilding teams; they are slowly rising and have become a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference. Compared to the Kings and Suns, they clearly seem to have a better chance of making a comeback.
However, they are not yet a match for the Clippers. Although Morant dominated Beverley in this game, the Clippers still defeated them with multiple players contributing to the victory, achieving a nine-game winning streak.
A day later, the Clippers hosted the Knicks in a back-to-back game at home.
The Knicks are also a rebuilding team, and despite having a large market like New York, their rebuilding prospects are not optimistic. Randle has proven he's not the core player for a championship-contending rebuild. Neither RJ Barrett nor Ntilikina are the cornerstone type of players for a rebuild. If this team wants to complete its rebuild, it needs to continue searching for such a cornerstone.
凭借着贾飞的40+10+10+5+1，快船主场轻取对手，迎来了10连胜！
This is the Clippers' second 10+ game winning streak this season. They currently have a record of 35 wins and 3 losses, continuing to hold the top spot in the league.
On January 11, the Clippers defeated the Warriors at home, achieving an 11-game winning streak. Two days later, they lost to the Nuggets on the road, failing to reach a 12-game winning streak.
After losing to the Nuggets on the road, their record improved to 36 wins and 4 losses, continuing to rank first in the league.
On January 15, the Clippers will host the Cavaliers.
Since the departure of the "Running Man" (a nickname for a player), the Cavaliers have become a complete rebuilding team. There are quite a few rebuilding teams like this in the East, so the competition is fierce. Everyone wants to tank, but everyone wants to lose, and in this situation, losing becomes harder than winning. This really tests the head coach's ability to "deploy" the lineup. To successfully lose while developing young players is something not every coach can do.
The Cavaliers wanted a decisive defeat, while the Clippers wanted an easy win. It was as if the two sides had reached some kind of tacit agreement, which turned the game into a one-sided affair.
The final result was a big win for the Clippers at home against the Cavaliers, but the Cavaliers coach wasn't upset about the loss; instead, he felt a sense of joy at the victory.
So, strictly speaking, there are no losers in this competition; everyone is a winner...
The Clippers defeated the Cavaliers at home, avoiding a losing streak. They remain undefeated, just as they were last season and this season. In addition to not having consecutive losses, they are also undefeated at home, and all four of their losses this season have been on the road. Therefore, Clippers fans are fortunate; for the past two seasons, they have never witnessed this team lose a game at Staples Center.
On January 17, the Clippers will host the Magic.
The Magic have had a decent season, better than the Cavaliers, Pistons, and Knicks, but they are also a rebuilding team. In this game, the Clippers easily defeated them, securing their third consecutive win.
After this game, the Clippers will embark on a six-game road trip, which will be their longest road trip before the All-Star break.
On January 19, the Clippers defeated the Pelicans on the road, achieving their fourth consecutive victory.
On January 22, the Clippers narrowly defeated the Mavericks on the road, achieving their fifth consecutive victory.
On January 23, the Clippers defeated Jia Fei's former team, the Hawks, in a back-to-back game on the road, achieving their sixth consecutive victory.
The Hawks are also a rebuilding team, and Jia Fei's victory over them was helping them. They are grateful to Jia Fei and naturally will not hate him.