NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 462 The Battle for the Number One Spot in the West

Atlanta was Jia Fei's former base of operations; he had spent three years in the city and felt a certain sense of belonging there. Familiar streets, large supermarkets, and hotels—when these things came into view, they stirred up a wave of emotion within him.

Non-vegetation, ruthless Practice makes perfect!

Art Mayork and Coach Buden were also somewhat moved. On the evening of the 22nd, Jia Fei treated the entire team to dinner at a local restaurant. It would have seemed strange if he hadn't hosted, but as the team's highest-paid player, it was perfectly reasonable for him to treat everyone.

The following evening, at the Philips Arena in Atlanta.

A championship banner bearing the words "2015" hangs above the arena. This banner was won by Jia Fei and his teammates, embodying the hard work of everyone on the Hawks team during the 2014-15 season.

The current Hawks team, apart from Schroder and Cup Cat, has no teammates who were with Jia Fei back then. In just a few years, the core of that championship team has almost all left. It's hard not to feel a little sad; in today's NBA, a team can change so quickly.

Fortunately, the Hawks won the championship within a short window of opportunity. In today's era of super teams, it is easy to imagine how difficult it is to win a championship.

Jia Fei had expected some Hawks fans to boo him, and even Coach Budenholzer. But that night, many fans stood up and applauded them, and the team even made a special tribute video to thank Jia Fei, Coach Budenholzer, and Art Mayork for their contributions to the team.

Even the tough guy Art Mayor couldn't help but get a little teary-eyed; after all, we're not plants or trees!

Jia Fei was also somewhat moved. To be honest, he hadn't done anything to let the Hawks down, but if viewed from the perspective of "one man, one city" and the like, he wasn't perfect.

Being moved doesn't mean the game will be played lightly; at most, it means not going all out.

The Clippers' previous loss ended their 10-game winning streak, but they were very focused in this game, starting with their defense. With Paul George returning, they easily defeated the Hawks on the road, avoiding another losing streak.

Hawks fans weren't too disappointed by the loss. The team's strength has indeed declined, and their strongest player is actually someone like Black. The team has entered a rebuilding phase, and whether you believe it or not, you have to admit that this is the team's current situation.

After defeating the Hawks on the road, the Clippers improved their record to 14 wins and 3 losses, continuing to lead the Warriors and closely following the Rockets in second place in the Western Conference.

Based on the current situation, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Warriors, Rockets, and Clippers will continue their competition for the top seed in the Western Conference, just like last season. The competition is already fierce, and this intense rivalry is leaving other Western Conference teams feeling hopeless, as they simply cannot compete with these three teams for a playoff spot, leaving only five playoff berths.

On October 26, the Clippers played against the Kings on the road.

With seven players scoring in double figures, the Clippers secured a resounding victory on the road, extending their winning streak to two games.

On November 28, in their last game of November, the Clippers, having finished their road trip, easily defeated their city rivals, the Lakers, at home, securing their third consecutive win.

After a three-game winning streak, the Clippers' record stands at 16 wins and 3 losses, which is excellent. Many people have already forgotten their constipated offense during the early part of the season when they were getting used to each other.

After 19 games, the Clippers' team chemistry is visibly improving. While some issues remain, they are minor and localized. With the league's best perimeter defense, a five-forward lineup led by stars Jia Fei and Paul George, and a fast-paced, efficient ball movement system, this team is considered by many media outlets to be one of the league's most dangerous teams, second only to the Warriors.

The Lakers are still falling apart, and it's said that their management has already set its sights on next offseason, when the Running Man will likely become a free agent, and they will pursue him relentlessly.

After Kyrie Irving requested a trade, the probability of him leaving the team next offseason has skyrocketed. This guy can hardly concentrate on playing basketball without teaming up with other players. There's no way around it; once you get used to teaming up with other players, it's hard to give up. It's like how the Chinese national football team, once they've eaten sea cucumber, will keep eating it. Not eating it is uncomfortable, and physical discomfort is hard to endure.

There will definitely be a lot of teams tanking this season in order to free up salary cap space and wait for big names in the free agent market. However, most teams will just be playing along, and big names are unlikely to choose a team that has nothing.

Few people care about the Cavaliers' record this season. The combination of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love is simply not enough in today's league. While Kyrie Irving has a somewhat eccentric personality, he's undeniably tough in the playoffs, and it's an indisputable fact that Kevin Love slumps in the playoffs. Some players are only suited for the regular season, while others become tougher in crucial games.

February has arrived...

On November 1th, the Clippers will host the Jazz.

The Clippers were defeated by the Jazz in late October, when they were still struggling to gel. In this game, led by Jia Fei, the Clippers put on an excellent offense, winning big at home against the Jazz and securing their fourth consecutive victory, avenging their earlier defeat.

Two days later, the Clippers easily defeated the Mavericks on the road, achieving their fifth consecutive victory.

On December 4, the Clippers narrowly defeated the Timberwolves in a back-to-back road game, achieving their sixth consecutive victory.

Three days later, they easily defeated the Timberwolves at home, achieving their seventh consecutive victory.

After a seven-game winning streak, the Clippers' record stands at 20 wins and 3 losses, tying the Rockets for first place in the Western Conference.

At this point, many media outlets believe that the Clippers have officially completed their integration process. This team is beginning to show its fangs, and their offense has made a qualitative leap compared to last season. Even without star teammates like Paul George, the offensive spacing within their five-forward lineup alone allows Jia Fei to unleash his full potential.

On December 12, the Clippers defeated the Raptors at home, achieving their eighth consecutive victory.

Two days later, the Clippers easily defeated the Magic on the road, achieving their ninth consecutive victory.

In their next two Eastern Conference road games, the Clippers defeated the Wizards and the Heat, extending their winning streak to 11 games, the longest this season.

After an 11-game winning streak, their record improved to 24 wins and 3 losses, officially surpassing the Rockets and reaching the top of the Western Conference for the first time this season.

But their reign as the top team in the West was short-lived, as they narrowly lost to the Spurs on the road two days later, ending their 12-game winning streak.

On December 21, the Clippers defeated the Suns at home, ending their losing streak.

After this game, their record dropped to 25 wins and 4 losses, falling to second place in the Western Conference, while the Rockets moved up again.

The competition between the Clippers and Rockets for the top seed in the Western Conference has intensified, while the defending champion Warriors seem less concerned about their regular season record. This is partly due to some injuries within the team, and partly to conserve their strength for the playoffs during the regular season.