The Los Angeles Clippers are on an eight-game winning streak with their latest victory over the Indiana Pacers. It was a dominant 151-127 win for the Clippers as James Harden blew up with a 35-point night. More interestingly, 21 of those 35 points came in the fourth quarter while contributing nine assists.
This is the longest active win streak in the NBA currently which showcases the team chemistry and strength of the Clippers. They are finally getting things in motion with multiple superstars in their lineup.
Kawhi Leonard, who has been an integral part of the teams for the last few years was recently asked about the eight-game winning streak. Although he was delighted with the team’s performances, he feels that it means nothing to him as they have their eyes on the NBA Championship.
“It’s good, but I don’t think it means anything until we get to the end of the season,” Leonard said. “We’re trying to be the last team standing. But it’s good to be on this streak,” Leonard stated when asked about the winning streak.
The match against the Pacers saw some exceptional performances from the superstars as Leonard delivered 28 points while Paul George added 27 points against his former franchise.
The Clippers capitalized on the Pacers’ poor defense and registered their season-high first-half total of 77 points and eventually recorded their season’s highest-scoring game.
The acquisition of James Harden has made this team a title contender this season. He has that drive to provide assists and also score points in bulk. Currently, the move has fallen into place and Harden’s presence is elevating the gameplay of Leonard and George.
His presence allows the other two stars to move off the ball freely and has also reduced their offensive responsibilities making the Clippers more unpredictable and also versatile. The Clippers’ success will be determined by how well they can make their star players work together in tandem and also by their ability to remain healthy throughout the season.
While Harden’s addition has brought quality to their lineup, it is also a ‘win now’ strategy in the NBA which puts more pressure on the players to make things work in the next couple of seasons.
