Why did the Clippers get stronger? Tyronn Lue found the key to winning, and it turned out that Harden was the perfect leader

The Clippers have achieved the fifth record in the West so far, which is indeed beyond the expectations of many people, and they have recently won a wave of five consecutive wins, and the momentum of the overall team is soaring. Many believe that without Leonard and Paul George's departure, the Clippers seem to be a bad team. It's not just that they haven't been messing around this season, it seems that their overall momentum this season is even better than last season. Why did the Clippers suddenly get stronger?

I think the reason why the Clippers have gotten stronger this season is because their team's defensive resilience has been built. In addition, Harden's importance to this team is slowly emerging.

One of the important changes in the Clippers this season is that Dunn and Jones Jr. have become important defensive leaders for the Clippers, and they also have Zubac on the inside, so the Clippers have built a very complete defensive system, and the Clippers have ranked fifth in the league in defensive efficiency this season. A team with a very good defense is not going to be too bad. On the offensive end, the Clippers have Harden to sort out Tyronn Lue, and it is completely reassuring.

The reason why the Clippers have played at this level this season is not offense, but defense. Because the Clippers are in the lower middle of the league in overall offensive efficiency and points per game this season. They have been able to win so many games this season thanks to their defensive prowess. And Harden became the brain of the current Clippers. When the Clippers defend the opposing offense one at a time, Harden can use his influence to lead his teammates in the half-court offense. Even if the Clippers lack a second star at the moment, Harden can make it easier for relatively ordinary offensive players to shoot through his tandem of the ball, and naturally the team will have a good offensive performance.

For example, in the half-court offense, the opposite side will often take a pinch shot when defending Harden, and Harden will play the ball quickly at this time. Zubac, on the other hand, has a variety of offensive options after receiving the ball. He can shoot directly to the basket and make a small throw, or he can choose to pass to a teammate who is open on the outside. Now Zubac's ability to play the ball has been fully developed. Therefore, Harden is currently the core figure and soul of the Clippers' overall offensive system. Without him, the Clippers' overall offense wouldn't work.

So Tyronn Lue finally knows who is suitable to be the leader of the Clippers, not Paul George, who has just left, or Leonard, who is currently injured, Harden is more suitable to be the leader of the team. This is also the reason why the Rockets were able to succeed back then, and Harden himself was a player with his own system. I wonder what the fans think?