Jazz, oh Jazz, why did you provoke Leonard?

December 21st is a date every Clippers fan should remember. That day, before playing the Lakers, the Clippers briefly dropped to the Western Conference’s last place. After the Lakers game, the Clippers got out of that bottom spot and have not lost a game up to today.

Before the game started, Tyronn Lue told the Clippers team that their target should be to achieve a 35-20 or better record in the remaining matches to close out the season. Initially, people treated this as just another joke about Lue, but now it seems that beating the Lakers really marked a turning point for the Clippers’ season.

Today against the Jazz, the Clippers opened with a 16-0 run. In the season opener, the Jazz crushed the Clippers by 21 points, and since then the Clippers had struggled until this recent winning streak at the end of the year helped them recover. So today’s game was somewhat of a revenge match for the Clippers.

Of course, the Jazz had their full roster in the season opener, but today half of their key players were absent, leaving mostly young players on the court. The Clippers didn’t perform well in the second and third quarters, but in the final period, Kawhi led the team hitting six consecutive three-pointers to seal the game.

The turning point came in the last quarter when Leonard’s shot was blocked from behind by a Jazz player, who had also slapped his face earlier. The Jazz successfully challenged the out-of-bounds call, and the referees made no call on the slap to Leonard’s face.

Then Leonard went on a rampage, hitting consecutive three-pointers and assisting teammates on threes as well, scoring 20 points in that quarter alone and finishing with 45 points total—his highest before he scored 55 previously. In the final moments, a shot showed Leonard bleeding on his face, yet his expression remained cold and stoic, like a ruthless “killer.”

After defeating the Jazz, the Clippers have now won six straight games, the longest winning streak in the league. Their record is now tied with the Jazz, climbing up from last place, and they are just one step away from the play-in tournament zone.

This winning streak is quite valuable; excluding the Lakers who have poor defense, the Clippers also beat the Rockets, Trail Blazers, and the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons. Kawhi’s 55-point game was devastating, showcasing his career-best performance.

In the five games before today, the Clippers had the league’s best defensive efficiency, ranking near the top in limiting opponents’ field goal and three-point percentages, a stark contrast to the first half of the season. One key reason for the improved defense is that with Zubac injured, there was less sagging defense.

With Zubac injured, DeAndre Jordan stepped in as the starter. On the surface, both Jordan and Zubac move at similar speeds for big men, but Jordan’s defense against pick-and-rolls mainly focuses on delaying rather than sagging back often. Zubac, on the other hand, is a typical sagging center who can easily become a target for opponents.

Tyronn Lue talked about reducing sagging defense, saying: “You have to keep up with the times. Sagging worked well four or five years ago, but now it’s one of the worst defenses in the league.” Since Jordan and Niedbala can guard on the perimeter to some extent, the Clippers have improved in limiting opponents’ three-point shooting.

Zubac’s absence did reduce the Clippers’ inside scoring options somewhat, basically leaving Harden to feed the post. But the team’s offensive level hasn’t declined; during this winning streak, the Clippers have mostly won by large margins. The dual stars’ breakout is one reason, and another is that the Clippers are shooting more threes.

This season, Leonard has notably increased his three-point attempts, averaging 6.6 per game, a career high. Today, he took 16 attempts; though his early shooting was off, he exploded in the final quarter, setting a personal record for three-point attempts.

Previously, Leonard was very selective with his three-point shots, but especially after returning from injury this season, he has significantly increased his volume. His high-scoring games have also increased, with the “robot” going full throttle, powering the Clippers’ winning streak.

Harden has been playing more relaxed lately. He didn’t play the last minute of today’s final quarter, watching Leonard take over the game. After Leonard assumed the main scoring role, Harden has focused on playmaking and clutch shots, playing more efficiently, with 20 points and 7 assists in three quarters today.

With Leonard continuing his dominant form, Harden adopting a more efficient and lighter role, and the positive team atmosphere fueled by the winning streak, the Clippers’ uphill march clearly shows no signs of stopping.