Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers shoots over a player during a recent NBA game.
The Clippers struggled after the All-Star break losing five straight games, but they have looked to be bounce back to their winning ways. Los Angeles has now won four consecutive games with victories against the Memphis Grizzles, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks and the Golden State Warriors.
" It feels good to be on a winning streak and play well," coach Tyronn Lue said last week. "I knew when we made some changes (near last month's trade deadline) and it was going to take time. We have played well in some of those earlier games and did not get the win."
It's been the Clippers two-star players, Paul George & Kawhi Leonard along with Russel Westbrook, Eric Gordon, Terance Mann and Ivica Zubac who had 16 points and 19 rebounds against the Warriors last Wednesday at home, leading the way to the team's improved play. The Clippers are now 37-33. Their two stars have carried the team offensively, but it's been their defense that has caught their coaches attention. "I think when Kawhi and PG are locking into the other team's best players and taking that challenge, when they're playing at a high level defensively, we are a different team" Lue said.
The entire team is locked in and understand that it is time for this team to win games to move up in the Western Conference standings. "It's a lot of good teams and every game matters," center Mason Plumlee said. "So, like I know we're talking a lot about getting better and more comfortable in the progress, but winning is the most important thing right now."
In Los Angeles, you heard the chirps about another failed season for the Clippers, but this latest stretch is turning pessimist into optimist about this teams' chances as the season moves forward.
The Clippers have some big matchups this week against the young Orlando Magic at home on Saturday at 12 p.m. and the Portland Trailblazers on the road on Sunday at 6 p.m. They return home for two games against the Oklahoma Thunder on March 21 and 23. Both of those games start at 7:30 p.m.
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