NBA's King of Talking

Jokic does have significant issues defending pick-and-rolls, but this season Coach Malone has employed delaying tactics to prevent him from being heavily exploited on the front lines. However, against players who can both shoot and pass, he still faces constant targeting, and Jia Fei is one such player.

Although Hartenstein lacks three-point shooting ability, his screens are of very high quality. This means that whether the opponent has a large delay or a localized area with more defenders than defenders, they will face the problem of Jia Fei being able to directly pull up for a three-pointer.

Hartenstein also has the advantage of being very decisive when cutting to the basket. He can finish easy baskets, and if Jokic is on the perimeter, he can provide offensive rebounds even if the Clippers miss. Even if he doesn't get offensive rebounds, he still delays the Nuggets' transition offense.

Jia Fei immediately started unleashing a barrage of attacks, showing no intention of "letting my teammates attack first while I observe the situation."

They either target Jokic with pick-and-rolls or specifically target Murray.

Murray, you're supposed to guard Bridges? Well, I'm going to attack you!

Coach Zhuge Malong is very cunning. In order to save the energy of Yom and Mu, he had them defend against Hartenstein and Bridges, two players who did not have much offensive role. However, Jia Fei kept calling on the two of them.

Paul George immediately targeted Joshua and Mutombo when he got the ball, showing a very specific approach.

Jia Fei can certainly play against Pope; for him, Pope and Murray are the same, he can play either of them. But for the Nuggets, Murray and Pope are completely different; their importance is worlds apart. Murray is the Nuggets' core perimeter offense, while Pope is just an ordinary 3-and-D player.

Jia Fei dominated the game!

Although Jokic played flawlessly, and Hartenstein became his plaything, the Clippers still won the game thanks to their superior strength on both offense and defense.

In this game, Jia Fei scored a game-high 43 points, along with 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block. His consecutive one-on-one shots in the final quarter were particularly effective, sealing the victory.

For the Nuggets, Jokic scored 39 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, but only dished out 5 assists throughout the game. The Clippers' strategy was to let him do all the work.

Murray was contained by the Clippers, making only 4 of 19 shots and scoring 11 points while also committing 4 turnovers.

The game is over, and the Clippers lead the series 1-0!

Although the Clippers won, this game was clearly their most serious game so far in this series this year, and their interior defense was completely overwhelmed by the Nuggets.

So it seems that the claim that the Nuggets are the Clippers' only rival in the West is correct; it really is true.

May 19th, Western Conference Finals Game 5!

Neither side made any substitutions.

The Nuggets' roster is basically unchanged, their rotation is very short, and they don't have many capable players on the bench, so they mainly rely on their starters.

However, the game strategy has changed. In this game, the Nuggets' Clippers core player, JaVale James, was double-teamed, while the Clippers' power forward, Grant Williams, was left open.

On offense, the Nuggets had Murray target Grant Williams.

Grant Williams was given ample space and performed admirably, going 3-for-5 from three-point range. However, he was outscored several times by Murray and quickly fouled out of the game.

It's Jaden McDaniels who's coming up!

Jaden McDaniels showcased his talent in this game. Although he only made 1 of 4 three-point attempts on offense, he shut down Murray on defense!

When the Clippers' lineup becomes Jafi, Bridges, George, Jaden McDaniels, and Hartenstein, you'll find that this five-forward lineup consists of one strong and tall center plus four long-armed forwards. All four can lead the defense, can switch on defense indefinitely, have three-point shooting ability, and possess both speed and athleticism.

Murray was completely disoriented and lost among the giant spiders. As for Gordon and Porter, they also found it difficult to find anyone easy to bully.

The Nuggets have to rely more on Jokic. Although Jokic still dominated Hartenstein, they still lost the game!

After winning this game, the series score became 2-0, and the Clippers' chances of advancing are very good!

The Clippers gained more than just a victory in this game; they also discovered Jaden McDaniels. McDaniels possesses immense potential to become an excellent 3-and-D defender. He's taller than Bridges, has speed and athleticism, good defensive habits, and is incredibly resilient. His current issues are a lack of experience and insufficient ability to capitalize on open looks.

Jaden McDaniels' performance has brought great relief to everyone on the Clippers. They are incredibly glad they let go of Richard and Grant during last offseason. If those two were still with the Clippers, Jaden McDaniels and Grant Williams wouldn't have had the opportunity to get so much playing time or to shine.

May 22th, Western Conference Finals Game 5!

In this game, the Nuggets continued to make adjustments on both ends of the court. They continued to double-team Jia Fei and left Grant Williams open, but the person primarily guarding Jia Fei was no longer Pope, but Murray.

Their intention was obvious: I was going to double-team, and I would have my better defensive players take charge of the rotation and help defense.

On offense, the Nuggets continued to aggressively attack the Clippers' interior, avoiding forced three-pointers!

The Clippers struggled with open shots in this game; they started missing, and the opponent made them even more open, which only made them miss more.

With the referees slightly "controlling the game," the Clippers were in a complete predicament.

Although Jia Fei and Pao Jiao managed to score and keep the team alive, the situation was no longer in their hands.

Ultimately, the Clippers suffered a narrow defeat to the Nuggets on the road, marking their first loss in the playoffs this season!

This is the Clippers' first playoff loss in nearly four seasons, finally ending their playoff winning streak!

The Clippers' loss has turned the NBA into a holiday celebration. All sorts of players have finally emerged, with many already anticipating their elimination, while the Nuggets are being hyped to the skies.

May 24th, Western Conference Finals Game 5!

The Clippers did not change their lineup in this game, but they did make adjustments to both offense and defense.

Jia Fei reduced his possession of the ball, while Pao Jiao focused more on controlling it.

Jia Fei would receive the ball and immediately launch an attack, or act as a screener and decoy to create opportunities for his teammates.

On the defensive end, the Clippers pressured the ball handler relentlessly, then rotated to leave Gordon open for three-pointers.

Although the Clippers' shooting was still not very good in this game, their defensive intensity silenced the Nuggets' offense.

Aside from Jokic, the other Nuggets players are finding it very difficult to score!

The Clippers capitalized on their opponent's mistakes to score, steadily suppressing their rivals.

Ultimately, the Clippers won on the road, bringing the series score to 3-1!

The Clippers are just one game away from advancing to the NBA Finals!

This game is indeed crucial. If the Clippers lose, they will face a pivotal Game 5, but if they win, the situation will be much better.