Should Xiao Ka take the blame for the Clippers? Six major reasons to prove: Get a maximum salary + regular season recovery + no dominance

On the grand stage of sports, every event is a drama with ups and downs. This season of the Clippers is undoubtedly a play full of regrets and controversy.

When the Clippers failed in the first round of the playoffs, they were like a ship that lost their course in the surging waves, the entire league's eyes instantly focused on this highly anticipated team. At this time, the sound of accusations roared like a strong wind, and 35-year-old James Harden was the first to be the target of public criticism. He was portrayed as a player who lost his chain at a critical moment. He scored only 7 points in the tiebreaker. The score was like a meteorite falling into the dark abyss, hitting the hearts of fans hard. Tags such as "the lowest score in the seven-point career" and "the key battle will inevitably be awkward" were ruthlessly attached to him, and some even called him "the most overrated star in NBA history." Harden is like a lonely warrior, under tremendous pressure alone in the storm of public opinion.

However, in this noisy accusation, there is a figure hidden in the dark, and he is Kawhi Leonard. Is he really as innocent as it seems? In fact, this is not the case. There are many reasons to show that he may be the main responsible person for the first round of the Clippers.

Leonard holds the highest salary of the Clippers, up to 49.2 million. This number is like a heavy mountain, pressing on the team's salary structure. By comparison, Harden's 33 million, Powell's 19 million, Bogdan's 17 million, and Zubac's 11 million all pale in comparison. Just like in a team, the people who are most rewarded should have assumed the greatest responsibility, Leonard seems to be missing in this regard.

Looking back on this season, Leonard performed like a mysterious hermit in the regular season. He only made 37 appearances and his attendance rate was only 45.1%. His knees were like two fragile time bombs, and injury management and knee inflammation enveloped him like a shadow, forcing him to recuperate frequently. This regular season recovery state is like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, causing layers of ripples within the team.

Due to Leonard's truce, Harden was like a lonely ox in the regular season, taking on the heavy responsibility of leading the entire team alone. He was like an indefatigable navigator, driving the Clippers, through the long regular season. Harden played 79 games throughout the season and was selected as the All-Star with his tenacious perseverance. His efforts were like a bright beam of light, illuminating the way the Clippers went, but also cost him a lot.

Leonard's performance is also quite disappointing. He is like a cold statue, no matter the game wins and loses, he always has that poker face on his face, expressionless. When the Clippers were in a desperate situation, players such as Harden and Powell were like enthusiastic torchbearers, actively uniting people on the bench. Their enthusiasm was like a burning flame, bringing a hint of warmth to the team. But Leonard looked at all this coldly like a bystander, without showing any of the style that the leader should have.

Look at Leonard in the playoffs, his data seems to be good, averaging 25 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.1 three-pointers, with a real shooting percentage of 63%. But if you analyze it in depth, you will find that he is like a king with a false reputation. In these 7 games, only one of them scored more than 30 points. On the stage of the playoffs, such a performance is really hard to be considered dominant. He was like a sword without a blade, unable to exert his due power in the fierce battle.

Leonard has stepped into the Clippers' door in the summer of 2019, like a seed player with high expectations. The team carefully crafted a lineup around him, just like an architect building a grand building around a precious gem. He is the veteran of this team, but he has failed to lead the team to victory for the first time since 2020. He must assume his due responsibilities for the Clippers' first round game.

In this series of events of the Clippers, each detail is like a star, forming this complex star map. From Harden's solo fight in the regular season to Leonard's stealth at critical moments; from the contrast between Leonard's high salary and attendance rate, to his lack of dominance in the playoffs, these plots intertwined and formed the story behind the Clippers' first round tour.