Conflict

After giving Little Rivers a three-year, $35 million deal on July 2, they reached another three-year, $18 million agreement with Wesley Johnson on July 3. Wesley Johnson had averaged just 6.9 points and 3 rebounds per game last season. Both of their extensions had been prioritized ahead of sixth man Crawford.

At the same time, Paul and the Clippers had signed a five-year, $107 million extension in 2013, a contract set to expire in 2018. Yet that summer, after Rivers failed to persuade Paul to take a pay cut to preserve the team's cap space, the Clippers—who could have extended Paul early—did not continue contract negotiations. (When the Rockets reached the Western Conference Finals in 2018, Paul still insisted on four years and $160 million. Let alone during his Clippers days, when you had already spent big money extending your own son first.)

After several such moves, it was hard not to worry about the Clippers' future upon looking back.

Of course, despite that string of awful moves, the Clippers still looked formidable on paper.

CP3, who had averaged 19.5 points and 10.0 assists last season; Griffin, who had averaged 21.4 points and 8.4 rebounds; and Little Jordan, who had averaged 12.7 points and 13.8 rebounds, formed a three-headed attack that was clearly not the makeup of a weak team.

That was indeed the case. After facing the Trail Blazers, Jazz, and Suns in succession, the Clippers had also racked up three straight wins. Now, back on their home court and well rested, they waited for the Thunder Team.

If they beat the Thunder Team again, they would briefly secure Western Conference first.

Thus, most people held a pessimistic view on whether the Thunder Team could continue their winning streak.

To everyone's surprise, the Thunder Team's clash with the Clippers turned into a defensive battle from the opening tip.

Both sides shot terribly, as if lids had been fitted over both Baskets, rejecting every ball that flew their way.

Little Jordan won the opening tip and sent the ball to Paul in the backcourt. Paul brought it to the Top of the Key, called for a Griffin Pick-and-Roll, while Little Jordan set an Off-ball Screen for Redick. Paul's pass flew over while Redick was still halfway there. The ball arrived before the man did, and Redick had to take two extra steps to receive it, allowing Oladipo, who had been playing Chase Defense, to get around the screen and recover quickly.

With no suitable shooting opportunity, Redick could only pass it back to Paul to reset the offense.

Griffin moved up for Pick-and-Roll again, this time drawing Sabonis out to the perimeter. Paul attacked the bigger defender. With two crisp, explosive early crossovers, he easily shook Little Sabonis off balance and created space for his shot. Unfortunately, his touch was off, and the Mid-range jumper missed.

Adams secured the rebound and passed to Westbrook to launch a Fast Break. Oladipo sprinted ahead, caught the long pass, and went coast to coast for a layup, but Batumot's interference sent it bouncing off the rim.

Roberson followed up, attempting a putback. Though he missed, he drew a foul from Griffin.

He made one of two free throws. The Clippers brought the ball up steadily again. Once they settled into the half-court offense, Paul chose to give the ball to Batumot as he came over, and Batumot immediately handed it to Griffin.

Griffin held the ball a step inside the free-throw line, waiting for his teammates to get open. He then swung it to Paul, who had run free without the ball. Paul caught it and fired a three, but it clanked off the iron again.

Westbrook grabbed the defensive rebound, then hit the gas and pushed forward at full speed. Near midcourt, he shifted gears and accelerated again, charging all the way into the paint. Little Jordan, scrambling back, could not keep up and was beaten by Westbrook's layup.

3-0

On the way back, Paul again chose the first play, getting the ball to Redick as he came around a screen to the 45-degree angle. This time, the three-pointer went in.

3-3

Clearly, the two teams had very different opening strategies. The Clippers preferred to slow it down in the half court and make use of Paul and Griffin's playmaking advantages, while the Thunder Team hoped to break through the Clippers' defense by pushing the ball in transition and attacking on the Fast Break. What they shared was that their plays were not failing to develop; they were simply both a little soft on the final finish, causing the score to stagnate.

The entire First Quarter unfolded in that dull atmosphere, leaving the Staples Center fans somewhat uninterested.

Even the cheerleaders during timeouts were more entertaining than the game.

20-23

The Second Quarter began. Westbrook and Chen Xi checked in together, along with Grant, who had just joined the Thunder Team, replacing Roberson.

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On the Clippers' side, Paul led the second unit into the Transition Period.

With the Thunder Team in possession, Westbrook brought the ball to the Top of the Key and passed to Chen Xi. He then took a handoff again, accelerated, and drove straight to the basket. At the same time, Chen Xi popped out to the Top of the Key for three, setting himself to receive the ball. Westbrook's pass arrived immediately.

He raised his hand, and the three dropped cleanly through the net.

He shook his slightly aching right hand and backpedaled on defense.

Westbrook's passes were powerful and heavy. If you were not ready for them, they could easily result in a turnover.

Tsk, one of Turtle Turtle's unavoidable flaws.

The Clippers attacked. Paul ran another Pick-and-Roll, then took advantage of the Thunder Team center's slow movement to pull up from Mid-range and knock down two points.

Westbrook pushed the Fast Break again, but the Clippers got back very quickly this time. He therefore gave the ball to Little Sabonis, then posted up down low and called for it back, trying to back Paul down. After turning, his sudden-stop Mid-range shot still failed to fall despite Paul being slightly out of position.

Likewise, Paul's attack against a bigger defender in the frontcourt came to nothing again.

The two All-Star-level point guards still could not find their shooting touch.

As if infected by them, even Chen Xi's shots began to ring out with crisp clangs. Fortunately, Grant, who had just arrived, unexpectedly maintained his touch, scoring repeatedly at the rim and helping the team take the lead in the Second Quarter.

48-40

The game entered the Third Quarter.

"Yellow-skinned rookie, I really can't figure out how you got a contract. Poor kid, your talent is visibly in the negatives. You should leave the NBA while you still can. Staying here will only make you embarrass yourself further."

Chen Xi, who checked in six minutes into the Third Quarter, was immediately greeted by Redick's relentless Trash Talk. Redick had clearly become frustrated after shooting 1 for 8 so far and continued venting.

What a joke. White pig, if I let you vent it all out, my surname isn't Chen! (That little bastard had publicly used racist terms against Chinese people.)

"If I were you, I wouldn't be barking here. I'd hurry up and call my family to ask whether they've gone to the bathroom today."

"What the fuck are you talking about?!"

Redick, who had not processed it at first, blurted out a curse.

"Wait, did you just call me a dog?"

"I was just asking if you'd eaten yet, cutie."

After saying that, Chen Xi quickly ran to one side, looking for Adams's solid body.

Sure enough, the enraged Redick charged straight over, trying to shove Adams aside and arrange an impromptu live WWE show for the Staples Center fans.

But with his skinny frame, how could he possibly shove aside Aquaman's massive body?

Not only did he fail to move him, the referee spotted the action and called an off-ball foul on him. Panicked, he immediately went to argue with the referee.