The Clippers are turning heads in the West, and it’s all thanks to one man: Norman Powell.
Clippers’ Unexpected Rise
When Paul George packed his bags and Kawhi Leonard was sidelined indefinitely, the L.A. Clippers seemed destined for the NBA’s basement. With their first-round pick already promised to the Thunder, the outlook was grim. But guess what? A quarter into the season, they’re sitting pretty at sixth in the West with a 14-11 record. How did they pull off this magic trick? Well, besides James Harden showing flashes of brilliance, it’s Norman Powell who’s been lighting up the court.
Powell’s Stellar Performance
In his 10th season, Powell is playing like a man possessed. He’s averaging career-high numbers with 23.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Oh, and he’s shooting a jaw-dropping 48.6% from beyond the arc on almost eight attempts per game. That’s just bonkers! I think it’s safe to say that Powell is the heartbeat of this Clippers squad right now. And let’s be real, who saw this coming? Not me, that’s for sure.
The Secret Sauce: Powell’s Routine
So, what’s the secret behind Powell’s breakout year? He spilled the beans on the Hoop Collective podcast with ESPNโs Brian Windhorst. Turns out, his offseason routine is no joke. We’re talking three workouts a day, five to six days a week. The guy wakes up at 4:30 a.m. to hit the court by 5:00 a.m. for some serious grind time. Then it’s recovery, weights, conditioning, and skill-based drills. It’s like he’s on a mission from the basketball gods or something. Speaking of missions, did you catch that wild Curry trade rumor?
Impact on the Court
All this hard work has made Powell a nightmare for defenses. Opposing teams are scrambling to figure him out, but so far, no dice. Even Harden has developed a solid trust in Powell’s ability to deliver when it counts. In my opinion, Powell’s transformation is nothing short of inspiring. He’s gone from being a solid role player to a legit threat every time he steps on the floor.
So, what do you think? Can Powell keep up this pace and lead the Clippers deep into the playoffs, or will the grind catch up to him?
