Home Dragon and Away Games! 10 points difference between home and away games + plus and negative value -31

On May 4, 2025, the Clippers lost to the Nuggets 101-120 in the tiebreak battle, and were eliminated 3-4 in the first round. In this game, Norman Powell continued the curse of a sluggish away game - 4 of 11 shots in the game, 0 of 3 three-pointers, scored only 9 points and made 3 fatal mistakes, with a plus-minus value -31 team second lowest.

In this round of series, Powell's performance can be called "home dragon and away game":

Three home games: averaged 22 points per game, shooting percentage 57.5%, and three-point shooting percentage 40.9%;

Four away games: averaged 11.5 points per game, shooting percentage 38.8%, and three-point shooting percentage 27.8%.

Home and away scores, shooting percentages, and three-point shooting percentages are all close to "halved", becoming one of the players with the largest home and away differences in the NBA playoffs in the past decade (the difference is 10.5 points + 16.7% shooting percentage).

This cliff-like decline directly made it difficult for the Clippers to win away games, especially the two pass mistakes in the last moment of G7, which completely ruined the hope of chasing points.

This season's regular season, Powell averaged 21.8 points per game (career high) and made 41.8% of his three-point shooting percentage, which was once regarded as a model of "super six". However, the weakness of the playoffs exposed its "high-end game shortcomings":

The key battle was awkward: G1 made a continuous mistake in the last quarter and caused an overtime collapse, and G7 scored only 9 points in the life-and-death battle;

Defensive loophole: excessive defense in the face of the Nuggets' pick-and-roll tactics, and Westbrook missed key three-pointers many times;

vs. Celtics Derek White (4-year, 120 million contract), Powell's cost-effectiveness is even more embarrassing - White scored 25+5+5 many times in the playoffs and hit the key ball, while Powell's scoring efficiency plummeted by 40% under high-pressure defense.

Powell is eligible to sign a four-year maximum salary of $128.5 million this summer, but his performance in the playoffs makes Powell still a little far from this maximum salary. What's more, Powell is about to be 32 years old, and his athletic ability is declining significantly, and the contract may become a garbage contract in the later stage.

If the Clippers renew their contract with Powell, they may fall into the trap of "high salary and low energy"; if they give up, they will have to bear the risk of a substitute firepower vacuum. Potential solutions include:

Sign first and then exchange: Use Powell + first round pick to trade young 3D players;

Short-term reservation: Provide a 2-year, $60 million contract to avoid long-term risks;

From the "Super Six" in the regular season to the "war criminal" in the playoffs, Powell's ups and downs confirm the cruel truth of the NBA - high-end games are the touchstone for stars.

If the Clippers blindly bet on their contract renewal, they may repeat the mistake of "premium contract"; and if Powell cannot improve his stability, he may become a homeless person at the end of his career.