The Los Angeles Clippers’ offseason has been overshadowed by off-court controversy, and so they may have additional issues about James Harden.
Kawhi Leonard, regardless of off-court distractions, appears to be like to be wholesome and again to his finest, and the Los Angeles Clippers traded for Bradley Beal so as to add some extra firepower to their perimeter.
On paper, the Clippers have one of the harmful trios within the NBA with Leonard, Beal, and James Harden. The difficulty is, Harden hardly ever delivers to his full potential within the postseason, resulting in a collection of disappointing playoff exits for the Clippers and his different groups.
He’s additionally been identified to show as much as coaching camp off form. Harden pressured his means off the Houston Rockets partly by not being recreation prepared to begin the 12 months.
In equity to the 2018 MVP, he did play 79 video games final season. However Brian Windhorst revealed one thing worrying that NBA scouts are saying about Harden going into the 12 months.
In a stacked Western Convention, which is as aggressive because it has ever been, the Clippers have to hit the bottom working. However regardless of noting they give the impression of being “spectacular” in preseason, Windhorst mentioned that Harden is off form.
Talking on the Hoop Collective podcast, he mentioned, “I believe the Clippers look spectacular. I assumed they seemed spectacular down the stretch final 12 months. And I do know they made some modifications to their roster, and I do know that they’re older, and so they’re gonna have accidents.
“Look, James Harden will not be even in that nice form. One thing the scouts have mentioned is that Harden has been in higher form at this level. However Kawhi appears to be like fabulous.”
He’s performed two video games in opposition to NBA opposition this preseason and scored a complete of 13 factors. Harden is without doubt one of the biggest offensive gamers ever, however at 36 years outdated, he wants to begin taking care of his physique forward of what’s set to be an intense 82-game season for the Clippers.
That’s very true with the uncertainty hanging over Leonard’s future amidst the Steve Ballmer investigation.
In 2024, it seemed like Harden’s days as an elite NBA participant might be over. He averaged 16.6 factors, his lowest since 2011, and once more flamed out within the postseason.
The NBA world was prepared to write down him and the Clippers’ title probabilities off, however Harden emphatically bounced again. He put up 23, 9, and 6 final season, main the group’s playmaking as they secured the fifth seed.
After a 32 level night time in opposition to the Denver Nuggets within the Clippers’ opening playoff recreation, there was a glimmer of hope that Harden may put his previous playoff woes behind him. However they reared their ugly head once more.
| Playoff recreation vs Denver Nuggets | James Harden factors |
| Sport 1 | 32 |
| Sport 2 | 18 |
| Sport 3 | 20 |
| Sport 4 | 15 |
| Sport 5 | 11 |
| Sport 6 | 28 |
| Sport 7 | 7 |
Harden completed the collection with a 7 level night time in Sport 7, which ended the Clippers’ season. His numbers fluctuated dramatically, which means he failed to attain 20 factors in 4 of the seven video games.
So even when Harden performs his means again into form, don’t maintain out a lot hope that he can have a major impression on a playoff run.
