The Clippers finally welcomed the return of Leonard at home, ultimately defeating their opponents 131-105 with ease. Harden has returned to being an assistant rather than carrying the team. He delivered 15 assists throughout the game, including 13 in the first half, setting a new league record for the season. It must be said that Harden's focus on passing is truly remarkable. Initially, it was thought that Harden would score less than 10 points, but he still managed to score in double digits. With Leonard's return, Harden also seems more relaxed, allowing him to enjoy the game.
Of course, Powell is the most comfortable player for the Clippers. In the previous game without Harden's help to attract defensive attention, Powell had an abysmal shooting rate of 1 out of 11 against the Thunder. This experience made Powell feel depressed as he felt the pressure Harden faces. In this game, with Leonard's return and Harden drawing defenders, these two leaders completely absorbed the Hawks' defense, allowing Powell to once again become a high-scoring player. Moreover, Harden has a clear advantage over Trae Young, as today marks the ninth time Harden has faced off against Trae Young in his career, maintaining an undefeated record of 9 wins and 0 losses.
Trae Young, a rookie from 2018, has not played against Harden often due to the divisional differences and some injuries. However, analyzing their past encounters, it is evident that Harden has indeed declined somewhat. Particularly, his physical condition no longer allows him to consistently perform at a high level. In their past nine matchups, Harden averaged 29.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 10.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. This average is even dragged down by his 10-point performance today; otherwise, he would have averaged 30 points. In comparison, Trae Young averaged 29 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 10.8 assists per game.
Today, Trae Young scored 20 points and provided 14 assists, but his team was still soundly defeated. It must be acknowledged that Harden's passing and playmaking skills are indeed superior to Trae Young's. It is clear that Harden can lead a team of role players to the playoffs, while Trae Young, despite impressive statistics, has had lackluster seasons apart from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. Last season, Trae Young did not even make it to the playoffs. As Leonard stated, the Clippers should really consider giving Harden a raise because of his exceptional ability to activate his teammates.
Leonard's first sentence in the post-game interview was about how the Clippers have achieved excellent results under Harden's leadership. He then proceeded to praise Zubac and Powell. Leonard believes that under Harden's leadership, both Powell and Zubac have experienced rapid growth. This season, Powell is averaging 23.5 points per game, while Zubac is averaging 15 points and 12.6 rebounds, both career highs. Leonard not only praised Harden's leadership but also credited Powell and Zubac's success to Harden's assistance.
I believe Leonard has one motive: to keep Harden on the team. Last offseason, Harden signed a 2-year, $70 million contract with the Clippers, with the second year being a player option, allowing Harden to opt out of the contract. Given Harden's current performance, he undoubtedly still has a lot to offer. His statistics this year are comparable to Paul's peak performance. Paul, who is nearing 40 years old, is still active in the league and could potentially play until he is 42. Harden, born in 1989, will only turn 36 this August.
Theoretically, there is no problem with Harden playing until he is 40. I think the Clippers should seriously consider offering Harden a satisfactory contract during this offseason. An annual salary of 40millionisacertainty,butthequestionisforhowmanyyears.Shoulditbea2−yearcontractora3−yearcontract?Thisyear,Harden′sleadershipwiththeClippersistrulyworth50 million. Looking at George's performance in Philadelphia with a 50millionannualsalary,ifHardenweretocomparehisleadershiprecordwithGeorgeandBeal,hissalarythisyearwouldbeworth100 million. Ballmer needs to show some sincerity; if the money isn't enough, there's no reason for Harden to stay with the Clippers. Leonard also needs a reliable teammate to support his performance, and Harden is an essential tool for Leonard, whether at home or on the road.