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In the NBA league, where competition is almost cruelly fierce, every star faces a significant gamble when making transfer choices. They are betting either on reaching new heights in their careers or falling into an uncertain future. Since the start of this season, the situation with the Philadelphia 76ers has been chaotic. Despite having a luxurious lineup with three giants, their record has been poor, with only 14 wins and 20 losses. Their ranking in the Eastern Conference is far behind, and they haven't even touched the edge of the play-in tournament.
In just a year, George's statistics and shooting percentage have plummeted like a roller coaster, creating a huge gap that is truly perplexing. After careful consideration, it seems there is only one plausible explanation: James Harden has a considerable enhancing effect on George. Looking at the current situation, Powell's statistics and shooting percentage while playing alongside Harden are similar to George's last season. This raises the question: Does Harden have an inherent ability to magically enhance the performance of frontline players? Take the recent game against the Suns as an example; George shot only 5 out of 18, with his poor form clearly visible. This season, George has had six games with a shooting percentage below 30%, which would have been unimaginable in the past.
Looking back at last season, George played 74 games for the Clippers, with only nine games where his shooting percentage was below 30%. Comparatively, it becomes increasingly evident that George's statistics have declined since leaving Harden. During his time with the Clippers, Harden, with his superior individual abilities, could attract many defensive forces, creating a more relaxed and favorable offensive environment for George, allowing him to be efficient and sharp in his attacks. When George left the Clippers for Philadelphia, he openly complained that Harden made him and Leonard do "blue-collar" work, feeling like a tool, and expecting more opportunities to showcase his skills in Philadelphia.
However, reality is unbearably harsh, and the current circumstances unequivocally confirm the rationality of Harden's tactical arrangements. Starting with Harden as the tactical focal point rather than letting George be the primary ball-handler, this strategy has shown significant advantages this year. After Leonard's injury absence, Harden's solo leadership has achieved remarkable results. Leonard was not the slightest bit disheartened after George's departure because he knew that entrusting the ball to Harden was the most suitable tactical decision for the team. After all, in terms of organizing ability, there is a significant difference between Harden and George.
In fact, George's departure seems to have lifted the constraints on Harden. Last season with the Clippers, coach Tyronn Lue was constantly torn between building tactics around Harden or George. Remember, Harden joined later and could only rank third in team status, while George, with his top salary, had a stable position. There was a period when the Clippers' performance was poor due to unclear divisions of labor. Lue tried giving the ball to George and having Harden play off-ball, resulting in a significant drop in team performance, forcing them to readjust. Taking the Clippers' big home win over the Hawks after that game as an example, Leonard unabashedly praised Harden's organizational skills, stating they had reached historical heights.
Leonard highlighted a key situation: when Powell and Zubac were playing alongside Harden, they performed much stronger, as if injected with a strong heart stimulant, with Powell even achieving All-Star level play. This is undoubtedly a great affirmation of Leonard for Harden and a key factor in his efforts to persuade the Clippers to keep Harden. Looking at it now, Leonard indeed has a unique insight, seeing further and more accurately than George. As for George, aside from securing a four-year, $50 million top salary contract from Philadelphia, he has gained little else on the court.
After arriving in Philadelphia, George's anticipated organizational authority came to naught. Keep in mind that Embiid has long coveted organizational authority, and Maxi, as a point guard, never lets go of the ball. In terms of shooting rights, George has become the third choice in the team. Those familiar with Embiid's past playing style know that he can hardly perfectly cooperate with other frontline players except for Butler. Harris averaged 20 points in the Clippers but had all his preferred offensive positions occupied by Embiid upon arriving in Philadelphia. George is now in a similar predicament, with his preferred and liked finishing areas also being Embiid's territory, leaving him no choice but to yield. Organizational responsibilities are even further from his reach, while Harris shone in Philadelphia during the year he partnered with Harden.