In the previous game, the Clippers defeated the Nets by a whopping 59 points, with Harden delivering an impressive performance of 21 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, and 2 steals. Currently, under Harden's leadership, the Clippers have a record of 22 wins and 17 losses, ranking fifth in the Western Conference. Notably, facing the Trail Blazers in a back-to-back game today, the Clippers have rested Leonard due to right knee injury management. Harden, on the other hand, is playing as usual. For the Clippers, retaining Harden was undoubtedly the best move of last offseason.
Analyzing the situations of Philadelphia and the Clippers clearly shows that without Harden, Philadelphia, despite forming a trio of stars, has become a struggling team in the Eastern Conference. Paul George earns a salary of $50 million per year, which was once the amount Harden sought from Philadelphia. However, Harden has proven himself worthy of that salary. At least this season, the 31-year-old Harden has had a significant impact on the Clippers, far surpassing George. As Tyronn Lue stated post-game, Harden is the reason why the Clippers are in fifth place.
This season, Harden has played in 37 games, resting only twice, averaging 21.5 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1.46 steals. Offensively, Harden is the core initiator of the Clippers' tactics. The Clippers' strategy centered around Harden has proven effective, as he brings his own system. Last season, George was not entirely satisfied with being marginalized as a role player in a system centered around Harden. Later, Tyronn Lue tried to let George initiate plays, but the Clippers' record suffered, and no one adapted well. George has also failed to demonstrate his organizational abilities in Philadelphia this year.
Leonard praises Harden for his ability to evenly distribute playing time and bring out the best in everyone. When Harden was with the Nets, he perfectly allocated playing time, acting as an excellent support player. He organized the game during regular time, allowing Durant and Irving to receive passes in their comfort zones to finish plays. When both were unable to break through, Harden stepped up to close out the game. This was the key to the Nets' 4-1 victory over the Celtics in 2021. Cutting the cake is not difficult; what's challenging is distributing it fairly, and Harden is the player who can both cut and distribute the cake to everyone's satisfaction.
After Harden left the Nets, Durant and Irving were swept by the Celtics, unable to win a single game. This was because the person responsible for distributing playing time was gone. Powell and Zubac have both achieved career-high scoring performances under Harden's allocation. Powell never imagined competing for an All-Star spot until this year, when Harden gave him the confidence. Zubac's scoring has reached a new career high, and even in Philadelphia, Harden provided strong support for Embiid to win the MVP. Since Harden's departure, Embiid's attendance rate has dropped significantly, leading even Leonard to believe that making Harden the core leader is wise.
Leonard said, "Harden's career points have risen to 15th in history, and I believe he has put in a lot of effort. Harden is a wealth worth watching; he is so unique, changing the game and the Clippers. Look at his performance over the years; he has been a core player for many years, consistently leading a team. He is always on the court and working hard all the time. As I said, he has put in the effort, so it's not surprising."
Why isn't giving the ball to James considered a tactic? Currently, it seems that Tyronn Lue's strategy of giving the ball to James is indeed the best for the Clippers. Ultimately, regardless of the coach, the ball should be given to the most reliable player. If a player can distribute playing time well and the team can rally together to win, why shouldn't they let him hold the ball and fully revolve around him? Bamba said after a previous game that there are no selfish players on the Clippers anymore because, starting with Harden, everyone is working for each other.