In the glittering NBA universe, the 2009 draft undoubtedly gave birth to two of the brightest stars - Stephen Curry and James Harden. They have each written their own legendary chapters in the basketball hall with extraordinary talent and relentless effort. Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, these two former young men have entered the twilight of their careers, yet they still shine brightly on the court, becoming undisputed leaders in their respective positions, leading their teams to break through the waves in the league. Stephen Curry, the soul figure of the Golden State Warriors, his name has long been closely linked to the glory of this city. However, even such a legend cannot escape the ravages of time. At 36 years old, he faced unprecedented challenges this season. Although he still proves his worth with an average of 21.8 points, 5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game, the once surging scoring power seems no longer so easily accessible. His shooting percentage dropped to 43.5%, and his three-point percentage was only 40.3%. Behind these numbers is Curry's countless struggles and resilience to regain his past form. His performance is sometimes like a god descending, and at other times like an ordinary person struggling. This unpredictable state is directly reflected in the Warriors' record - 15 wins and 13 losses, ranking eighth in the West, which makes fans both worried and expectant. In contrast, the 35-year-old Harden seems to have ushered in the second spring of his career. In the Clippers, he jumped from a supporting role to…

As a commercial league, only NBA teams with relatively high traffic can be scheduled to play on Christmas Eve, and the Lakers vs. Warriors game is undoubtedly one of the most watched matchups in recent years. Historically, the team that has participated in the most Christmas games is the Knicks, with 56 appearances. New York is considered the most prosperous city in the United States, and even the Lakers have participated in fewer Christmas games than the Knicks, with 50 appearances. The Warriors have played 33 times, and it's worth noting that the Warriors were the inaugural champions of the NBA. Their team has always had a rich history and never lacked star players, such as Wilt Chamberlain, Rick Barry, Paul Arizin, Nate Thurmond, and Stephen Curry, all of whom are well-known figures. Being scheduled to play on Christmas Eve is enough to demonstrate that the league also places great importance on the influence of the Nuggets. Historically, the Nuggets have participated in the Christmas games 9 times, and both Carmelo Anthony (Sweet Melo) and the current Nikola Jokic have been periods of focus for the league. Some fans believe that Westbrook's ability to surpass Harden and Shaquille O'Neal in scoring during the Christmas games is entirely due to the influence of Jokic on the Nuggets, and that Westbrook is simply reaping the benefits. However, in fact, Westbrook's number of fans across the United States ranks just behind James, Durant, and Curry. It is well known that LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Kyrie Irving are the…

James Harden and Michael Jordan at the age of 35: A comparison that highlights the differences in their careers. Recently, I wrote about James Harden and Dwyane Wade, both at the age of 35, as they are top-tier shooting guards in the league. Now, let's talk about Harden and Jordan at 35. One is still writing his legend, while the other is a legend himself. At 35, Harden is in the twilight of his peak years, having played 15 seasons in the NBA since the 2009 season. He has amassed numerous accolades, including MVP, assists leader, sixth man of the year, and scoring champion. The only regret is the lack of a championship title, despite having two opportunities with the Rockets that fate did not favor him with. Throughout his career, Harden has been known for his high basketball IQ, ability to play within the rules, and comprehensive skill set, including step-back threes and various Euro-steps. His main weakness is underperforming in crucial moments, with solid regular-season leadership but faltering in the playoffs. This season, at 35, Harden averages 22.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, with shooting percentages of 39.1%, 35.3%, and 88.9%. He has accumulated a total of 24,693 points in his NBA career so far. Jordan, on the other hand, started playing in the NBA in 1984, spending 13 seasons with the Bulls and 2 with the Wizards. In his 13 seasons with the Bulls, he won 10 scoring titles, an efficiency unmatched in NBA history. His skills were virtually flawless, described as…

As former leaders and third brothers, both Durant and Harden have had brilliant careers and have been at the forefront of their respective positions for a long time. Even now in the twilight of their careers, Durant and Harden continue to deliver competitive performances and are the core and leaders of their respective teams. The 35-year-old Harden has experienced a resurgence this season. In the absence of Paul George and with Leonard out for the season, Harden has regained control of the ball and demonstrated the capabilities of a top-tier dual-threat guard in the league. To date, Harden has played 29 games for the Clippers, averaging 33.9 minutes per game, scoring 22 points, grabbing 6.5 rebounds, dishing out 8.1 assists, making 1.5 steals, and blocking 0.6 shots, with a shooting percentage of 38.9%, a three-point percentage of 34.5%, and a free-throw percentage of 89.3%. Although Harden's efficiency is low this season, his influence and contributions to the team are immeasurable. In terms of statistics, Harden remains among the top guards in the league and is still the core of the Clippers' offensive organization. In the absence of star teammates, Harden has led the Clippers to a commendable record of 17 wins and 13 losses, ranking seventh in the West. With increased playing time and status, Harden's offensive stats have also risen significantly. This season, Harden has scored a total of 639 points with an average of 22 points, making him the second-highest scorer on the team, a significant improvement from last season! On the other hand, the 36-year-old Durant has…

The Clippers, after defeating the strong team Grizzlies, will return home to face the Warriors. Today, the Warriors have updated their player injury list, which is similar to what Kerr previously revealed about resting Curry for one game in a back-to-back situation. The Warriors have indeed chosen to rest Curry against the Clippers, citing knee tendonitis as the reason. In addition, Draymond Green is also questionable due to a back injury and is unlikely to play. As we analyzed, it seems that the Warriors will definitely rest Curry when facing the Clippers. Next up is another back-to-back, with the Warriors playing the Clippers away and then rushing back home to play the Suns. Which game should Curry rest for between the Clippers and the Suns? I think it would be the Clippers. The Clippers have been on fire recently, with Harden leading the team and turning Powell and Zubac into giants. The team's defense is also very strong with Van Gundy at the helm, and they have already double-killed the Warriors, winning with or without Curry. Considering that playing the Clippers is an away game, it would be difficult for Curry to win even if he played. It would be better to fully prepare for the Suns, especially since it's at the Warriors' home court. The Suns have not been in good form recently, with Booker continuing to rest. From the Warriors' perspective, the Suns are an easy target to handle. Of course, the Clippers also have their fair share of injuries. The official injury list for the game against…