When questioned about James Harden’s recent performance slump, Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George didn’t hold back. It was clear that he did not appreciate being asked the question.
“I’m not a coach. I’m not the coach. Next question.”
Harden’s numbers over the past three games tell a grim tale: averaging just 7.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 7.3 assists, with shooting percentages of 22.7% from the field and 20.0% from three-point range.
In their recent defeat against the Sacramento Kings, the Clippers suffered a 14-point loss, with Harden contributing only six points and five turnovers in 31 minutes of play. His shooting was particularly dismal, going 1-of-7 from the field and 1-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Coach Tyronn Lue addressed the concerning situation openly.
“It’s the way they played him,” Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue said of the Kings. “I mean, they blitzed him all night, so (in) the pick-and-roll he couldn’t really get his shots off. Maybe I could do a little bit more iso (isolation) for him to try to loosen him up, but they showed they wouldn’t let him play. So in pick-and-rolls … we know they’re going to blitz (Paul George), Kawhi and James — that’s what we work on every single day, executing the blitz coverages offensively. We need to do a better job. I thought PG did a good job of getting off of it, throwing it to the screener and making a play off of it. But with James, they just wouldn’t let him play.”
Throughout the season, Harden has maintained averages of 16.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 8.5 assists, shooting at 43.3% from the field, 38.9% from three-point territory, and 87.7% from the free-throw line. His impending unrestricted free agency this summer adds a layer of urgency to his performance.
Currently, the Clippers hold a record of 47-28, placing them fourth in the highly competitive Western Conference.
Should the regular season conclude today, Paul George, Harden, and the Clippers would find themselves matched against the Dallas Mavericks in the initial round of the 2024 playoffs.
James Harden, widely regarded as one of the NBA’s greatest players, boasts career averages of 24.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.1 assists. Despite stints with illustrious teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, and now the Clippers, a championship title has eluded him thus far.
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