There is a feeling with all 30 NBA teams going into the 2024 NBA All-Star Break. The Los Angeles Clippers (36-17) can’t help but feel great about their chances for an NBA title in what seemed like a do-or-die season. The Clippers made a big gamble by making an all-in trade for point guard James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers shortly after the season started. That gamble has turned the Clippers into one of the most dangerous teams in the league. Harden has become the floor general that the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard have always wanted. The Clippers are only two games behind the #1 seed in the Western Conference in a more consistent season. While the expectations, hopes and emotions are high, so are the concerns. They’ve been through before and look to make a different run.
Outlook on the Los Angeles Clippers During NBA All-Star Break
The James Harden Effect on the Clippers
Speaking of feels, it still feels unreal the Clippers have their third star in Harden in the fifth year of the 213 Era with Leonard and Paul George. Harden had high expectations as he wanted to go back home and join a super team. There were certainly some growing pains with inserting Harden into the starting lineup with the Clippers losing their first six games after the trade, with the last five having Harden played. While media and casual fans laughed at them during the six-game losing streak, the players focused on developing their offense.
The last 43 games for the Clippers have turned them into one of the most proficient and explosive offenses in the league. Los Angeles currently ranks 10th in points per game (118.3), sixth in field-goal percentage (49.4%), first in three-point shooting percentage (81.6%) and third in offensive efficiency (120.6). Harden has set the pace, executed great scoring opportunities for his teammates and relieved the much-needed pressure off Leonard and George.
Harden in the meanwhile has played like an All-Star caliber point guard after the five-game initial start for Los Angeles. In the 43 games played, Harden has averaged 17.7 points per game shooting a field-goal percentage of 44.8% and a three-point shooting of 42.6%. He is also averaging 8.9 assists, 1.2 steals and 2.6 turnovers per game. He isn’t the same high-volume shooter he was with the Houston Rockets, but the Clippers don’t need him to be.
Due to Harden being on the court leading the offense, it has allowed Leonard and George to shed the concept of load management because they are not having to do it all for the Clippers. Leonard played in 38 of the 43 games played and only missed games when injured.
A Short, but Tough Road to the Postseason
The good news is that most of the Clippers are healthy for a solid run after the All-Star break. Leonard will miss the NBA All-Star Game with an adductor injury. Missing this game should make Clippers fans happy as he can carefully get back on the court. If the Clippers can utilize to be the regular-season premier player he was brought to be, they’ll be fine.
There is, of course, bad news for the Clippers. There is always a concern that the team will suffer a significant injury shortly before the season. The team is no stranger to the injury curse. The Clippers have 29 games to go until the end of the regular season, tied for the most in the league. There was a debate among Clippers fans that the NBA feels this was done intentionally. Regardless, Los Angeles, along with the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers are the teams that have to be careful.
Fans do not want to hear this, but to save the players from potential injuries, load management must be considered. The Clippers have the seventh toughest strength of schedule remaining. They have six back-to-backs with three sets having both games on the road. One back-to-back features the second game being played at the New Orleans Pelicans. One back-to-back features at the Minnesota Timberwolves (#1 in the West) and at the Milwaukee Bucks (#3 in the East). Finally, games 79 & 80 for Los Angeles is a back-to-back home/away series versus the Phoenix Suns.
Long story short, Los Angeles needs to take it one day at a time. The Clippers need a good playoff seeding, but they also need to be healthy.
