Without their star player Kawhi Leonard, the Los Angeles Clippers have leaned on the 16-year vet James Harden. The Clippers are off to a decent start so far. It’s been somewhat of a balanced season where they beat the teams they shouldn’t and lose to teams they shouldn’t. Facing a favorable start to the season, playing in the new Intuit Dome for seven of the first 10 games, LA needed a spark to begin the new season with a new brand and new identity. Harden has been an all-around machine early on.
James Harden Doing It All For Clippers Through First Few Games
Harden Showcases Impressive Offense Despite Poor Shooting
Harden is known for having an impressive offensive skill set that is unique in its own way. The 2017-18 NBA MVP has shown glimpses of his vintage self with the style of play he’s brought to the Clippers. Harden’s scoring has taken a bit of a dive, as he is averaging 21.2 points per game. The shooting has not been great at 36.1% from the floor and 29.6% from behind the arc.
The scoring hasn’t necessarily stopped Harden from being a weapon for this Clippers offense. Also averaging 9.0 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game, Harden has flirted with triple-doubles frequently, even though he only has one in a loss against the Phoenix Suns on Halloween night.
James Harden Setting an Example on Defense
What may be the more surprising Harden stats so far has come from his defense. He is leading the Clippers in both blocks (1.0, tied with Ivica Zubac) and steals (1.7) per game. The strong and aggressive defensive mentality established by lead assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy has Harden putting more effort on his defensive abilities. Harden spoke on how this Clippers defense has performed, courtesy of Athlon Sports:
“Me being 16 years in, with so many accomplishments, it feels good to have coaches who are still communicating, telling you the spots you need to be in, and giving you confidence.”
Look at Harden here pic.twitter.com/oPhYPAQ7vl
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) November 5, 2024
Head Coach Tyronn Lue has the difficult task of playing without his star player in Leonard. Leonard continues to sit on the sideline with his knee injury as the season moves forward. Key players have stepped up in Lue’s rotation, including Norman Powell and Zubac. However, the leadership of the 16-year veteran out of Arizona State University has been needed for the ball club.
Historic Opportunities for Harden
Historic feats are on the rise for Harden. On Friday night, in a win against the Sacramento Kings, he surpassed Kevin Garnett on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with 26,073 points. Harden moves into 19th all time, currently sitting 298 points away behind Boston Celtics great John Havlicek. He also sits third among current players, behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Harden will have a great opportunity to pass some of the greatest players in NBA history, moving forward this season.
As for the Clippers, they are now 6-4 after Saturday night’s win over the Toronto Raptors. LA will then hit the road to play the red hot Oklahoma City Thunder and play twice against the Houston Rockets, both away games. Harden and the Clippers look forward to keep up with the very best in the Western Conference.
