There are volumes that might be written about what’s flawed with the Los Angeles Clippers superteam. After all of the ruckus James Harden began this summer time, in the event you thought he’d arrive in tip-top form, able to make one final push at a title with the Clippers, then you definately’re as gullible as each different workforce that has traded for him this decade. Harden nonetheless hasn’t proven why he thought he was so deserving of the large extension he was demanding from Daryl Morey.
Because the Clippers lead guard, his utilization price has hit career-lows to this point in Clipperland, and he’s averaging a meager 4.5 assists per recreation in a decreased function. The footwork isn’t as fast because it was once, however the jerkiness remains to be there. However he’s nonetheless a black gap who bogs down the offense. Nonetheless, a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday evening is a reminder of how untrustworthy Harden will be on the ground.
Trailing the 2-8 Memphis Grizzlies, 101-98, Kawhi Leonard hurried the ball up court docket in transition with 40 seconds remaining, drove the lane and lobbed a cross to Harden in the precise quick nook.The house crowd held its breath throughout Harden’s launch and audibly exhaled in disappointment when Harden airballed the shot. Par for the course.
In crunch time, the ball will get heavier, palms get sweatier and a few guys get mentally spaghettified. Harden with the ball in his palms in crunch time has all the time portended grim endings.There are worse gamers than Harden in these heart-palpitating moments, however few heliocentric superstars encourage as a lot disappointment as Harden has through the years. Within the remaining 5 minutes of video games the place the rating is inside 5 factors or much less, which Second Spectrum considers clutch time, Harden is a vibe killer. If he can’t contort his strategy to the road, he musters half-hearted heaves that crack the rim and customarily leaves you wanting. This isn’t a story that creeped up due to his poor fame. The numbers again it up. Even throughout his MVP season, Harden was a multitude in these essential moments that determine shut contests.
Clutch performances from Russell Westbrook are the forgotten consider why he was awarded the MVP over Harden of their carefully contested 2017 race. In clutch time, Harden logged the second-worst area purpose proportion within the league of all certified scorers who’d tried at the very least 50 area targets, taking pictures 35.5 % from the sphere on 93 makes an attempt and 27.3 % from distance. Along with averaging the primary triple double in 5 a long time, Westbrook led the league in clutch scoring, drained an assortment of game-winning baskets, shot 44.6 % from the sphere and drained 33 % of his makes an attempt behind the arc.
Since that 2017 marketing campaign, Harden hasn’t accomplished a lot to counter his transformation into Mr. Self Test in shut contests. The final time Philly noticed him in a stress scenario, he cranked out simply 9 factors in a Recreation 7 towards the Boston Celtics. Right here’s how he stacks as much as lots of his All-NBA friends within the common season since 2017 in accordance with Deadspin’s Stats & Information Dept. (aka Microsoft Excel and Second Spectrum).
FG% in clutch time (since 2017)
James Harden – .372 FG%
Damian Lillard- .391
Paul George-.423
Steph Curry- .430
Russell Westbrook – .430
Kawhi Leonard- .431
Kyrie Irving- .436
3-point FG% in clutch time (since 2017)
Leonard- .258
Westbrook- .260
Harden- .288
Lillard- .303
George- .307
Irving- .311
Curry- .331
Not surprisingly, Steph Curry is essentially the most correct flamethrower from all distances even in clutch time. Kawhi Leonard is fairly dangerous from deep, however he makes up for it by being an automated bucket on 2-point area targets. He’s come a good distance from lacking a free throw in Recreation 6 that may have rendered Ray Allen’s series-extending 3-pointer moot.
And at the very least Kyrie Irving is definitely worth the headache when he’s on the ground in pivotal moments.We shouldn’t be stunned after he buried probably the most iconic pictures in Finals historical past to finish an 0-3 comeback towards the 73-win Warriors. He’s arguably the most effective ice-in-his-veins scorer within the league. Nonetheless, when the going will get robust, Harden can’t get going. His .372 clutch time area purpose proportion since 2017 is the worst amongst his friends by a substantial margin.
Tyronn Lue has a bevy of choices past his latest acquisition. Harden won’t ever flip down a shot, however he shouldn’t be their first, second or third possibility. Don’t imagine the noise about Paul George. He’s all effort and delivers strong outcomes when it’s time for superstars to step up. Surprisingly, Westbrook is even a superior scorer to Harden underneath stress.
Harden is the final one who ought to have the rock in his palms with the sport on the road. It’s nonetheless early, however the Clippers are getting first-hand expertise on why The Beard was accessible on the commerce block for flea market costs. He doesn’t simply run from title chases, he tends to shrink within the moments that outline the legends.
