[Saba Sports News] Since acquiring James Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers, the star guard has faced challenges in meshing with the Los Angeles Clippers. During their recent five-game losing streak, four of which featured Harden, the team has been outscored by 67 points in the 125 minutes Harden was on the court.
This statistic raises questions about Harden’s impact on the team. While his shooting accuracy remains above 47%, he appears to be struggling to integrate with key players like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Harden’s performance in these games, averaging 13.5 points and 4.3 assists, marks a significant drop from his previous season’s average of 21 points and over 10 assists.
Former NBA player Brian Scalabrine suggested on Sirius XM NBA Radio that Harden might need to focus more on playmaking and assists, considering the Clippers’ existing scoring abilities. Scalabrine even proposed the possibility of Harden coming off the bench or finding a lineup where he can enhance the performance of those around him.
The Clippers’ schedule doesn’t ease up, as they face the defending champion Denver Nuggets next.