James Harden began the playoffs with a masterful 32-point, 11-assist effort in Recreation 1. Since then, his scoring and shot choice have been dropping precipitously.
Harden tried simply 9 pictures within the LA Clippers’ 131-115 loss in Recreation 5 of their first-round collection with the Denver Nuggets. Within the final two video games, each Clippers losses, Harden made eight baskets and dedicated eight turnovers.
Beginning a playoff collection scorching and disappearing within the later video games has grow to be a disturbing sample for Harden. Final season, he averaged 26 factors within the first 4 video games of the Clippers’ collection with the Dallas Mavericks, earlier than placing up seven factors in Recreation 5 and capturing 1-of-13 on three-pointers within the remaining two losses. In 2023, Harden scored 45 factors in Recreation 1 and 42 in Recreation 4 towards the Boston Celtics, earlier than averaging 11 factors within the remaining two video games, going 1-of-11 from deep.
In 2022, Harden scored 14 and 11 factors within the Philadelphia 76ers’ losses in Video games 5 and 6, getting solely three free throw makes an attempt. He was enjoying by means of harm in 2021 and shot 2-of-12 behind the arc within the Brooklyn Nets’ Recreation 7 loss.
At 35, Harden would not have the identical first step and carry that he used to. His decline in three-point capturing and his capacity to get to the foul line later in a collection counsel he wears out because the playoffs proceed. The Clippers already try the second-fewest three-pointers within the NBA, and Harden takes essentially the most on the group. If he cannot be a risk from deep, the Clippers’ offense is in bother.
The Clippers have dropped two very shut video games within the collection, so it is doable they will win the following two and advance — however they can not do it with Harden disappearing offensively.
