The Clippers are now 4-7 since trading for Harden, or 0-1 in his “ready” state.
Memes aside, he was okay this game, but okay isn’t good enough when you’re with a fully healthy Clippers vs a Reggie Jackson-led Nuggets.
Harden isn’t exactly playing terribly as a Clippers, but at this point in his career, it’s hard to justify an offence-first player on a team as offensively stacked as the Clippers when they’re in desperate need of some more off-ball movement.
Harden is looking to secure a max extension, we’ll have to see what kind of contract he can muster as he gets more into game shape as the season progresses.
And across all sports, I think people disregard how quickly players can fall off a cliff from one season to the next. But specifically with basketball, most guard skill sets require speed that very very few 32+ year olds maintain. Happened to Kemba super fast, I think it’s even more apparent with smaller guards since they need the speed to beat rim protectors.
even more extreme, look at IT once he hurt his hip. couldn’t even get much more than charity bench spots after the trade to cleveland after being an MVP candidate