Can James Harden Settle in With Big-3 at Clippers? An Injury Might Help Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George to Work on Chemistry

The much-anticipated debut of James Harden unfolded in New York, where he sported the Los Angeles Clippers jersey; sharing the court with franchise stars Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook. Although there were a few glimpses of the four’s potential greatness together, there were also unmistakable signs of struggle from the roster. Surprisingly, the New York Knicks took control of the game well before anyone had anticipated.

As a consequence, the Clippers suffered a 111-97 defeat, a considerable distance from the Knicks in terms of performance. Moving forward, the Clippers will need to make adjustments and establish more efficient rotations to maximize their potential.

An analyst has a wild take for the Clippers to build chemistry

The Los Angeles Clippers are filled with talent. However, managing the four similar superstars on the court poses a formidable challenge for Ty Lue. Each of the four players can disrupt opponents by taking them off the dribble, thus affecting their flow. According to Chris Broussard, the most favorable scenario for this star-studded quartet is when someone gets injured and has to sit out, creating an opportunity for team chemistry to develop. During a recent episode of First Things First, he expressed, “The best thing about these guys, the Harden deal, is if somebody gets hurt. So, if Kawhi goes down, or PG goes down, or Westbrook. Then it’s a better fit.”

In the first encounter for the Big Four, they faced off against the New York Knicks. Kawhi Leonard emerged as the top scorer among the lot, tallying 18 points, while PG recorded the lowest, with 10 points. Meanwhile, Harden and Westbrook contributed 17 points each.

During the nineteen minutes when the four stars shared the court, they produced one of the poorest offensive performances among all the teams in the league. Moreover, in terms of defense, the quartet’s ranking stands at 29th in the league. Nevertheless, it’s essential to bear in mind that this was their inaugural game together, and substantial adjustments are expected in their upcoming matches.

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Although the Clippers boast immense talent, with each of their four stars having the ability to lead a franchise, it’s evident that they require time to adapt and find their synergy on the court.

Looking back at the James Harden Clippers debut

The Clippers seized the opportunity to showcase all their star players against the Knicks. After all, there is no better time than the present to experiment. In their collective effort, the four stars managed to score 37 points out of 39 possessions. However, they also committed 8 turnovers. Conversely, they allowed the Knicks to score 47 points on 39 possessions, clearly marking them as the inferior side during the stretch.

When it came to executing the pick and roll, things didn’t quite click as expected. While moments showcasing Harden’s prowess came, they often resulted in congested situations rather than clear paths to the basket. Consequently, the Clippers committed 22 turnovers, the highest in their season thus far. With more practice and game time, this is an area where the Clippers are likely to improve. By familiarizing themselves with James Harden‘s rhythm and offensive tendencies, the roster can more effectively read and anticipate plays.

Furthermore, the Knicks not only outscored the Clippers, they also dominated them in the rebounding department. They secured an impressive 18 offensive rebounds out of a total of 48. On the other hand, the Clippers managed just 7 offensive rebounds out of 31 total. Additionally, the Knicks dominated the paint, outscoring the Clippers 56 points to 38.

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Harden joined the Clippers last week, finally getting the trade he had wanted from the Philadelphia 76ers. Furthermore, he immediately entered the starting lineup. So, given the quick chain of events, expecting an instant fireworks display might be premature. However, the Clippers acquired a significant addition early in the season, providing them with ample time to enhance their already strong roster.