It was a blockbuster night for the LA Clippers, launching all four stars in the starting five. Along with that, the cherry on top was the debut of James Harden. However, the team didn’t perform well on the court. With a disheartening loss against the Knicks, the Clippers’ latest era hasn’t got off to a promising start, but their players still believe that they can turn their fortunes around.

After sustaining a hard blow, Leonard Kawhi still holds out hope for the team’s success. Along with that, “The Klaw” had the back of the newly joined contemporary who was booed when announced in the starting lineup.

Kawhi Leonard dodges the ball for better opportunities

With tonight’s 97-111 loss against the New York Knicks, the team, even with all four pillars, seems weak. There’s no doubt that the Clippers have a marvelous line-up with Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Paul George, and Ivica Zubac. However, the team couldn’t take control of the game.

In a post-game media interaction, when asked about the effect of Harden’s debut on the player, Kawhi had a tough response. The shooting guard said, “No, it’s gonna be like that. We have guys that can score the ball. Won’t be the only one. I just gotta be ready when my opportunity comes.” With this statement, Kawhi cleared the air around the fact that James Harden’s inclusion in the side had something to do with tonight’s loss.

Under the circumstances, coach Tyronn Lue called a timeout with the team 16 points down in the fourth quarter. After the game resumed, the Clipper’s Big Four were all on the bench. Although there was a slight chance for a 180-degree turn in the game with 4 minutes left, a massive win seems impossible.

With James Harden getting praised for assisting a team play, the trade might do its wonders in the next game.

Kawhi Leonard and Co., along with James Harden

After announcing the three stars of the Clippers, when Harden’s name was announced, a fair amount of booing was evident among the audience. After just playing some short minutes in the first quarter, James Harden was called back by the coach.

Harden, however, played with a team spirit, as he didn’t take a shot in his initial stint and focused more on setting up his teammates. After assisting on two baskets and finding Zubac in the lane with a couple of nice passes, Harden deserved praise for a nice display of sacrifice for the greater good.

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Although the Clippers were well in the lead in the first unit, the sudden dip in the second unit made it difficult for the team to regain control. With the coach agreeing to the fact that even a polished player takes time to fit in, time might be back in the game against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night.

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