Unselfish James Harden Makes Honest Admission About His Lackluster Individual Performance, After Blowout Win vs Mavericks

The James Harden experiment in Los Angeles hasn’t gone according to plan for both Harden and the Clippers. Harden’s inclusion into a Clippers squad that already features stars such as Westbrook, Kawhi, and Paul George has resulted in challenges related to team chemistry. Recent performances indicate a positive turn for the Clippers, as they won four of their last five games. Their current upturn in form suggests that improved results may be on the horizon.

In their last game, the Clippers emerged victorious against a formidable Mavericks side, even though James Harden had a subpar performance. Notably, Harden’s unselfish admission suggests that the Clippers may be gradually finding their rhythm.

Harden disappoints in the Clippers blowout victory against Mavs

The acquisition of James Harden instantly made the Clippers one of the favorites for the title. Harden’s arrival added much-needed playmaking, an attribute the Clippers were severely lacking since PG and Kawhi’s acquisition in 2019. However, fears of lack of team chemistry came true, as the Clippers lost the first five games that Harden played. But the Clippers’ recent upturn in performances suggests that better results might be around the corner.

The Clippers are currently positioned in the 11th spot in the Western Conference standings, having secured 7 victories and suffered 8 defeats. However, they have managed to emerge victorious in four of their last five games. The Clippers seemed to have improved in recent outings, but the same can’t be said about Harden. Following their recent triumph against the Mavs, James Harden made an honest admission about his subpar individual performances. He said, “Individually, it’s not about me. I’m going to keep saying it. It’s about the team.” He additionally expressed his desire to embrace “generating quality shots consistently” for the Clippers offense.

Are the Clippers truly a title contender?

If current performances are anything to go by, then no. However, this new-look Clippers roster has only played ten games. They would need time and effort in training to build their chemistry. But having said that, building a cohesive team with three stars is a huge undertaking, let alone four. Egos would be ruffled, but coach Ty Lue needs to look at the bigger picture.

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Their current 11th spot in the Western Conference standings reflects a challenging start. Despite their initial struggles, the Clippers boast strong underlying statistics. They hold the 5th position in overall defensive rating and maintain a net rating of 4.2, placing them at the 8th position. The competition in the Western Conference is fierce, and their success will depend on how well the team gels and adjusts over the course of the season.

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