Ahead of the debut of James Harden with the Los Angeles Clippers, teammate Paul George shared his high expectations on his podcast “Podcast P with Paul George”. George seemed optimistic about Harden’s addition, pointing out their collective high basketball IQ and flexibility on the court.
He praised Harden’s effortless scoring ability during practice sessions and highlighted the potential of their four-star system. The versatility in their playmaking is anticipated to bring a major shift in the Clippers’ offensive strategies, allowing players to interchange positions easily.
“I think he’s going to fit in perfectly,” George said of Harden. “All four of us are high IQ players. When it comes into game time, we all know where everyone’s supposed to be, so we all can run plays in different positions.”
“I think [James Harden’s] going to fit in with us perfectly… All 4 of us are high-IQ players. He’s a bucket. He makes it look so easy.”
Paul George on Harden’s fit with the Clippers 👀
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— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 6, 2023
Paul George expressed his excitement at Harden’s ability, “You just forget like, he’s a bucket,” stating the ease with which Harden scores and the immediate impact he could have on the team’s performance. This addition is hoped to bolster the Clippers’ offense, especially with Harden’s skill in creating opportunities for his teammates, as seen by the increased number of lobs in practice sessions.
The Clippers’ stars, including George, Harden, Kawhi Leonard, and Russell Westbrook, are expected to work together to win their NBA title, something that will require adjustment and sacrifice from each player. Coach Tyronn Lue has said that just acquiring Harden doesn’t guarantee a win, but it requires putting in the work and readiness to sacrifice.
James Harden scores 17 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds in his debut
In his highly anticipated debut with the LA Clippers, James Harden made an okay start scoring 17 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds. Even though the Clippers faced a tough game against the New York Knicks, losing with a final score of 111-97.
The were some great moments in the game such as Harden’s quick assist to Leonard, indicating the playmaking potential of the Clippers’ new configuration. But, chemistry and consistency seemed to be a work in progress, as there was miscommunications, including a misdirected pass from Westbrook intended for Harden which led to a Knicks’ fast-break layup.
The Clippers found themselves behind in the fourth quarter, leading to the benching of the first four after Harden’s bad pass resulted in another fast-break layup for the Knicks, pushing the score to 104-88 with just over four minutes remaining. This game gave a reality check for the Clippers, highlighting the adaptation time required when integrating high-caliber players.