Faced with a small army of journalists, James Harden looks a little disillusioned. His team has just lost to the worst team in the league, the Grizzlies. Result: the former Sixers player has still not won with his Clippers, who have five consecutive defeats.
Asked what Tyronn Lue expects from him, the bearded man retorts: “ It’s about being more aggressive. Not just by shooting, but by attacking, going into the paint and making the right choices. » That’s not really what he did against the Memphis franchise.
Lacking offensive inspiration and rhythm, he signed his smallest outing since his arrival in Los Angeles: 11 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in 29 minutes. We will especially remember his poor shooting ratio (4/12), aggravated by his relentlessness behind the 3-point line (1/7). Without forgetting his terrible -28 score when he was in play…
Change of speech at Tyronn Lue
“ He is too respectful “, qualifies his coachbefore adding: “ I think he’s trying too hard to fit in. So it’s my fault. Just yesterday we had a discussion within the team and we said he must be James Harden. He was the best passer in the league the last two or three years, creating the play and playing the way he does on the pick-and-roll, he’s great. We must therefore allow him to be himself. »
A speech that seemed like a mini-backpedal because a week earlier, the Clippers coach had assured that Russell Westbrook was going to keep the ball in hand when he played with James Harden, so that the latter played more without the ball. A difficult balance to find for the two men, supposed to feed the two other stars of the team, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
“ The whole group heard it and understood that we were going to play with James, he was going to play pick-and-rolls, create the game. They understood it. This is why the group has to hear it in front of James. Now he feels more comfortable, but he doesn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. And I understand, you have to respect PG, Kawhi, Russ, because they have been there for a long time. But we need James to be James. And it’s up to me to make sure he’s himself “, continues Tyronn Lue.
James Harden needs the ball
Author of 14 points (6/16 on shots), without scoring in the fourth quarter, Kawhi Leonard believes “ that there is no magic wand » and that everyone must adapt to the other, while the Californian team travels to Denver on Tuesday.
Like his coach, Paul George supports his new teammate and wants “ absolutely for James to be himself. With a trade like that, it’s for James to provide the same service he’s provided throughout his career. We know how good he is, how effective he is. And brings a different dynamic with his ability to catch and shoot, play pick-and-roll and create the play. »
“PG” reminds us that James Harden “ is used to having the ball, orchestrating the offense and making a difference on every possession. I’m sure it’s tough when that’s not the case on every possession, and he’s working on it. We’re all working on something, and we’re trying to figure out how to be ourselves when those opportunities present themselves. »
| James Harden | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2009-10 | OKAY | 76 | 23 | 40.3 | 37.5 | 80.8 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 9.9 |
| 2010-11 | OKAY | 82 | 27 | 43.6 | 34.9 | 84.3 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 12.2 |
| 2011-12 | OKAY | 62 | 31 | 49.1 | 39.0 | 84.6 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 16.8 |
| 2012-13 | HOU | 78 | 38 | 43.8 | 36.8 | 85.1 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 25.9 |
| 2013-14 | HOU | 73 | 38 | 45.6 | 36.6 | 86.6 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 25.4 |
| 2014-15 | HOU | 81 | 37 | 44.0 | 37.5 | 86.8 | 0.9 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 27.4 |
| 2015-16 | HOU | 82 | 38 | 43.9 | 35.9 | 86.0 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 7.5 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 29.0 |
| 2016-17 | HOU | 81 | 36 | 44.0 | 34.7 | 84.7 | 1.2 | 7.0 | 8.1 | 11.2 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 29.1 |
| 2017-18 ★ | HOU | 72 | 35 | 44.9 | 36.7 | 85.8 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 8.8 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 30.4 |
| 2018-19 | HOU | 78 | 37 | 44.2 | 36.8 | 87.9 | 0.9 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 36.1 |
| 2019-20 | HOU | 68 | 37 | 44.4 | 35.5 | 86.5 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 34.3 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 44 | 37 | 46.6 | 36.2 | 86.1 | 0.8 | 7.1 | 7.9 | 10.8 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 24.6 |
| 2020-21 * | BRK | 36 | 37 | 47.1 | 36.6 | 85.6 | 0.8 | 7.7 | 8.5 | 10.9 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 24.6 |
| 2020-21 * | HOU | 8 | 36 | 44.4 | 34.7 | 88.3 | 0.6 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 10.4 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 24.8 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 65 | 37 | 41.0 | 33.0 | 87.7 | 0.9 | 6.9 | 7.7 | 10.3 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 4.4 | 0.6 | 22.0 |
| 2021-22 * | BRK | 44 | 37 | 41.4 | 33.2 | 86.9 | 1.0 | 7.0 | 8.0 | 10.2 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 22.5 |
| 2021-22 * | PHL | 21 | 38 | 40.2 | 32.6 | 89.2 | 0.6 | 6.5 | 7.1 | 10.5 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.2 | 21.1 |
| 2022-23 | PHL | 58 | 37 | 44.1 | 38.5 | 86.7 | 0.7 | 5.4 | 6.1 | 10.7 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 21.0 |
| 2023-24 | LAKE | 3 | 32 | 54.2 | 50.0 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 0.7 | 1.7 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 14.3 |
| Total | 1003 | 35 | 44.2 | 36.3 | 86.0 | 0.8 | 4.9 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 3.7 | 0.5 | 24.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
