By james art The Los Angeles Clippers lost quite a bit of star power in Paul George and Russell Westbrook over the summer. To make matters worse for them, Kawhi Leonard was suspended indefinitely early in the season. In this situation, James Harden is their best bet if they want to make an impact in the new season.
However, Gilbert Arenas and the Gil’s Arena panel have their doubts. In a recent episode, the panel discussed what role Harden should play for the Clippers in Kawhi’s absence. There’s no doubting Harden’s talent and skill, but he doesn’t have all the qualities to be a team leader. This could also be an opportunity for Harden to prove himself.
Harden is known for his carefree attitude at times, but that doesn’t take away from his brilliance on the court. However, as a leader, one cannot appear in the arena with this behavior. Arenas believes he has seen many changes in Harden’s game. he said “Remember he’s been tamed for a while.” Harden has been a part of several franchises over the years.
However, he has not led a team for a long time. Before joining the Clippers, he was with the Philadelphia 76ers for a season and a half that remains almost unforgettable. There he remained mired in controversy and eventually forced a deal. Even if he played there, he would be a player under Joel Embiid. Before that, he was with the Brooklyn Nets, and that team was loaded with stars of his caliber or better.
So it’s understandable why Harden hasn’t had the experience to be a leader lately. However, he can still turn things around according to Arenas. Even if he looks unnatural in that role, the former NBA star believes in Harden.
James Harden has been brilliant in the first two games
The Clippers played their first season against the Phoenix Suns. They lost the game 113-116, but Harden was brilliant in the 40 minutes he spent on the floor. The 10-time All-Star recorded 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists to help his team start the campaign with a win.
The Clippers performed better in the second game. They defeated the Nuggets 109-104 and Harden once again led his team from the front. He scored 23 points, 6 rebounds and 16 assists. He had great support from Norman Powell with 37 points and Ivica Zubak with 24 points and 15 rebounds.
Zubac and Harden are also a great duo. Beard likes to step up his pick-and-roll game with the Croatian. Going deep into the season, especially if Kawhi is unable to return, this duo will become more crucial to the team’s success.