For the last two and a half seasons, James Harden set and maintained a couple of standards as the star point guard: high-level availability and dual-threat impact, which led to winning basketball. He made the postseason in both of his opportunities with the LA Clippers, but given that the front office dealt him to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland, the backcourt contributions will not be the same, and regret will be felt.
Harden set the bar so high that Garland, on his tippy toes, will still fall short. He was great as a Cavalier, but the combination of missed games and versatility will have the Clippers wishing they could take back time and cave in to Harden’s extension demands.
The Clippers will not be able to rely on Darius Garland the way they did with James Harden
The question, "Can Darius Garland show up like James Harden did while Kawhi Leonard was out?” will clarify whether the LA Clippers traded off short-term production for long-term youth.
Harden is the type of player who can seamlessly switch from first to second option. Dishing out ten assists and dropping 25 points was the norm when Leonard was on the floor, but when needed to step up, the 11-time All-Star performed like an engine, with finesse and swagger to his flow, that energized the crowd at the Intuit Dome.
Time will tell whether the compromise was worth it, but for statistical reference, while Leonard was sitting, Harden broke the franchise record for points with 55, shooting 65.4% from the field, and had several other 30-point and 40-point performances that Clipper Nation will remember for years.
However, that is just one aspect; what about the concept of showing up, in which Harden took so much pride? Since his debut for the Clippers on November 6th, 2023, he has played in 195 games out of 208. That is an impressive feat for a mid-thirties star with pressure on his back to succeed.
Garland, on the flipside, has played in 408 games across six and a half seasons for the Cleveland Cavaliers. This is still solid, but it is not on Harden’s tier, who showed up sick, injured, sore, or fatigued.
That said, in the matter of a few contests, the Clippers will feel the absence of Harden biting them regularly, even while Garland is playing. The Vanderbilt product is great, yet it is impossible to fill in for someone irreplaceable.