In games against teams whose two-way flow and performance revolve around one player, such as the Denver Nuggets with Nikola Jokic, the most innovative way to swoop in and sneakily win the game is by excelling in the minutes they are off the court. In every postseason match against Denver, this is what the announcers were preaching, as DeAndre Jordan is solid, but no one in history can replicate what is produced by The Joker.
Moreover, from October through December, the LA Clippers had their own version of what teams like the Nuggets experienced nightly, as head coach Tyronn Lue was relying on Kris Dunn in the second unit to play the backup point guard effectively.
Lue would attempt to aid Dunn with scorers like Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac, so the defensive specialist is not required to step out of his comfort zone and knock down step-back three-pointers. Still, in a not-so-surprising manner, the minutes Harden spent resting revealed how valuable he is.
Days for Harden and the Clippers improved when Kawhi Leonard returned in early January. Yet, Lue still had to stagger their minutes, making it mandatory that one of the superstars had to be on the floor at all times, as both taking a seat would have cost LA its 50-win accomplishment.
However, in 2025-26, particularly the postseason, the Clippers will no longer have to worry about losing minutes without Harden and Leonard, which is a luxury, thanks to Lawrence Frank and his expertise in player management.
Clippers have far more flexibility than ever to rest Kawhi Leonard and James Harden simultaneously without their winning chances decreasing
The LA Clippers made four significant additions to their roster this summer, but the two that will most aid James Harden and Kawhi Leonard are Bradley Beal and John Collins. This is because they can score at all three levels, while keeping the players on the hardwood involved, allowing the superstar duo to rest easily.
In fact, even though they each played minimally this season, Collins and Beal both averaged 15-plus per contest on exceptional efficiencies. Now, with Chris Paul in the mix, there will be absolutely nothing for Tyronn Lue, Harden, and Leonard to stress about when exiting the game.
That said, the Clippers’ floor and ceiling next season will depend on health, and if their key players manage to play 60-plus games, being able to freely give Harden and Leonard a breather is a small yet pivotal factor that will affect how easily a championship is won.