The playoff struggles of James Harden against the Denver Nuggets, particularly in the backend of the series, were undeniable, and this was the primary reason the LA Clippers were sent home in the first round. Game six confirmed this, as the former MVP posted 28 points, and unsurprisingly, when he succeeds, the Clippers win.
Furthermore, if any other player were struggling, superstar or not, head coach Tyronn Lue would have benched them. Experience, ego, and status do not matter to Lue, as he cannot risk an exit, especially in the first round after winning 50 regular-season contests.
But against the Nuggets, there was nobody behind Harden. Kris Dunn was available, and so was Bogdan Bogdanović, but both struggled, separately, on one side of the ball or the other, forcing Lue to stick with Harden and hope his mistakes do not tarnish what could have been.
Moreover, the puzzle fit perfectly, and the Clippers signed Chris Paul to be Harden’s backup. This is great for the regular season, as Harden can put his foot on the brake with less pressure, as the five-time assists champion will be eagerly waiting to support him.
However, the postseason will lead to destruction, as Harden and Paul have unique personalities that may conflict, potentially ending a run with one of the best rosters the franchise has ever had.
The inevitable James Harden meltdown will not end well with Chris Paul in the mix
It is almost a given that James Harden will dominate the regular season, put on a show for stretches in the playoffs, but ultimately drop out of sight when the LA Clippers need perfection. The front office has recently acquired insurance for this issue, allowing Chris Paul to step in and produce similarly.
In fact, Chris Paul went to the playoffs three times with the Phoenix Suns, averaging 17.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds, with 1.4 steals and a breathtaking NBA Finals run that was silenced too soon by the greatness of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Paul has declined as a scorer, significantly, as he has averaged under double figures in the last two seasons with the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, but his IQ and passing are replicable to Harden’s.
Thus, Tyronn Lue may decide to bench Harden for Paul in crucial postseason minutes, and this will immediately go south, as both have massive egos.
That said, Lue will have to decide how the situation can unfold so that no one is unhappy, and that will require Paul and Harden to be cooperative instead of sulking when a decision is made for the team.