With several different teammates from last season and no sight of franchise star Kawhi Leonard for nine weeks, fans hoped the former MVP, James Harden, would return to the element he played with for the Houston Rockets. This was directly related to the significant increase in usage percentage.
Furthermore, in his most notable season with the Rockets, 2017-18, Harden averaged 30.4 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds in 35.4 minutes, with a true shooting percentage of 61.9 and usage percentage of 36.1. These numbers and Harden’s high-volume shot creation won the Rockets 65 games as the first seed in the Western Conference.
From the outside looking in, the narrative was that Harden had done it before and could do it again with the Clippers. Though this may have been true, he is not entirely the same player he was in Houston.
His playstyle has remained steady throughout the years, with an unguardable stepback, state-of-the-arc finishing, absurd court vision, and an incomprehensible foul-drawing ability. However, Harden's body has taken a toll due to age, and his efficiencies have dropped.
Nonetheless, his numbers and ability to carry the Clippers may seem exceptional, but the number of minutes he plays late in his career will return as a fear for head coach Tyronn Lue.
The added workload for James Harden could unravel the LA Clippers’ season
In year 16, Harden still plays like one of the NBA’s best point guards for the LA Clippers. This was expected, as the three-time scoring champion has a winning skill set that has positively affected the Clippers in the Western Conference.
In 61 games, Harden has posted 22.2 points, 8.6 assists, and 5.6 rebounds in 34.9 minutes. Simultaneously, he is leading the Clippers in usage at 30.0%.
In detail, Harden has played 38.2 minutes over his last ten and leads the Clippers in minutes this season at 2,131, with Ivica Zubac(2,017) next closest.
Moreover, playing a 35-year-old point guard for nearly 40 minutes a night in high-pressure games could be an excessive demand. Although Harden has been unstoppable, this type of playing time is not sustainable.
The disadvantage of utilizing Harden a ridiculous amount in the regular season is that his body may cave in before the playoffs. The Clippers will soon need his talents more than ever, and the decision to overuse him will catch up to them at a crucial point in the year.