In the midst of one of the recent episodes of “The Hoop Collective,” ESPN insider Brian Windhorst mentioned briefly that James Harden of the LA Clippers is currently not in the best physical condition. Windhorst added that his sources were scouts.
With years of credibility and countless connections with teams all over the association, including the Clippers, fans should be worried about Windhorst’s comments on the former MVP that is expected to have a lead role in his team’s success this season.
Moreover, Harden being out of shape does not mince well with Windhorst’s praise of Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers need both of their superstars to be at their peak to start the year, and with the older one coming off a regular season full of ups and a postseason full of downs, challenges will be inevitable for head coach Tyronn Lue.
James Harden’s preseason adds to the concern left on the table by Brian Windhorst
Right now, when the regular season is on the verge of beginning, is the worst time possible for fans of the LA Clippers to hear an insider share the harsh reality of James Harden, the franchise guard. Harden has a few days left to make the most of, but that is not merely enough to get to where he should be at.
In the preseason, Harden did not necessarily appear out of shape in his movements, but statistically, he was not good. He played the first three games, scored just 18 points, turned the ball over nine times, shot 36.8% from the field, and made only one out of ten three-pointers.
On the other hand, Kawhi Leonard, who impressed Brian Windhorst, scored 50 points in 64 minutes of action, and just by the rate he was scoring at, nothing else needs to be said on his level of readiness for the season opener.
Furthermore, the preseason in some cases, just like the summer league, should be taken with a grain of salt, as Harden could have been less focused on his numbers and percentages, and more on connecting with his teammates and adjusting to a further advanced gameplan.
Nonetheless, fans of the Clippers should be worried about Harden. If he genuinely is behind in his conditioning, his stamina and endurance will be affected, making him fatigue faster. This will take a toll on the team, paving the way for losses in the first half of the regular season.