The effect James Harden is known for correlates to his impact on traditional big men. His playmaking is so great that he can turn a role player into an All-Star talent, and that is exactly what he is doing on the Cleveland Cavaliers with Jarrett Allen. This is not a sight Clipper Nation wants to tune in to, as after seeing how the former MVP has elevated Allen, they miss the days when he was running pick-and-rolls and throwing lobs to Yanic Konan Niederhauser.
It is not a want, but a need, to have a point guard like Harden on the court to develop Niederhauser. If points were spoon-fed to him the same way Allen is receiving them, LA’s center would be in the perfect position to take on a larger role next season, and thereafter.
However, this is just another aspect of the blockbuster trade the Clippers did not consider, and of course, the Cavaliers are not complaining. Instead, they are enjoying the Harden-Allen connection, which will do wonders in the postseason.
James Harden arrived in Cleveland and instantly clicked with Jarrett Allen
No practice between James Harden and Jarrett Allen was needed. It was like a match made in heaven: in their first game together, the 27-year-old one-time All-Star recorded 29 points, his third-best mark of the season, on just one missed shot.
This is not a coincidence, and nor did it stop there. Allen’s excellence has continued, and his averages since Harden’s debut in ‘The Land’, of 20.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, shooting 75.4% from the field, are a testament to the greatness of their chemistry.
But, wait, there is more: according to the NBA’s two-man lineup statistics, in the 176 minutes Harden and Allen have played together, they have logged an offensive rating of 127.0. That is exceptionally high, as it means an immediate, positive impact is generated on the scoreboard when these two are running the floor.
In addition, there is no doubt about its sustainability. Why? Well, Harden has done the same to a number of big men in the past and will not stop as long as he is playing the game he loves.
That said, the pain Clipper Nation feels watching Allen excel because of Harden is immense, as they wish he were still with the Clippers doing it for Yanic Konan Niederhauser. Though they were supposed to be the ones flourishing, the front office did not think the trade all the way through, and now, the 11-time All-Star is in Cleveland, putting on a show.