As said in the modern world, James Harden was a no-call-no-show in the LA Clippers' 120-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. He played 35 minutes but would have been as helpful if he had not laced up his kicks and remained in street clothes.
Furthermore, if there was a metric below zero to measure how aggressive Harden was in game seven, that is where he ranked. He was playing more like a true point guard, and this is the side of the former MVP that has built a decade-long narrative.
Harden was checked out by head coach Tyronn Lue down 33 in the fourth, and this was the last time fans would see him. He finished with seven points, 13 assists, and five rebounds, shooting two-for-eight from the floor with a +/- of -29.
Scoring single digits in an elimination game, at Ball Arena of all places, is the worst thing a superstar could do, yet this was the lowest point and poorest efficiency of all the game sevens Harden has been deployed into.
This leads the front office to determine whether to increase the former MVP's salary next season, knowing he will inevitably drown in the playoff waters.
James Harden will want a significant raise from the Clippers, but is it worth it if he struggles in the biggest games?
Although James Harden is receiving a team-friendly annual dollar of $35 million, he has a player option due on June 29th. He and his representatives will decide whether to repeat another year with Kawhi Leonard and earn an extension or opt out and join his fifth different team in six seasons.
Moreover, the LA Clippers were sent to Cancun a month too soon, and Harden will be expecting Steve Ballmer to reward him for his timelessness. Some may think this is not rational, but it all comes down to how Ballmer gauges the product of the playoffs.
Harden still had a memorable year, averaging 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds and earning an All-Star selection and possible All-NBA honor. But Ballmer must consider how much more he can realistically offer the three-time scoring champion before enough is enough.
Paying an aging superstar a generous check is never smart, and the Clippers' best lesson is to do their homework on Paul George. This implies that Harden may have sealed his fate in Inglewood, California.