With so much pressure to score and defend without being a liability, teams leave the catching and shooting duties to role players. This creates a reasonable separation in tasks, as certain guys will be instructed to train their stamina and strengthen their arms to be able to attempt three-pointers without fatigue for longer stints.
Moreover, head coach Tyronn Lue had Norman Powell and Bogdan Bogdanovic in this role last season for the LA Clippers, and they individually attempted over three catch-and-shoot three-point attempts per game with a percentage of over 43%.
Superstars James Harden and Kawhi Leonard facilitated the ball and drew the majority of the attention from defenses, as they were the two most lethal scorers on the team. Opponents did not want to be beaten by the obvious; thus, double-teams were a common tactic Lue had to anticipate.
Next season, the catching and shooting responsibilities will need to be passed to someone else, as Powell was traded, and Bogdanovic could be out for months into the regular season if the hamstring injury he recently suffered in the EuroBasket turns out to be more serious than expected.
They do have more options, such as Bradley Beal and Brook Lopez, but Lue should assign Harden to these tasks, as he is most familiar with how the Clippers operate.
Superstar guard James Harden playing off the ball and looking for catch-and-shoot looks will elevate the LA Clippers tremendously
For two seasons, James Harden was a scoring floor general for the LA Clippers. He did the same for the Philadelphia 76ers, and this is where his comfort lies, as Harden has guys sprinting at different angles and using off-ball screens to get open.
However, Harden should be the off-ball mover next season, or at least increase the volume in that side of his game. Last season, he only attempted 1.5 catch-and-shoot three-pointers per game, and shot 42.0%, but these were wide-open looks, rather than ones the 11-time All-Star had to work for.
Doubling the 1.5 attempts to 3.0, or more, would do wonders over the course of an 82-game season, and the Clippers have the IQ and playmaking of Chris Paul to benefit the 11-time All-Star in making this transition.
Nonetheless, Harden trying out a style he has not generally employed will likely work well for the Clippers, and opponents will be star-struck, as he is ball-dominant for the majority of games he plays.