The real reason James Harden did not play well in the LA Clippers' run against the Denver Nuggets was assumed to be fatigue. His body movements did not look normal, and the likely cause was soreness, as the postseason had forced him to push himself just after playing 79 regular-season games.
Outside of fatigue, there were also signs of fear. Harden was not handling the ball with efficiency and attempting shots with flashiness, and this made a failure in game seven inevitable, as he posted seven points on 25.0% shooting.
Following the exit, Clippers fans hoped the front office had evaluated the potential consequences to re-signing Harden, and surely enough, they did. The playoff decline is likely to occur, as he is 36 and aging. Therefore, Lawrence Frank elevated the team's overall talent to produce consistently when the former MVP struggles.
But, amid the Clippers' first day of training camp, head coach Tyronn Lue took accountability for the way Harden played against Denver, and signaled a lower workload for next season.
Tyronn Lue cites wear and tear as the reason for James Harden's playoff detriments
The LA Clippers already knew before the 2024-25 season that James Harden would be worn out by the end. Yet, after Kawhi Leonard returned, Tyronn Lue did not apply a minutes decrease to prevent Harden's playoff woes, and this is what made the result unavoidable.
However, in the last four games of the regular season, Harden played a total of 166 minutes. Then, in less than a week, the postseason began, and he went on to be subbed in for 276 minutes by Lue and his staff to help save the Clippers against the Denver Nuggets.
This is exactly what Lue was referring to when he spoke about wanting to reduce Harden's workload next season, which could lead to a downward shift in statistics, as he will not be able to replicate the All-NBA season he just produced if he plays fewer minutes and attempts fewer shots.
Tyronn Lue has made it a recurring point to say how much he wants to reduce James Harden's workload and responsibility
— Law Murray 🎃 (@LawMurrayTheNU) September 30, 2025
That could mean:
- fewer games
- fewer minutes
- fewer touches
- fewer shots/points
"The last few weeks of the season, he got worn down. That's our fault."
Additionally, Lue mentioning that Harden being overused was the fault of himself and the coaching staff indirectly means Chris Paul will have a massive role next season. He will still play a reasonable amount, but his shot attempts and potential assist numbers will be higher than expected.
That said, by the time the 2026 playoffs arrive, Harden's body should be capable of handling intensive action, as Paul and Lue will work together to simplify his regular-season responsibilities.