The Los Angeles Clippers did not enter a season the place they have been anticipated to make the NBA playoffs, however one getting old star has them floating round.
The NBA world took a collective sigh when the Los Angeles Clippers started the season by asserting that there was no timeline to debut the season. The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder owned the Clippers’ first spherical choose in 2025, and with out Leonard the Clippers have been anticipated to endure close to the underside of the rankings.
As an alternative, the Clippers handed the season into their very own palms. Moderately than letting 2024-25 be outlined by the Thunder’s draft place, the Clippers are 35-30, competing for a postseason spot, and it appears like they’re going to stay a strong crew for the subsequent few seasons.
Whereas Leonard was doing effectively this season when he was lively, the Clippers have owed success to the celebs that many wrote down.
Regardless of main the league in assists, James Harden made a comeback at a ripe 35-year-old after not taking part in an All-Star sport in any of the final two seasons.
Harden, who averaged 22.3 factors and eight.7 assists this season, made his eleventh All-Star look and was the Clippers’ MVP regardless of Norman Powell having an impressive season of his personal.
“I feel James Harden is likely one of the tales of the yr,” mentioned Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
“He introduced that the deal appears good and that the Clippers and the deal they signed look nice.
“They’re an incredible success story. They slap this tough patch and after they go on this journey they must play the Lakers flying excessive. He will bear some losses, you already know, if Norm Powell can come again and keep wholesome, that is one other story.”
Harden was amortized as a “wash” after becoming a member of his fifth crew in lots of seasons, LA, however he was near the highest of the sport, main the Clippers to both the playoffs or play-in tournaments.
Throughout Harden’s Prime of the Houston Rockets, he was simply the highest 5 participant within the NBA, however his unlucky loss within the playoffs was often known as the postseason choker. For the Clippers this yr, expectations aren’t excessive just like the Rockets crew in 2010, however Harden is ready to revise his picture as he approaches the tip of his profession.
Harden places his crew on his again and leads him to the postseason at the least, and even after the primary spherical, he might be remembered as a participant who does greater than he was given.
“However the cause they’re struggling proper now’s that they actually depend on what Norm Powell was giving them, they want rather a lot from Harden,” Windhorst continued. “For me, it is an incredible season for Norm Powell, an incredible season for Zubac, an incredible season for Harden, it is a actually good success story and so they want extra assist.”
Leonard has been strong this season, however he has taken fairly a step. In the meantime, Powell missed the ultimate 10 video games with a hamstring damage. His return is imminent, however it is vitally informative that Harden led the Clippers to a 4-6 file with out Powell. If he got here again, Harden may once more choose up the slack.
