For some purpose, workforce after workforce retains making the identical mistake with James Harden. Regardless of what number of instances he comes up quick within the playoffs, groups hold bringing him and rationalizing the scenario. The one factor that may change his legacy of failure is the one factor he can by no means do.
In case you stand again and take a look at Harden solely below the sunshine of his common season efficiency, he is one of many best guards within the historical past of the league. Love him or hate him, the numbers communicate for themselves. It is a heavy hitter who wins video games, it doesn’t matter what workforce he’s on.
Do not consider the stats? Take a look at the accolades. NBA MVP, 11-time All-Star, six-time All-NBA First Workforce, Sixth Man of the 12 months, three-time scoring champion, and two-time help champion. That’s the resume of a verified, bona fide Naismith Corridor of Famer within the making. That is simply how it’s.
Playoffs Harden is a very totally different beast
The issue is Common Season Harden is that man. Playoffs Harden is a very totally different beast. His shot disappears, and he turns the ball over a lot that he may as nicely simply begin passing on to the opposite workforce. The Cavs certain discovered that out the laborious approach and can hold making that mistake.
On the 2026 Commerce Deadline, the Cavaliers and the Clippers had been concerned in a deal that despatched Harden to Cleveland whereas Darius Garland moved to Los Angeles. The Cavs thought they had been getting the man who would nail down their playoff probabilities. As an alternative, he went full Harden and price them all the things.
The unusual half was that Harden requested the commerce even though the Clippers had been doing comparatively nicely this season. That is who Harden has grow to be: a team-jumper nonetheless chasing a hoop 17 seasons into his profession however by no means staying anyplace lengthy sufficient to truly construct momentum.
James Harden is his personal worst enemy
In 17 seasons, Harden has performed for six groups. The one workforce he stayed with for a protracted interval was the Rockets, the place he spent 9 seasons, and the overwhelming majority of his accolades had been collected there. It was arguably the height of his profession, as it has been a blended bag since then.
Whereas Harden has picked up an honor or two since, he is finest identified for leaping groups, botching the playoffs, blaming everybody however himself, and repeating the cycle someplace else. It is occurred with the Nets, the 76ers, the Clippers, and now the Cavs. Even worse, it’s going to hold occurring.
In the end, the one approach for Harden to shake this picture is to truly win an NBA Championship. That is getting much less and fewer possible with each passing season. Except Harden lastly decides to take possession of no matter points are holding him again within the playoffs and repair them, nothing will change.
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