The Los Angeles Clippers’ season concluded with a decisive 120-101 Game 7 loss to the Denver Nuggets, a defeat that sends the Nuggets to the second round of the NBA playoffs to face the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A key storyline for the Clippers was James Harden’s offensive struggles. The former MVP scored only seven points on 2-for-8 shooting, although he did contribute 13 assists.
Analyst Comes To James Harden’s Defense After Rough Los Angeles Clippers Playoff Series
Former Clippers star and NBA analyst Quentin Richardson offered his perspective on Harden’s performance during an appearance on SportsCenter. Contrary to those heavily criticizing Harden, Richardson defended his playmaking, stating, “I felt like he was playing the ‘James Harden’ game. You’re not terrible if you have 13 assists. I felt like he came out, and he was trying to set the table, like get everybody else going.”
Richardson further elaborated, “He did a good job of getting people up, 13 assists is not easy to do. We all know that. The blowout came too quick. He didn’t get a chance to get himself going and try to get himself to go off because the snowball effect came, everything rolled up too fast.”
While Harden’s 13 assists led all players in the game, it wasn’t enough to spark the Clippers’ offense. Denver dominated the game, leading by as many as 35 points. The Clippers now face an offseason filled with uncertainty surrounding their roster.