The Los Angeles Clippers are demonstrating impressive form as the NBA regular season nears its conclusion, having secured victories in 11 of their last 13 games, including Saturday evening’s home win against the Dallas Mavericks. This recent surge coincides with a notable increase in production from Kawhi Leonard, while James Harden continues to provide a consistent and steadying influence on the team’s offensive execution.
Following Saturday night’s game, Harden offered a candid assessment of how this year’s Clippers team differs from the squad that was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Dallas Mavericks the previous season.
James Harden Asked To Compare Los Angeles Clippers Teams
“It’s just different. It’s just different. Different team… We got guys that know their role and know what they’re supposed to be doing consistently on a night-to-night basis. From the beginning of the season. It’s just a different team,” Harden stated, as reported by Joey Linn of Sports Illustrated on X.
When pressed to elaborate on the specific differences, Harden simply replied, “Personnel. You guys know. You know the players we had last year.”
The most prominent departures for the Clippers during the past off-season were Paul George, who now plays for the Philadelphia 76ers, and Russell Westbrook, currently with the Denver Nuggets. Both players faced challenges during the team’s playoff series loss to Dallas. Harden’s remarks could certainly be interpreted as a subtle critique of the previous roster’s dynamics.
While much of the Western Conference headlines have understandably focused on the Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Denver Nuggets as the playoffs approach, the Clippers have quietly been playing exceptional basketball over the past month.
Their strong performance has positioned them with a legitimate opportunity to avoid the play-in tournament and potentially even secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs, depending on how the remaining games unfold.
Of course, James Harden himself has playoff history he aims to overcome, which resurfaced during the 2024 loss to Dallas, and Kawhi Leonard’s health remains a significant variable for the team at this crucial time of year. However, if the Clippers can maintain their current trajectory and avoid significant setbacks, they possess the potential to be a formidable and dangerous contender in the upcoming post-season.