The main focus of the narrative was meant to be on James Harden’s first game with the Clippers and how he, together with Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Russell Westbrook, and Paul, would create a formidable Big Four.
However, Monday’s game was much more than merely Harden making his first appearance and playing well.
It concerned the Clippers’ 111-97 loss against a struggling New York Knicks squad.
The Clippers were behind 16 points late in the fourth quarter when Clippers coach Ty Lue decided to bench his starting lineup because they were unable to generate the “defensive stops” he desired.
It concerned Mason Plumlee, a crucial reserve for the Clippers, who suffered a sprained left knee and would have it examined again on Tuesday.
It had to do with the Clippers’ weak rebounding and carelessness when the ball reared its head again.
The Clippers had a lot to digest, to start with, as Harden finished with 17 points on six of nine shots, two of four three-pointers, and six assists.
Harden, who pushed his way out of Philadelphia and was dealt to the Clippers last week, had a strong start.
Harden said, “I feel kind of weird out there.” “But just not getting to play in a preseason game, be able to take part in the whole training camp, or anything like that. It was essentially done winging it out there. However, don’t base your decision on my basketball intuition, my actions over the last several years, or anything else. I just walked outside and played the game, thinking about it, and trying to make it simpler for everyone else.
Harden played for thirty-one minutes and twenty-two seconds, without wind.
Harden said, “I was tired.” Although it’s going quickly, I think I’ve gotten used to it. At the end of the day, it was still basketball, even if it would take me a few games to sort of get acclimated to the tempo.
In the last several days, Harden has participated in many practices with the Clippers.
Nevertheless, he didn’t appear in an NBA game since May 14, when the 76ers lost Game 7 of the Eastern Conference playoffs to the Boston Celtics.
“I thought overall, orchestrating, making the right play, making the right pass, and picking the rules, he was really good,” Lue said. “He got tired, a couple stints or whatever and had it come out.” It will thus take him some time to get in shape for the game. Although we acknowledge that, it was clear that he was there on the floor.
While Kawhi Leonard (18 points) and Westbrook (17 points) both had strong performances, George managed only 10 points despite missing five of his six three-point tries and nine of his eleven shots.
It’s obvious that this quartet will need some time to get to know one another.
Lue said that in order for Leonard, George, Westbrook, and Harden to establish a rhythm together, he is looking at “ten” games.
And Lue reminded reporters that it was only their first game together.
“I won’t overreact,” he said.
Nevertheless, Lue had some criticism for his starters’ defensive performance.
With 4:25 remaining and the Clippers down 104-88, he requested a timeout.
Lue had substituted starting players Harden, Westbrook, Leonard, George, and center Ivica Zubac when play resumed.
The Clippers were headed toward allowing 35 points in the fourth quarter, having already conceded 34 in the third.
We weren’t getting stops, as they scored 34 points in the third quarter, according to Lue. Therefore, there was no need to run the risk of someone being hurt. I just took my players out because there was no way we could have won a game down 16 with the attacking style they were playing.
The third-quarter collision between Plumlee and Julius Randle resulted in Plumlee being carted off the floor by the Clippers’ medical personnel. Plumlee was sent to the floor in agony when Randle ran into his left leg as he was after a lost ball.
Lue said, “[It’s] just a sprained knee, and that’s all we know.”
Lue is also aware that the Clippers cannot continue to give up easy baskets and to be consistently outmuscled on the boards.
They turned the ball over 22 times, which gave the Knicks 35 points.
They allowed 18 offensive rebounds, which resulted in 16 points on second chances.
The same thing that has been hurting us for the last several years, according to Lue, was trying to recover the basketball. “They grabbed eighteen offensive rebounds before we turned the ball over.” We made 22 mistakes. Therefore, you cannot defeat elite teams if you allow 18 offensive rebounds and commit 22 turnovers. It is just too difficult to win a game.
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