The atavistic limit dJames Harden they have always been his performance in the decisive playoff games, especially as a series progresses. Last year when he was still playing with the Philadelphia 76ers, Barba ended in a disastrous way a series that began with a bang with the Boston Celtics, and in fact also his experience in Phila, stacking yet another disappointment of his career in the post-season .
What does the future hold for series against the Dallas Mavericks, now at 2-2 after four games, we can’t know. But the James Harden seen in race 4 in the 116-111 win in LA it was one of the brightest ever seen in the playoffs.
Harden he scored 33 points with 6 rebounds and 7 assistsand with Kawhi Leonard absent and possibly out for the rest of the series, in the fourth period of game 4 he chased the Mavs back with a comeback floater after floaterto respond to the stunts of his former teammate Kyrie Irving on the other side. Barba scored 11 of the Clippers’ last 16 points, who overcame a 31-point deficit built in the first half. Dallas returned thanks to Irving and with all the nervous energy of a Luka Doncic not at his best physically due to a right knee problem. Kyrie scored 40 points with 14 out of 25 from the field but lost, and not due to demerits, the direct comparison with his former Nets friend.
Harden e Paul Georgewhich he closed with 33 points, 8 assists and 4 steals defensive, they have dragged the ClippersPG13 hit 7 triples including one very difficult shot at the end of the 24 seconds with 1:55 leftfrom the right corner against Derrick Jones Jr to answer the first Mavs lead of the game at 105-104.
“For me it’s a simple thing” he said James Harden “In game 1 we knew that Kawhi Leonard wouldn’t play and I was more aggressive, the same today. It’s really just about that. The match? It was a show, so many elite players, so many hall of famers on the field and defenses can do little about it when it’s like this“. Doncic and Irving, and Harden and George they all scored last 34 points of the gameLuka finished with a 29-point triple-double with 10 assists and 10 rebounds but 1 of 9 from three.
James Harden he scored alone 15 points in the fourth quarter with 6 of 8 from the field, attacking the basket without settling for step back threes at lower percentages. Coach Jason Kidd’s choice to play without a big man in the final, to open the field around Doncic and Irving, invited the Harebeard to run, and with success. In the first half, Paul George was the one running, with 26 points, and the Clippers found themselves leading 55-24 in the second quarter.
The LA Clippers have won the two games of the series played without Kawhi Leonard and lost two with Kawhi present, a singular fact but which gives the idea of “star power” that coach Tyronn Lue’s team can field, even without its best player. “It’s been a constant in this series” said Kyrie Irving “When Kawhi isn’t there, there are George and Harden with their baskets and points, a barrage (…) without Leonard they are two different players, I almost think they play more freely and can take more shots, even difficult ones. And we were not ready enough to receive them“.
“In the playoffs, winning matters, it doesn’t matter if by one point or 30″ so coach Lue “Did I tell you or not that we would be ready? They are a great team, they have Luka and Kyrie, and we knew they would return with two like that. I just told my parents, let’s think about winning and nothing else, in any way“.
