Injured and not playing! Harden finally doesn’t have to take the blame!

“If the Thunder had lost today, would Harden have been heavily criticized?”

When the Clippers established a double-digit lead, I briefly thought about that.

On the internet, quite a few people said similar things: “Without Harden playing, how is the team flowing so well!”

Although I didn’t slap myself, I quickly made myself clear: “Have you forgotten the Clippers’ fixed losing routine this season?”

In the first half, relying on Harden or the dual stars to take the lead, even gaining a big advantage at one point, but in the third quarter, chaotic rotations and fatigue caused the defense to collapse and the offense to stall; in the crucial final quarter, the main players were exhausted and the role players couldn’t support, ultimately being overturned by the opponent on both ends.

Too familiar...

Besides, playing away against the Thunder, winning is even less likely.

The Clippers must be the toughest opponent the defending champions face.

Because the Clippers’ 2026 first-round draft pick is controlled by the Thunder.

The faster the Clippers sink, the more it benefits Presti.

It might even bring a number one overall pick... maybe pick Buzel again next year? Unimaginable.

Let me put it crudely, please forgive me everyone.

“Every time you think the Clippers are about to be okay, about to set sail, they always deliver one bizarre loss after another, like smashing a hammer on your head saying, ‘OKNM!’”

Losing to the Thunder by 21 points isn’t news, even losing by 41 wouldn’t be strange, since the Thunder have shown historic-level strength this season.

But the way the Clippers lost... is quite abstract.

The whole team committed 29 turnovers (officially 28 plus one team turnover).

They lost 38 points due to turnovers, setting a new team record for points lost from turnovers this season.

This is the highest single-game turnover count for any team this season and the most turnovers for the Clippers since November 25, 2000.

This is the fourth time this season the Clippers allowed opponents to score more than 30 points off turnovers, while last season they only had three such games.

Is this the “smoothness” shown by the Clippers without Harden due to injury?

The Clippers have suffered five consecutive losses, losing 19 of their last 23 games, with a season record now at 6 wins and 21 losses, continuing to rank second to last in the Western Conference, just slightly ahead of the Pelicans.

Despite all this, the Clippers (including coach Tyronn Lue) still comfort themselves in this way, which is really unbeatable:

“We are still four wins away from the play-in tournament!”

...If you are a Clippers fan, I don’t know if you would just smile bitterly.

But honestly, one thing I’m happy about today is that Harden doesn’t have to carry this blame.

The Clippers losing like this this season, the Beard definitely shares responsibility, because he’s part of the team.

However, if you think the team would flow better without Harden, I absolutely disagree.

With Harden, you can still create some opportunities (whether they are converted is another matter), but without him, the Clippers struggle even to create chances.

29 turnovers — do you think that’s a coincidence?

In recent years, when fans joked about the Beard, they often said: “If Harden leaves, no regrets!”

Whether sincerely or sarcastically, now he truly stands at a crossroads.

There are already reports that, considering Harden’s personal goals at age 36 in his career phase, and the Clippers’ bleak outlook and difficulty escaping the predicament, multiple teams are closely watching his future direction.

If he can change environments, Harden should give it a try.

After all, I don’t think the Clippers’ current problems are basketball issues; just talking about lineup and age is really meaningless.

Sending the person who raised the problem home doesn’t solve the problem.

It seems, it’s not that simple.

Undoubtedly, a deadlock.