On May 3, Beijing time, the 32-year-old Harden has already peaked. According to the statistics of the famous American media ESPN, Harden has scored less than 25 points in 11 consecutive playoff games, setting a record for his worst since leaving the Thunder. Harden scored only 16 points on 5 of 13 in the Eastern Conference semifinals, which was criticized by public opinion, and ESPN also expressed doubts about whether he could get a five-year, $223 million maximum salary renewal this summer.
When Paul, who is about to turn 37, is still old, but Harden, who is only 32 years old, seems to have entered a period of decline, and his performance this season is a visible decline, especially the playoffs can no longer return to the former peak Harden mode.
According to statistics, Harden has scored less than 25 points in 11 consecutive playoff games, making it his worst playoff performance since leaving the Thunder, as follows:
This year's first round against the Raptors: 22 points, 14 points, 19 points, 22 points, 15 points, 22 points
This year's second round of the Heat: 16 points
Last year's second round against the Bucks: 0 points in the first game, 3 consecutive injury stops, the last 3 games 5 points, 16 points, 22 points
Harden scored 25+ points in a playoff game, or G5 against the Celtics in last year's playoffs, when Harden blasted a triple-double of 34+10+10. As for the Eastern Conference semifinals with the Bucks, Harden left the game injured after only 0.7 minutes of playing in his first game, and then missed three consecutive games, and only one of the three backcourt games returning with a hamstring injury scored 20+.
It's just that this year Harden has played 7 playoff games, including 3 games to get 20+, and the highest score is 22 points, or even no 25+ in one game, so the performance is undoubtedly unsatisfactory. Harden averaged just 18.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 9.4 assists in the playoffs this season, and averaged 18.6 points per game to rank 31st on the playoff scoring list.
When Harden is no longer in peak mode, Philadelphia is now 0-1 behind the Heat, and Embiid can't play in the next game, harden wants to lead the team to win the game is extremely difficult. Once Philadelphia loses another game 0-2, even if Embiid returns from the G3 game, it will be extremely difficult for Philadelphia to counterattack.
In response to Harden's continued sluggish performance, ESPN is also skeptical about Harden's renewal prospects this summer, and he is entitled to a five-year, $223 million maximum salary renewal contract. However, Harden has become more and more obvious at his peak, and after losing the first game of the second round, O'Neal criticized Harden for not being aggressive enough to shoot too few shots, especially since he joined Philadelphia and never shot more than 20 shots in a single game. Harden wants to get a 223 million maximum salary to renew the contract existence, of course, Philadelphia will also renew Harden, after all, it is impossible to let him leave in vain.
(Text/Drunken Floating Life)