James Harden's resilience and tenacity in an interview with journalist Rachel Nichols earned Gilbert Arenas' heartfelt praise. The basketball superstar experienced a breakup with the Philadelphia 76ers in the offseason, but he didn't sink because of it, but instead came back to life after joining the Clippers.
Harden has shown an amazing ability to adjust as he adapts to his new environment. He quickly settled into Tyronn Lue's system and scored 28 points in the opening game of the playoffs against the Mavericks. In an interview with Rachel Nichols after the game, he shared his mindset shift and adaptation to his new role. This attitude of calmly facing challenges has not only won the applause of the fans, but also the praise of Arenas.
After averaging 16.6 points per game in the regular season, Harden escalated his offense in the absence of the team's star player. After the first win, Harden emphasized that he has played a "different role" this season and that he can continue to play at his best on that team. Nichols also asked what kind of mentality Harden had when he adapted himself to the Clippers' system.
"I've been playing in the league for 15 years and different teams need me to do different things and play different roles. For example, organizing an attack or scoring. When an opportunity arises, I take it. ”
Arenas applauded Harden's mentality. He praised Harden's ability to adapt and adjust. Arenas believes that Harden's mentality is a winning formula for the Clippers to beat the Mavericks.
"If you want 10 out of 30, he can help you. If you tell him you want 12 out of 15, he'll give it to you. If they want to win this series, the Clippers will decide what kind of version of Harden they want. ”
Arenas' admiration for Harden stems not only from his outstanding performance on the court, but also for his adaptability and adaptability. Whether as a leading scorer or playmaker, Harden was able to quickly adapt his role to the needs of the team and show off his all-round basketball talent.
For many years, Harden has been aiming to win championships, however, fate has not turned in his direction. Will the same story be repeated in 2024? His role in the next games could also determine how far the Clippers can go in the playoffs.
In the first game, Harden scored a team-high 28 points and shot 6-of-11 from three-point range, which is a classic style of Harden's game. He also contributed a team-high eight assists and only one turnover. However, in the second game, although Harden scored 22 points, his shooting percentage dropped sharply under the opponent's strict defense, and he shot 2 of 10 three-pointers. Another reason why Harden didn't play well was that Leonard's return from injury upset the team's offensive and defensive balance. Harden will need to quickly adjust his form and regain his groove in the next games.