In the first round of the NBA playoffs in the G5 key matchup, the Los Angeles Clippers lost 93-123 to the Dallas Mavericks, and the series fell behind 2-3.
In this game, Harden's play once again attracted a lot of attention, because he could not continue the heroic play of G4. He played 32 minutes and 54 seconds, shooting 2-of-12, 1-of-7 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line, finishing with 7 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 turnovers, and a game-low plus/minus of -25. Shooting just 16.7 percent from the field and 14.3 percent from three-point range is clearly unsatisfactory for a core superstar of the team.
Harden's performance in the playoffs has been a hot topic, especially when it comes to shooting efficiency. Shooting just 16.7 percent from the field and 14.3 percent from three-point range in a game is obviously a stretch for a top scorer.
Statistically, Harden has surpassed Bob Cousy in fewer than 20 percent shooting in the playoffs to become the most players in history to shoot at least 10 times.
This statistic gives us a glimpse of Harden's struggles in the playoffs and reflects his inconsistency in high-intensity games. The playoffs tend to be more defensive and targeted, requiring players to be more adaptable and adjustable. Harden's record shows that he needs to find a more effective way to score against a playoff-level defense, rather than sticking to his usual strong shooting style with the ball.
In addition, Harden's turnovers and plus/minus are also important indicators to evaluate his playoff performance.
In this game, he made 4 turnovers and had a plus/minus of -25, stats that further highlight his negative impact on the field. For Harden, reducing turnovers, improving the rationality of his shot selection, and making more contributions on the defensive end are key to improving his playoff performance.
In addition to the sluggish shooting percentage, Harden's plus/minus on the court is also an issue that cannot be ignored. In this pivotal game, Harden had a game-low plus/minus of -25, meaning the Clippers were net 25 points against their opponents when Harden was on the floor. This statistic shows that Harden is not only poor on the offensive end, but also has limited contributions to the team's overall defense.
In stark contrast to Harden, some other stars have been able to maintain their efficiency in the playoffs. For example, Kevin Durant has averaged over 25 points per game in the playoffs this season, while shooting both from the field and from three-point range at a high level, a contrast that further highlights Harden's shortcomings in the playoffs.
For Harden, how to improve his consistency and efficiency in the playoffs is an important issue he needs to face. At the same time, Harden also needs to contribute more on the defensive end to improve his plus/minus. Only then will Harden be able to play his worth in the playoffs and help the team go further.
At this point, we can see that Harden does have problems with his performance in the playoffs, especially in terms of shooting efficiency and plus/minus. As a top star, Harden will need to improve and improve his performance in the upcoming G6 games. At the same time, the Clippers also need to make adjustments in their tactical arrangements to better play to Harden's strengths. Only in this way can Harden and the Clippers bottom out in the playoffs G6 and the suspense of the series can be maintained.
The former Rockets can be described as the top five superstars in the league, and his influence on the offensive end is comparable to Jordan and Kobe Bryant at their peak, so he also won the top honors of scoring champion and MVP;
Do you think Harden can save the team from a crisis by breaking out in G6, and how can he maintain an efficient offense in his career?