As the new NBA season is about to begin, Clippers fans have received heavy bad news: the team's main player Leonard underwent knee surgery this offseason, and it is still unknown when he will return. The news undoubtedly hit the Clippers' championship prospects. As the core player of the Clippers, Leonard's injury not only made the team's combat effectiveness greatly reduced, but also made fans full of anxiety about the new season.
However, Leonard's injury wasn't the only change the Clippers made in the offseason. Another core of the team, Paul · George, chose to leave in the offseason and joined the Philadelphia 76ers. Last season, the Clippers were sitting on a luxurious Big Four roster, and now, with the departure of George and Leonard's injury, the Clippers may face huge roster changes in the new season.
In addition, Westbrook, who joined the Clippers last season, also switched to the Denver Nuggets this summer. In the former Big Four lineup, only Harden is now the sole leader, and this series of changes has undoubtedly hit the overall competitiveness of the Clippers hard.
Still, the Clippers general manager expressed strong confidence in Harden in an interview. He believes that Harden has been training hard and that the new season is going to be a great one. In fact, as early as this summer, during Harden's trip to China, Harden made a promise to fans, expressing his hope to return to the All-Star stage this year.
With George and Leonard gone, Harden will have more shots on the offensive end and will hopefully repeat his dominance during his time with the Houston Rockets. Harden, as the team's leading scorer, may usher in a highlight moment similar to the Rockets era with the Clippers. While Harden's breakout efficiency is now lower than ever, he still has incredible offensive talent and playmaking skills. In particular, Harden's ability to shoot from beyond the three-point line can still be a huge help to the team.
Of course, Harden's current fitness status is one of the main concerns. As he got older, Harden's body fat percentage increased, which also directly affected his breakout speed and offensive efficiency. Compared with his lean figure during the Rockets period, Harden now looks a little bloated.
But if Harden can work hard to lose weight in the offseason and regain his former form by working harder, he has every chance of becoming a top star in the league again. Even if he can't fully return to his peak form, Harden is expected to return to the level he had in his Rockets era after physical adjustments. And even Harden like this is still enough to help the Clippers stay competitive in the competitive West.
For Harden, the new season is not just an opportunity to lead the team, but also a season to prove himself. His performances over the past few years have seen him fade out of the reach of some fans, especially when compared to stars from the same period, and Harden's influence has declined. For example, Stephen · Curry is still the league's top dominant player, while Harden has failed to maintain the same level.
However, that doesn't mean Harden has lost his potential to be a top player. The new season will be a great opportunity for Harden to prove himself again. If he can lead the Clippers to the playoffs without Leonard and George, then Harden will undoubtedly be back in the limelight and even the subject of MVP-level discussions.
Of course, just because Harden leads the team alone doesn't mean the Clippers will automatically become the favorites to win the championship. The competition in the West is still fierce, and there is great uncertainty about the depth and overall strength of the Clippers after losing their two cores. However, for Harden's fans, perhaps they are more concerned about whether Harden can get back to his top than whether the Clippers can make a significant breakthrough in their record.
After all, Harden already has a glorious career, but he still has the ability to write a new chapter later in his career. The Clippers may not be demanding too much of him, but if Harden can show some of his Rockets style in the new season, his resurgence will undoubtedly be a highlight of the entire season.
With the new season just around the corner, the Clippers face no small challenge. Leonard's injury and George's departure have severely weakened the team, and James · Harden will be their only leader and hope. Whether Harden can carry the team's banner at this critical moment is not only related to the Clippers' playoff fate, but also his personal professional reputation.
As fans, we look forward to seeing Harden return to the top and show the top talent he still possesses. Regardless of the outcome, Harden's new season will undoubtedly be the focus of attention.