For the third straight season, the Clippers found themselves out of the National Basketball Association playoffs after the first round. They appeared to be in great shape heading into the postseason this year, winning their last eight and 18 of 21 games to finish with a 50-32 slate. Their core rotation — including Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Ivica Zubac — were in peak physical form, all indicative of their capacity to exceed their fifth-place standing and take the measure of the fourth-ranked Nuggets. Unfortunately, they proved less than stellar early and often in Game Seven, all but making the final quarter, and outcome, academic.
Considering Leonard’s prime conditioning, it’s fair to argue that the Clippers wasted a grand opportunity to go deep in the playoffs. It didn’t matter that they were facing a do-or-die situation at the Ball Arena, arguably the hardest to play in as visitors; they had already underscored via their Game Two triumph that they could overcome the Nuggets’ built-in Mile-High advantage. And, to be sure, their best player did try his best; he came up with 22 points (on 13 attempts), five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in 33 minutes of exposure. The problem was that, outside of fellow starter Derrick Jones Jr. and reserve Bogdan Bogdanovic, his energy could not be matched by the other stalwarts of the blue, red, and silver.
Throughout the series’ first six outings, not a few quarters noted the exemplary manner in which Zubac managed to keep reigning Most Valuable Player awardee Nikola Jokic in check; moreover, he displayed an offensive repertoire that enabled the Clippers to diversify their sets. In yesterday’s rubber match, however, he was far from adequate. That said, Harden unveiled the far more egregious disappearing act; once again, the 11-time All-Star seemed to wilt under the pressure of a one-and-done situation.
To date, Harden has been part of seven Game Sevens, once as a reserve for the Thunder in 2011 and the other six times as a vital cog for the Rockets, Nets, Sixers, and Clippers. In those instances, for nothing has he been a liability on average with his poor stroke (19.3 markers on 35.5% shooting). Yesterday, he could do no better than post seven points (off a two-of-eight clip) and a minus-29 rating in a team-high 35 minutes on the court. And so passive was he that his 13 dimes looked ineffectual as a result.
It’s too bad, really, because the Clippers deserve more. Owner Steve Ballmer is among the most enthusiastic in the league, having spared no expense to place them in the best position to compete with the established elite. They even have the Intuit Dome for their new digs, with The Wall — a section behind the basket filled only with diehard fans and designed to harass the opposition — as a distinguishing feature. Interestingly, Leonard is signed on until 2027, while Harden has a player option for next year. Given how they have continually underperformed despite all-out management support, the former Microsoft chief would do well to accept the viability of alternatives. Else, history may keep on repeating itself to their detriment.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.
