With MVP Harden back maybe the Clippers should just hold Kawhi out until the last weeks of the regular season and have him focus on the playoffs. We know Kawhi is bound to be injured by the time the playoffs comes if he tries to play the regular season.
He was great in December in Houston, December for him is like March for Jalen Green with the exception that January is also not a bad month for the Beard. He is turning back the clock for sure but he doesn't have the stamina for all of the next 60 games.
Sure looks like he was good just about every month https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/james-harden-stats-with-houston-by-month
Quietly and under the radar Here is the thing I've often said . .. Harden can be a great engine but you need a CLOSER Kawhi could be that 50% Harden was good for the Nets KD just could not close the door because of his big *ss feet Philly Had no Closer. Maxey Tries. Joel Ain't it. Even now they struggling - PG is not an engine (not sure if he is even a closer) Rocket River
Harden can't score like he used to. (These big scoring games happen only once in a while rather than night in and night out in his prime.) But he is still an elite playmaker.
I will give Harden, Luu and the Clippers their due They are doing FAR BETTER than I thought they would These are the teams above them. I cannot say I think the Clippers have a better roster than any of them nor would i say they should be above any of them Thunder Grizzlies Rockets Mavericks Nuggest Lakers Warriors These are the teams below them and I think at least 4 of them should be better than them (which may happen but for now) Particularly Wolves/Suns and Kings Spurs *- Timberwolves *- Suns * - Kings Blazers Jazz * - Pelicans they are sitting at 16-13 They will never admit it but the 9 - 17 76ers would be much better with Harden than PG13 (at this point a health Zubacs over the missing Embiid maybe an improvement) Rocket River
