James Harden ridiculed harshly by Kendrick Perkins following disappointing performance in Game 7.
Game 7 Disasters: The Perpetual Struggles of James Harden in Clutch Moments
James Harden, renowned for his regular-season dominance, has once again found himself in the crosshairs of criticism following yet another disappointing performance in a Game 7. This time, it's with the Los Angeles Clippers, who fell to the Denver Nuggets in a dismal 120-101 defeat, a scoreline that barely encapsulates the tapering reality of the game.
Harden's postseason reputation, specifically in the biggest moments, has become a perpetual talking point. In Game 7, he delivered another subpar performance, living up to the looming dread that surrounds him in crunch time.
Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers' other star, had a relatively modest outing, scoring 22 points with 5 rebounds and 2 assists. But Harden, notoriously known for his high-stakes talents, played as if he was destined for failure. He managed a paltry seven points on 2-8 attempts, though he did dish out a commendable 13 assists.
Throughout his career, Harden has lost a Game 7 with four different teams: the Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and Houston Rockets. In these failures, he has averaged 17.5 points per game while making just 33.8% of his shots from the field. Over his career, he stands at 3-4 in Game 7s.
On ESPN's First Take, Kendrick Perkins addressed Harden's lackluster performance, deriding him for his penchant for falling short in critical moments. "He's allergic to Game 7s," Perkins said, "He breaks out in rashes. It's crazy to me how a guy goes from what he’s done in Game 6 of this series, to all of a sudden just dropping down as if he don’t give a damn."
Perkins continued, "When you think about all-time greats, we think about what they do in the postseason, the championships, how they shine on the big stage. When you look at his history of Game 7's, he just folds like clean sheets."
Despite the repeated failings, Harden's career remains undeniably impressive. His performances in elimination games and Game 6s, for instance, paint a picture of a player who typically delivers under pressure. Further analysis of his Game 7 statistics reveals that his performance drop-off compared to his overall playoff average is not as significant as it might seem.
Still, the lingering question remains: why does Harden struggle in Game 7s when the lights are at their brightest? The answer remains elusive, leaving fans, analysts, and Harden himself to grapple with this persistent puzzle.
In contrast to his usual talent-laden performances, James Harden's boxing-like approach seems to emerge in Game 7s, a stark contrast to his dominance in the regular season and other elimination games. Despite his impressive career statistics, Harden's struggles in NBA's decisive Game 7 matches underscore a compelling mystery, with many questioning why he fails to shine in the sport's brightest moments.
