"This ain't brain surgery": Charles Barkley goes off on Clippers’ calamitous start with James Harden
The LA Clippers are off to a poor start in the James Harden era. Before the bearded superstar arrived, the Clippers had a 3-2 record, which is pretty decent considering how stacked the Western Conference is. However, when Harden burst into the scenes of LA, the team had to re-adjust to the new lineup and it appears that all hope is lost for the Clippers.
The LA Clippers are 0-4 since James Harden's arrival and will seemingly go 0-5, given that they'll be up against the defending champions Denver Nuggets in their next game on Tuesday. Charles Barkley recently pointed out what the team's problem is and how they could resolve their current issues.
“Somebody’s got to come off the bench," Barkley said on NBA on TNT. "You’ve got four guys who are great players, who all need the ball, but there’s only one ball. This ain’t brain surgery.”
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A closer look into the "James Harden Effect"
James Harden has been the center of attention in the NBA community lately and it's not for positive reasons. Throughout his career, Harden has garnered a reputation as a high-maintenance player, dating back to his time with the Houston Rockets. He's known for making trade requests involving either himself or other players on his team.
Having played alongside top-tier talents like Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and Russell Westbrook in Houston, Harden's pursuit of an NBA championship didn't yield the desired results. His move to the Brooklyn Nets, teaming up with former OKC teammate Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, also fell short of expectations.
After joining forces with MVP Joel Embiid on the Philadelphia 76ers, Harden still couldn't seize the opportunity for a championship. Despite high expectations of making a deep playoff run last season, they ended up getting knocked out by the Boston Celtics in the second round.
Now, as a part of the LA Clippers, many see this as James Harden's final shot at redemption. If he fails to deliver for the Clippers by the season's end, it might mark the decline of his superstardom in the NBA.