Clippers News: Orange County Register

Clippers center Mason Plumlee out at least 2 months

Janis Carr — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 20:06:54 +0000

Clippers reserve center Mason Plumlee is expected to miss two months or longer because of a sprained medial collateral ligament, The Athletic’s Shams Charania was first to report.

Plumlee’s left knee injury is not considered season-ending, but it leaves the Clippers without a center to back up Ivica Zubac. The team reportedly is looking at trading for Indiana Pacers big man Daniel Theis, who shined at the recent FIBA World Cup in helping Germany to a gold medal.

For the Pacers this season, Theis has played limited minutes in seven games, averaging 7.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocked shots in 15.6 minutes.

Plumlee suffered the injury in a 111-97 loss to the New York Knicks when Julius Randle collided with the center while chasing a loose ball. Plumlee was carried off the Madison Square Garden court and returned to Los Angeles for further evaluation.

Plumlee, who re-signed with the Clippers this summer after joining the team after February’s trade deadline, has appeared in six games and averaged 5.0 points and 5.5 rebounds.

Clippers still winless on road after falling to Nets

The Associated Press — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 03:18:48 +0000

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook drives past the Brooklyn Nets’ Royce O’Neale during the second half on Wednesday night in New York. The Nets won, 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie (26) passes away from the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Clippers’ Paul George looks to pass during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Clippers’ Paul George blocks a shot by the Brooklyn Nets’ Dorian Finney-Smith during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Mikal Bridges passes away from the Clippers’ James Harden during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Clippers star James Harden looks to pass during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie drives past the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook looks down the court during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Dennis Smith Jr., right, passes the ball to teammate Day’Ron Sharpe (20) as the Clippers’ Paul George, left, and Ivica Zubac watch during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard drives past the Brooklyn Nets’ Dorian Finney-Smith and Lonnie Walker IV, right, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Lonnie Walker IV shoots over the Clippers’ James Harden during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Clippers’ Russell Westbrook drives past the Brooklyn Nets’ Royce O’Neale during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, left, and Paul George, right, defend a shot by the Brooklyn Nets’ Dorian Finney-Smith during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, left, calls for the ball as the Brooklyn Nets’ Dennis Smith Jr. defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Clippers’ P.J. Tucker, left, and Kawhi Leonard, right, defend the Brooklyn Nets’ Cam Thomas during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Clippers’ Russell Westbrook drives past the Brooklyn Nets’ Mikal Bridges during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Clippers star Paul George looks down the court during the first half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Cam Thomas drives past the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Cam Thomas gestures after making a 3-point shot during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Clippers’ James Harden looks to pass during the second half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie shoots over the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Clippers star Paul George handles the ball as the Brooklyn Nets’ Mikal Bridges defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie handles the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Clippers Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Clippers’ Russell Westbrook passes to P.J. Tucker (17) as the Brooklyn Nets’ Trendon Watford (9) and Dennis Smith Jr. defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard reacts after an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard handles the ball as the Brooklyn Nets’ Royce O’Neale defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Dennis Smith Jr. celebrates after the Clippers’ James Harden turned the ball over during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Clippers star Paul George brings the ball up the court during the second half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Dennis Smith Jr. passes to teammate Day’Ron Sharpe (20) as the Clippers’ Paul George, left, and Ivica Zubac watch during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue instructs his team from the sideline during the first half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Mikal Bridges brings the ball up the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Clippers Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Clippers’ P.J. Tucker, left, and Kawhi Leonard, right, defend the Brooklyn Nets’ Cam Thomas during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Lonnie Walker IV, right, drives past the Clippers’ Terance Mann during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. The Nets won 100-93.(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard handles the ball as the Brooklyn Nets’ Royce O’Neale defends during the second half on Wednesday night in New York. The Nets won, 100-93. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
The Brooklyn Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie handles the ball during the first half of a game against the Clippers Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook looks down the court during the first half of a game against the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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NEW YORK — The road has not been kind to the Clippers so far this season, no matter who they suit up.

Paul George had 24 points and seven rebounds and Kawhi Leonard scored 17 points for the Clippers, but Lonnie Walker came off the bench to score 21 as the Brooklyn Nets beat the Clippers, 100-93, on Wednesday night, dropping them to 0-4 on the road.

Russell Westbrook had 13 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, while Ivica Zubac had 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Clippers. James Harden added 12 points, eight rebounds and five assists (with five turnovers) in his second game with the team since being acquired from Philadelphia on Oct. 30 as the Clippers lost their third straight game overall.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue noticed that his quartet of stars appeared too passive for the second consecutive night – after losing by 14 points to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

“When we were getting open shots they were not taken and that forces us to take even harder shots,” Lue said. “So, just trying to find those guys on the floor, just not step on each other’s toes. But they got to be themselves. That’s the biggest thing, that’s the biggest message, be who you are and if you’re doing too much we’ll let you know.”

The Clippers shot 36 for 91 from the field, including an 8-for-36 showing from 3-point range, and had 15 turnovers.

George said the team didn’t expect all four stars to click immediately.

“We’re going to go through growing pains. We’re going to come out of this and we’ll probably have to make another adjustment based on how the season goes later in the year,” he said. “I’m not worried about this. We want to win these games. These are games that we feel we should win.”

Cam Thomas scored 14 points in the first half for the Nets before leaving the game early in the third period after spraining his left ankle. Dorian Finney-Smith had 12 points and Day’Ron Sharpe added 11 points and 10 rebounds for Brooklyn, which snapped a two-game losing streak.

With Thomas out, Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn said he entrusted Walker more, drawing plays for him during timeouts and placing him on pick-and-rolls toward the end of the game.

It paid off. Walker shot 5 for 11 from the field, including 3 for 5 from long distance, for 13 points in the last two quarters.

“Just a lot of self-confidence,” Walker said. “Understanding my capabilities. I really put a lot of time and effort into the game. I sacrifice a lot of time and effort into the game. What you put in is what you’re going to get out of it.”

Sharpe gave the Nets a needed boost off the bench, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter.

“We all, as a collective group, just stepped up,” he said.

Sharpe hit an off-balance shot off the glass as Zubac tried for the block that put the Nets ahead 98-79 with 6:42 remaining.

Leonard (six rebounds) cut the deficit to 94-90 with 1:17 to remaining, but Spencer Dinwiddie answered with a 3-pointer.

The Clippers called a timeout, but George turned the ball over on their following possession. Westbrook later had a shot blocked and Harden missed a 3-point try.

Royce O’Neal then hit a 3-pointer to seal the win for the Nets.

UP NEXT

The Clippers conclude their three-game trip against Dallas on Friday night.

Clippers can’t keep up with Knicks in James Harden’s debut

The Associated Press — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 03:21:36 +0000

Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) drives past New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the second half on Monday night in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Clippers guard James Harden is defended by New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett (9) shoots over Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Clippers guard James Harden dribbles around teammate Ivica Zubac (40) and New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Clippers guard James Harden reacts to hitting a 3-point shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle attempts a shot as the Clippers’ Ivica Zubac, left, and Kawhi Leonard defend during the first quarter on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook reacts after making a basket during the first quarter of a game against the New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, left, dribbles around New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett follows through on a dunk during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Clippers Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) takes a shot over New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) and guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle attempts a shot between the Clippers’ Mason Plumlee, left, and Kawhi Leonard during the first quarter on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Clippers star Paul George, left, dribbles around New York Knicks guard Josh Hart during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo dribbles the ball around Clippers forward P.J. Tucker, middle, and Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) hits a three-point shot over Clippers forward Paul George (13) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) defends against Clippers guard Russell Westbrook (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks guards Donte DiVincenzo, left, and Josh Hart, right, battle Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, middle, for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue calls a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks guard Immanuel Quickley (5) passes the ball around Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks guards Josh Hart, left, and Donte DiVincenzo, middle, battle Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Clippers guard James Harden shoots over New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo during the second half on Monday night in New York. Harden scored 17 points in his first game with his new team, but the Clippers had a rough start to the fourth quarter and lost, 111-97. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks guard Josh Hart, on the floor, and Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, in the air, collide during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau calls a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Clippers Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard dunks during the third quarter of their game against the New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Clippers center Ivica Zubac blocks a shot by New York Knicks forward Julius Randle during the second half on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) battles Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, left, and Clippers center Ivica Zubac for control of the ball during the second quarter on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle floats a shot over the arms of Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the fourth quarter on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook attempts a shot as New York Knicks forward Julius Randle defends during the third quarter on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Clippers center Mason Plumlee, left, collides with New York Knicks forward Julius Randle during the second half on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden handles the ball during the second half of his debut game on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden takes a shot as New York Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo defends during the second half on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, right, attempts to pass between the New York Knicks’ Quentin Grimes (6), Mitchell Robinson (23) and Jalen Brunson (11) during the third quarter on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) defends against Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook grabs a rebound away from the New York Knicks’ Mitchell Robinson (23) during the third quarter on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
New York Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein, right, reacts to a call as Clippers star Paul George defends during the second half on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden warms up before making his debut with his new team against the New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Clippers guard James Harden warms up before making his debut with his new team against the New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Clippers guard James Harden warms up before making his debut with his new team against the New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Clippers guard James Harden warms up before making his debut with his new team against the New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Clippers guard James Harden warms up before making his debut with his new team against the New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo/John Munson)
Clippers guard James Harden warms up before making his debut with his new team against the New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. (AP Photo/John Munson)

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By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer

NEW YORK — At times, such as when James Harden raced up the floor and found a cutting Kawhi Leonard for a layup, it was easy to see why the Clippers’ new four-star system could become so potent.

“Unlimited possibilities,” Harden said.

Other times, such as when Russell Westbrook threw away a pass trying to get the ball to Harden to ignite a fast break as the New York Knicks were taking control, it appeared it might take a while before that happens.

Harden scored 17 points and had six assists on Monday night in his first game of the season, but the Clippers fell too far behind with a rough start to the fourth quarter and the Knicks beat them, 111-97.

Harden joined the Clippers last week after finally getting the trade he sought from the Philadelphia 76ers since the summer and jumped right into the starting lineup in his debut, taking the floor with Leonard, Westbrook and Paul George.

“Felt kind of weird out there, not really having a preseason game or an opportunity to participate in a full training camp, none of that,” Harden said. “I was out there just basically winging it, but I tried to go with my basketball instincts and what I’ve been doing for the last few years and whatnot, and just going out there and playing and thinking the game and trying to make the game easier for everybody else.”

But the first four went to the bench for good after Harden’s bad pass led to a Knicks fast-break layup that made it 104-88 with 4:25 to play.

Leonard led the Clippers with 18 points and Westbrook scored 17. Norman Powell added 14 points and George finished with 10 for the Clippers, who lost backup center Mason Plumlee to a knee injury when Knicks forward Julius Randle crashed into his leg going for a loose ball.

The game was tied 76-76 after the third quarter, but a 7-0 run put the Knicks up for good. New York’s lead grew to a game-high 17 points at 111-94 on RJ Barrett’s 3-pointer with 2:07 left.

The Clippers were already aware that adding Harden might not pay immediate dividends. Players who have been All-Stars and even MVPs in the NBA will have to alter the way they have always played.

“So just because you acquire a guy like James Harden doesn’t mean you’re automatically going to win,” Coach Tyronn Lue said before the game. “You’ve got to put the work in and you’ve got to be ready to sacrifice.”

Lue said he expected it would take him 10 games to understand how to use his new roster. Harden couldn’t put a number on how long he expected it would take.

“If I knew then I’d be a genius at that point,” Harden said. “Hopefully sooner than later.”

Harden was the last of the Clippers announced and was loudly booed by the crowd at Madison Square Garden. He played a little more than half of the first quarter and then came out, with Lue saying before the game that his new guard would play shorter stints than usual in his first NBA action of his 15th season.

Some of Harden’s best work came while playing without the other starters. The three-time NBA scoring champion didn’t even take a shot in the first quarter, then went 4 for 5 for nine points in the second while starting the period with reserves P.J. Tucker, Bones Hyland, Powell and Plumlee.

Harden played 31 minutes and had a good third quarter, when he set up the fast-break layup by Leonard midway through the period and hit a long 3-pointer just before the end of it. But the Knicks broke it open while Leonard, George and Westbrook were resting early in the fourth, then pulled away for good later in the period with all of them in the game.

Harden said he felt tired in the beginning and that it would probably take him a few games to get used to the pace of NBA games again.

Once that happens, the Clippers should be a title contender if their four top players remain healthy, though Harden has been on teams before whose hopes were wrecked by untimely injuries. So they know all they can do is use the season to make sure they are as ready as possible.

“Just right not, just figuring it out each and every day and hopefully when the time comes we’ll turn that corner and jell,” Leonard said.

Randle scored 27 points and Barrett had 26 in his return to the lineup to pace the Knicks. Mitchell Robinson added 13 points and 14 rebounds as the Knicks snapped their two-game losing streak and recorded their first home victory of the season.

Donte DiVincenzo scored 12 points and Josh Hart had 10 for New York.

Will James Harden be a good fit for Clippers?

Janis Carr — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 22:08:59 +0000

For months, speculation has swirled in NBA circles and on social media of how James Harden would fit into the Clippers’ lineup. Would the polarizing point guard start seamlessly alongside fellow All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul Geroge?

Would he step back and let Russell Westbrook handle the ball? Facilitate, score or take a seat if necessary? A system player or a system?

Harden’s Clippers era begins Monday when he makes his debut against the New York Knicks (2-4), giving the team and Clippers’ faithful an opportunity to see if Harden keeps his word about being a team player. He is expected to start for the Clippers (3-1), along with Ivica Zubac, Westbrook, Leonard and George.

In his introductory press conference, Harden talked about the unselfishness of the team and added that, “I’m fine on the basketball, off the basketball. Pick-and-roll, you know, catching and shooting.”

Coach Tyronn Lue told reporters in New York on Sunday that when the two point guards are on the floor together, Westbrook will be the point guard and Harden will be off the ball.

Before leaving on their four-game eastern trip, Lue said he believes this will be a “great working relationship.”

“You just have to understand that we’re going to let James be him but at the same time just doing it in the confines of our team, the team schemes,” Lue said. “What he brings to our team is his passing ability, able to get to the free throw line and get downhill and make plays – which is huge for us.

“It takes a lot of pressure off Kawhi and PG you know, when they get tired, and they don’t have to make every play along with Russ as well. You have another guy who can do that and can actually generate open shots, which is huge for our team.”

Harden told the media in New York on Sunday that he has been watching a lot of video to catch up on the Clippers’ offense and feels physically good after several workouts. His last game was nearly six months ago as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Zubac said he is looking forward to being a recipient of Harden’s passes. He called the 10-time All-Star and former league MVP one of the “best players in the league in the past, whatever, 10 years.

“A guy like that, obviously it’s going to be a big boost to us, and I can’t wait to go out there and see how it is playing with him,” Zubac added.

Zubac said that with any new player, it will take time to smooth out any wrinkles that arise in game situations and to see how roles shake out.

“We got a lot of great players. We’ll figure it out,” Zubac said.

Zubac said nothing Harden does will be a surprise to him. He witnessed many of Harden’s games when the point guard played in Philadelphia and Houston.

“Whoever played with him was tough for me to defend. He’s really good at just keeping him guarding on his back and just playing two-on-one with a big against the other big,” Zubac said.

“And he’s so good with that floater. It’s hard for a big that’s playing between – you got to decide if you want to commit and contest that floater. If you don’t, he’s going to shoot it every time and it’s usually good. And if you leave your big for a dunk, if the other guy pulls in, he’s going to find that cutter or a shooter in the corner.

“I feel like he is so good in that pick-and-roll game and reading the game and being patient when he’s coming off and he got the point guard on his back. So, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Add Bones Hyland to those who are eager to see how this works out.

“Each guy can score, each guy can facilitate,” Hyland said. “So, I feel like it’s going to be really hard for defensive teams to adjust us. We have so many guys that can do everything. I feel like you won’t be able to double(-team) as much. So, it’s definitely a dynamic thing that’s going to be on the floor, all the guys at once.”

CLIPPERS AT KNICKS

When: Monday, 4:30 p.m.

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York

TV/radio: Bally Sports SoCal, 570 AM

The Audible: Shohei’s destination, Harden’s arrival and what’s with Caleb?

Jim Alexander, Mirjam Swanson — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 00:52:26 +0000

Jim Alexander: Welcome to the first day of life after baseball. We have a rule in our household that there’s to be no talk of Christmas until the World Series is over – but, of course, I’m the only one who abides by the rule, because everyone else has been chattering about decorations and when family members are arriving in town and so on. Now that the Texas Rangers have won and Corey Seager has another Series MVP trophy, I can at least answer the question, “What do you want for Christmas?” My standard answer: “Uh, I don’t know.”

But the end of the World Series carries another important milestone: The first day of free agency. Which means Shohei Ohtani’s next workplace will be the main topic of baseball conversation from now until he signs with someone. The Angels still have exclusive rights to offer a contract from today through Monday, but other teams can begin testing the waters. So let the speculation begin.

And I have a weird feeling – no reason for it, just a premonition – that the team considered to be the favorite to land him won’t. The Dodgers will not meet his price. The rest of the nation looks at Dodgers payrolls and figures this is the team that will break the bank, but when’s the last time they truly did so? Freddie Freeman signed for six years and $162 million before the 2022 season, and that was partly because he was tired of waiting for the Atlanta Braves to move in negotiations. The Mookie Betts contract – 12 years, $365 million – came on the eve of the 2020 pandemic season and only after he and the team had a chance to learn about each other.

But consider the free agents of the last few seasons: The Dodgers offered Bryce Harper a short-term deal, which he spurned. They made little attempt to re-sign Manny Machado, which was expected. They let Seager walk (and what a mistake that was). They let Trea Turner walk last fall, and I’m not sure if they made any sort of play at all for Aaron Judge before he re-signed with the Yankees. This team under Andrew Friedman has a track record of kicking the tires but blanching when it gets to the big money offer with high-profile free agents. I really don’t see them ponying up for what it would take to sign Ohtani, especially if we’re talking north of $500 million.

Hate to say this, Dodger fans, but my opinion is that there’s a better chance Ohtani winds up in the San Francisco Giants’ orange and black.

Mirjam Swanson: Most Dodgers fans gotta hope you’re wrong.

Because it’s gotta be the Dodgers.

The Dodgers are trying to get over the hump. Ohtani is trying to get over the hump.

The Dodgers need a star who won’t fizzle in the postseason, Ohtani needs a team that’ll get him to the postseason so he can really put on a fireworks display. This is the unique talent who’s been performing with the pressure on since he was a teen, who was the difference-maker in the World Baseball Classic. He’s the dependable star who won’t wilt or spend time thinking about not overthinking.

And while the Giants will put in a bid, as will the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago Cubs – oh, and the Angels – who possibly could have enjoyed Southern California for so many years and want to leave?

Ohtani’s asking price is going to be sky-high, of course, though likely not as high as it would have been had he not suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow late last season.

And maybe splurging on Ohtani isn’t the most practical way that a team desperate to improve its pitching can spend its money – though Ohtani could be back on the mound, mowin’ them down in 2025. But as you mentioned, they haven’t really splurged lately. Instead, they’ve effectively cleared payroll space.

Because it’s gotta be Ohtani.

Jim: I’d like to think you’re right. But Friedman and Co. have squandered a lot of goodwill the past two seasons, and I suspect a good portion of the fan base is preparing for the worst – that they fail to get Ohtani and again compensate with a lot of smaller, less expensive moves. At least they don’t have Trevor Bauer’s albatross of a contract anymore. That was a mistake, and it was the gift that kept on giving even after they released him in January.

The assumption is that they were making small moves and small signings last winter to clear space for a run at Ohtani. But somebody – and maybe it’s controlling partner Mark Walter – needs to let it be known loud and clear that they’re not going to be outbid. I’m just not sure anyone in the organization is willing to make that hefty of a commitment.

OK, next topic. I just saw the post that you re-tweeted – re-X’d? – pleading for a Lakers-Clippers playoff series, finally. The preview Wednesday night was good stuff. But the question still comes down to what kind of impact James Harden will have on the Clips. I know you and I are on opposite sides as to whether this was a good trade or not. Now’s your chance to convince me it was.

Mirjam: OK, here’s what I got: On the court, I think it’ll be – to use Russell Westbrook’s go-to word last night – a “process.”

But I can picture it working. People forget how good the Brooklyn superteam looked until things got super-weird over there (and that was a lot of Kyrie Irving’s doing, after he opted against getting vaccinated and, thereby, playing basketball).

Here’s how The Ringer described Harden’s fit with KD and Kyrie back in 2021: “He’s flourishing as part of a superteam in Brooklyn, averaging 24.2 points per game with career highs in assists (11.7), rebounds (8.2), field-goal percentage (50.0), and 3-point percentage (40.8). He doesn’t have to carry his team on his back anymore. Harden can play within the flow of the Nets’ offense, attacking off the dribble and taking what the defense gives him. He’s one of the most skilled and intelligent players ever. There’s little opponents can do to slow down the former MVP now that he’s playing with so much talent around him.”

I do worry that the Clippers did themselves a disservice by trading away all of their long-armed defenders on the wing – they seemed to miss those guys in the second half against the Lakers. But I have a hunch Harden’s presence will keep the offense moving. We might think of him as a ball-dominant dribbler, but put him out there beside Kawhi and Paul George, and he’ll free them up.

But what fascinates me most about the Clippers adding Harden is that for the first time, they’re really, truly interesting. In an L.A. soap opera kind of way.

To be really relevant, they’ll have to win, of course. But there’s winning with a pair of reticent/modest stars like Kawhi and PG, who are great players but not larger-than-life characters. And then there’s winning with Russ and Harden, figures that invite extra scrutiny and attention, that allow for the possibility of combustion, tripwires that’ll appeal to NBA fans who are addicted to the drama. It’s a mix that might actually hook L.A. fans who have been conditioned – by decades of the Lakers’ drama during their championship runs – to live for that stuff. For that reason, too, it could be a win for the Clips.

Jim: I’m still skeptical about how it works on the floor. And I’m not the only one. I go back to something else you re-posted, the conversation between Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, and one particular point Pierce made: Harden’s accustomed to handling the ball. So is Westbrook.

“Can James Harden play a role?” Pierce asked. “Can you say, ‘James, run, sprint to the corner, spot up?’ … Can you say, ‘cut backdoor, come off the downscreen?’”

“He gonna have to,” Garnett said.

“Man, c’mon,” Pierce responded. I don’t often agree with The Truth, but he’s speakin’ it.

Garnett did make the same point you did, sort of: “It’s the Drew (League), slash NBA edition.” The Clippers will now have the attention of not only everyone in the NBA but everyone in L.A. – Clippers fans hoping this experiment is going to work, Lakers fans waiting for the whole thing to implode.

And maybe I’m just of the opinion that sometimes less is more, that too many stars and not enough complementary players can derail a season. I lived through that first season after Wilt Chamberlain joined Jerry West and Elgin Baylor on the Lakers, 1968-69 (and if I’m dating myself, so be it). That was supposed to be the NBA’s first superteam and a guaranteed champion. As we subsequently learned, there was so much turmoil on that team – especially with a coach in Butch van Breda Kolff who absolutely could not handle those dynamics – that in retrospect it was amazing they got to a Game 7 against the Boston Celtics in the Finals.

Sometimes chemistry experiments work. Sometimes they blow up. This will be intriguing, for sure, but I’m not optimistic Ty Lue will still be the coach when all is said and done.

Mirjam: So, do you think the Rams’ season is said and done?

They’re 3-5 after Sunday’s 40-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys – and now they don’t know when Matthew Stafford will return from the sprained ligament he sustained in the game.

They could very well be relying on Brett Rypien, who took first-team reps in practice on Wednesday, while Dresser Winn ran the scout team after he was signed to the practice squad.

Stafford has looked really good at times this year, especially when he’s been throwing to rookie sensation Puka Nacua, but the 35-year-old veteran QB likely isn’t the future.

So have they reached the point that they should – as you put it – Crumble for Caleb?

And, considering Caleb Williams is looking a little more like a mere mortal lately, is he still who teams should be crumbling for?

Yes, yes he is. I don’t think the Rams are going to give the appearance of giving up, but I do think Williams will be who he’s projected to be in the NFL – whichever team does crumble for him.

He might be going through a human funk related to the program-wide funk USC is enduring, but he remains the quick-thinking, big, big-armed, athletic prospect that has mesmerized NFL teams.

Maybe he’d do well to not pout on the sideline when things don’t go his way, but I doubt that changes NFL teams’ perception of him.

But what say you?

Jim: From the Rams’ standpoint, I was a little surprised they didn’t make a deal for at least a more seasoned backup QB – i.e., this year’s version of Baker Mayfield – before Tuesday’s deadline, but maybe this hints at their strategy: Stay the course through the rest of this season, take their lumps and prepare to draft Stafford’s eventual replacement.

Caleb might not be the No. 1 pick, depending on how the rest of this season shakes out, but he still will be top five for sure. He’s sort of been dragged into this mess, this USC mixture of karma and hubris that is less about his own performance and more about the way his team is gasping for air with three really tough regular-season games left.

The Trojans are 3-point underdogs at home Saturday against Washington, itself No. 5 in the first College Football Playoff rankings but coming off a couple of underwhelming victories the last two weeks. Then they play at Oregon – and the way the Ducks pounded Utah at Salt Lake City last week, that could be ugly. Then they get UCLA at the Coliseum, no gimme for sure.

Theirs is no easy task just to get to the Pac-12 championship game on Dec. 1 in Las Vegas … but then again, it could require multiple tiebreakers to determine which teams play that game.

And as for that quarterback question? Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. would be atop lots of draft lists as well, I would think. This spring’s selection process could feature some tough choices, just like the Justin Herbert/Tua Tagovailoa dilemma in 2020.

Mirjam: Interesting moment here in Southern California, across sports – we’re at a crossroads with Ohtani, the Clippers really (finally) went all in with Harden, and USC is fighting for its season – with ramifications, perhaps, on Caleb Williams’ future … with the Rams, maybe?

As the sports world turns. Glad to be able to Audible about it all.

James Harden excited for fresh start with Clippers

Janis Carr — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 00:13:16 +0000

New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden listens to a question during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden smiles as he talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
New Clippers guard James Harden arrives to talk with reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden arrives to talk with reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden arrives for a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
New Clippers guard James Harden listens to a reporter’s question during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden considers a reporter’s question during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
James Harden talks to the media during a press conference at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista on Thursday, November, 2, 2023. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
James Harden talks to the media during a press conference at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista on Thursday, November, 2, 2023. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden listens to a question during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
New Clippers guard James Harden talks to reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden met with reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
New Clippers guard James Harden met with reporters during a press conference on Thursday at Honey Training Center in Playa Vista. The 10-time All-Star was acquired earlier this week in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)

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PLAYA VISTA — James Harden walked into his introductory press conference on Thursday in a new No. 1 Clippers jersey, looking like a player who felt comfortable in his surroundings. Comfortable maybe for the first time in his 15-year career.

He was back in L.A. where he grew up, where his family still lives and his friends hang out. It’s where he started his basketball career and now, is looking to potentially end it.

After a highly public trade demand and months of negotiations, the Philadelphia 76ers traded Harden to the Clippers, the deal that was agreed to on Monday night finally becoming official on Wednesday. The former Lakewood Artesia High star arrived in Southern California not only with history but a great deal of expectations. The Clippers are hoping that Harden is the missing piece that will bring them a championship ring.

“I can fit in with anybody and make a championship run work,” Harden said. “So, I think all of us are on the same page in the sense of the individual stats and all those things are past us and we all got one goal and I think everybody knows what that is.

“For me, it’s just going out here and finding the best way to contribute to this team.”

Harden, 34, will be looking to fit in alongside Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Russell Westbrook, all fellow Hall of Fame-caliber players with the same will to win. But how will four high-level players who like to have the ball in their hands get along?

Harden mentioned the same thing his new teammates have uttered over the past few days – they must learn to sacrifice their own games. As George put it, “understanding it’s one basketball.”

Harden said that shouldn’t be a problem. The 10-time All-Star seems willing to step back from being the No. 1 scoring option on the Clippers. He led the league in assists last season with 10.7 per game.

“I’ve been in situations where I play off the basketball,” said Harden, a three-time NBA scoring champion. “I was in a similar situation in Brooklyn where you’ve got two guys that can score the basketball and create mismatches with defenses.

“So, I’m fine on the basketball, off the basketball. Pick-and-roll, catching and shooting.

“We got a pretty good team and unselfish players where we can see that and let them go. For me, I think as far as scoring the basketball, I’m a very, very good basketball passer as well. So, I can facilitate.”

George said he doesn’t foresee a problem blending egos and divvying up minutes with this team.

“I think we think we can make it work,” George said. “We’ll figure it out. We’ve obviously got to practice, we got to play for us to really get on the same page and understand how to play on the floor with one another.”

Harden took part in a workout Thursday and will participate in Friday’s practice. He is expected to make his Clippers debut Monday against the Knicks in New York.

“I think obviously they’re already a really good team,” Harden said. “The coaching staff is really, really good as well. Then I’m, you know, I’m back home. You know what I mean.

“So, I just think the comfort level of me being back home around my family and then having some really, really, really good players on this team (is great.) And then basically all four dudes from California. This is a unique story. So, with all that coming together, it just made sense.”

As eager as Harden was to finally be in L.A., others within the organization were equally or more excited to see him in a Clippers uniform.

As Lue watched the Lakers hold off the Clippers in overtime on Wednesday night, he envisioned a different outcome with Harden in the mix.

“I saw him for 53 minutes,” Lue said of the future he was imagining with the 2018 league MVP.

Harden said the main thing he is looking for out of Lue is trust and someone who understands him.

“I’m just not a system player; I am a system. You know what I mean?,” Harden said. “So somebody that can have that dialogue with me and understand and move forward and figure out and make adjustments on the fly throughout the course of games, that’s all I really care about. It’s not about me scoring.”

George, who supported the trade, said the Clippers have a rare opportunity to play alongside a player who has accomplished so much.

“It’s not every day you get a chance to get a guy of his ability that wants to come and play on this team, and we had an opportunity to get him,” George said. “I feel it was worth taking a swing on and we felt that he could help us. We felt that we all could figure it out, we could play around each other.”

Harden said that while the fans and his 76ers teammates were great, the situation in Philadelphia soured after he opted in for $35.6 million and then waited for a trade that was slow to materialize. The relationship between Harden and General Manager Daryl Morey eroded, leaving the 76ers with little option other than to ship off the star point guard.

Harden said he thought he would retire as a 76er, but “the front office had other plans. They didn’t want me, and it is that simple.

“There’s more detail, more to where I can’t talk about, but there’s a lot of narratives and I don’t have social media, but there’s a lot of narratives … none of that is true and I’m not the type to go back and forth or be explaining to myself because you’re always going to take something out of what I say and make it into a different story. So long story short, I’m happy I’m here. I’m excited to be able to show how good individually, how good this team can be and is going to be.”

Swanson: Clippers added James Harden and got real interesting

Mirjam Swanson — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 23:00:44 +0000

PLAYA VISTA — Finally, the Clippers can take that misguided and maligned “Streetlights over Spotlights” slogan, drag it down off their desktop and into the trash. Empty trash.

With the slow-motion acquisition of James Harden complete, they’re finally ready for their closeup, for their spotlight.

And in time for the opening of the Intuit Dome next season, it’s what the Clippers owe their season ticket-holding fans if they’re going to ask them to pay, in some cases, $8,000 or $9,000 more per seat next season: A show.

These aren’t anyone’s gutty little Clippers. They’re not playing their part as the irrelevant other team, either.

These are your potentially combustible Clippers. They’re about to be the heavily scrutinized Clippers. They’re the brand of intriguing that will actually get people’s attention in a crowded and often antagonistic L.A. market.

That’s why Coach Tyronn Lue’s pregame news conference on Wednesday was even more packed than it was for Victor Wembenyama’s first visit to L.A., and for any of those he held in the previous 11 times his Clippers faced the Lakers.

It’s probably why Russell Westbrook, smarting too after the loss to his former teammates on the Lakers, got bristly for the first time Wednesday with the Clipper beat writers. They kept asking him about his fit with Harden this time, their third on the same team after shared stops in Oklahoma City and Houston. Because it stands to figure: A new point guard will likely affect the role of the point guard already there.

“I’m not the GM, the owner,” Westbrook said. “I’m a player here on the team like everybody else and I’m going to figure it out, do the best I can. I’m going to compete every night, do my part. I can’t control what other people do, how it mesh. I don’t really know. I don’t have that answer. I’m going to just try my hardest to make it as comfortable for everybody like I’ve done since I’ve been here.”

Those unknowns are why 40-plus media members crammed into the team’s modest, galley-shaped interview space at their facility after practice on Thursday, waiting for an hour to hear Harden speak as a Clipper for the first time: “I’m not a system player, I am a system.”

The man is a 10-time All-Star, former league MVP and a superior slogan writer, too.

So it could work, on the court as well as at the box office.

Harden is a divisive figure who has become so well known as a successful architect of his own trades – from Houston, Brooklyn and, now, Philadelphia – that it’s as though people forget that he’s almost as good a basketball player.

But ESPN’s analytics has the Clippers’ chances to win the NBA title jumping from 8% to 12%, while giving them a 22% chance to reach the NBA Finals – the best among Western Conference teams.

Harden could help because he’s a big guard, an elite distributor (his 10.7 assists per game led the NBA last season) and a dependable marksman. Exactly who All-Stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have been clamoring for.

And Harden was excelling beside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the Brooklyn Nets early on, remember? He was averaging 24.2 points, 11.7 assists, 8.2 rebounds and shooting 50% in his first month with that squad before that experiment was derailed by injuries and Irving’s unwillingness to get vaccinated so he could play.

Yes, the Clippers traded their redundancies on the wing for redundancies at guard, but it could be worth it: In the final season of his $36 million contract, Harden will be playing for his next payday and plenty motivated to prove “that I’m very elite as an individual and I can fit in and make a championship run work.”

There’s winning with a reticent superstar like Leonard, his underappreciated co-star George and a cast of quality contributors. And then there’s winning with a couple of larger-than-life characters like Harden and Westbrook, A-listers who have armies of fans line up to defend and support them on social media.

Teammates pic.twitter.com/E9q04YjmWv

— janis carr (@janiscarr) November 1, 2023

Harden chose to greet his new and new-again teammates in the Clippers’ locker room on Tuesday night in full view, during the half-hour before tipoff when the media is allowed in. Conversely, Leonard once insisted reporters stop recording him as he was shooting free throws.

Harden can be the ceiling raiser the Clippers are claiming he is, or he could be the reason the floor falls out from beneath them.

That tightrope tension and potential tripwires are going to get people to pay attention in L.A., where we’re addicted to drama, or at least the possibility thereof.

Start with stars and winning, but give us a good soap opera too.

The Lakers are 17-time NBA champions, 12 of them coming in L.A. How they cornered the market on high-functioning palace intrigue always made them so incredibly riveting.

So it was a strange thing that happened on my commute Wednesday to Crypto.com Arena to see the Lakers beat the Clippers, 130-125, in an overtime game dominated by stars on both sides. It hit me: The story wasn’t the Lakers this time; it was Harden-to-the-Clippers.

Lakers hold off Clippers in OT to snap 11-game losing streak in rivalry

Khobi Price — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 05:33:49 +0000

Lakers star Anthony Davis shoots as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, right, loses the ball in traffic as Clippers guard Bones Hyland, left, reaches for it during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James drives to the basket against Clippers forward P.J. Tucker during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers center Mason Plumlee grabs a rebound in front of Lakers star Anthony Davis during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Newly acquired Clippers star James Harden, center, looks on from the bench during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. Harden, who was acquired in a trade late Monday night, is expected to make his Clippers debut next week. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star Anthony Davis shoots as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue calls out from the sidelines during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves passes the ball during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook looks on during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers forward LeBron James, right, shoots as Clippers guard Norman Powell defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, shoots as Lakers forward Christian Wood defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers coach Darvin Ham reacts during a pause in play in the first half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James, center, pursues a loose ball against the Clippers’ Paul George, left, Kawhi Leonard, and Mason Plumlee, far right, during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis, left, reaches for a loose ball after blocking a shot by Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, right, during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, shoots as Lakers forward Cam Reddish defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard, left, and Russell Westbrook slap hands during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, center, along with teammate Russell Westbrook, left, and Lakers star Anthony Davis, right, look on during a pause in play in the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James shoots over Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers forward Paul George, right, shoots as Lakers guard Austin Reaves defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Newly acquired Clippers star James Harden, center, looks on from the bench during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. Harden, who was acquired in a trade late Monday night, is expected to make his Clippers debut next week. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell, right, puts up a shot as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers star Paul George (13) drives to the basket as the Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes (11) and Cam Reddish (5) defend during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James, center, watches from the bench during the first half of their game against Paul George, left, and the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves controls the ball as the Clippers’ Paul George, center, and Bones Hyland, right, defend during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, top, scrambles for a loose ball with Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, bottom, during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, right, shoots as Lakers forward Anthony Davis defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star LeBron James drives to the basket as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers stars LeBron James, left, and Anthony Davis slap hands during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, and Lakers center Jaxson Hayes reach for a loose ball during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Norman Powell puts up a shot as Lakers star Anthony Davis defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James, center, shoots as Clippers forward P.J. Tucker, left, and guard Norman Powell defend during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard handles the ball as Lakers forward LeBron James defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis, right, shoots as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue calls out from the sidelines during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Max Christie, left, shoots as Clippers guard Norman Powell defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard Max Christie shoots over Clippers guard Norman Powell during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard handles the ball as Lakers guard Max Christie defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James, center, shoots as Clippers forward P.J. Tucker, right, and guard Norman Powell defend during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star Anthony Davis shoots a free throw during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James loses the ball in front of Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard, right, and Paul George, left, during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Max Christie shoots as Clippers guard Norman Powell defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James, far left, looks on from the bench during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James soars to the basket for a dunk during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers forward LeBron James, left, goes up for a dunk as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers star LeBron James reacts after a foul call during the first half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard handles the ball as Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell defends during the first half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Newly acquired Clippers star James Harden, center, looks on from the bench during the first half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. Harden, who was acquired in a trade late Monday night, is expected to make his Clippers debut next week. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Max Christie grabs a rebound in front of Clippers center Mason Plumlee during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, right, and center Mason Plumlee, left, reach for a loose ball during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook drives to the basket as Lakers star LeBron James defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James reacts toward an official during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Clippers’ Paul George drives to the basket as Lakers guard Max Christie, left, defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham looks on from the sideline during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James passes the ball during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard shoots over Lakers guard Max Christie during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
New Clippers star James Harden, left, sits next to teammate Russell Westbrook on the bench during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. Harden is expected to make his Clippers debut next week. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star Anthony Davis blocks a shot by Clippers guard Norman Powell during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves, right, and Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, second from right, scramble for a loose ball as forward Paul George, left, and forward Cam Reddish also go after it during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, right, hangs on the rim after dunking as Clippers forward Paul George looks on during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes, right, celebrates as he hangs on the rim after dunking as Clippers forward Paul George looks on during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward Anthony Davis, center, shoots as Clippers forward Paul George, left, and center Mason Plumlee defend during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue, left, talks with forward P.J. Tucker, center, as guard Russell Westbrook walks away during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James, right, goes up for a dunk as Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, center, defends and guard Austin Reaves watches during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves scrambles for a loose ball during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star Anthony Davis reacts during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard looks to drive as Lakers star LeBron James defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard drives to the basket as Lakers guard Max Christie defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers forward Cam Reddish, right, steals the ball from Clippers star Paul George during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James reacts toward an official after a foul during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, reacts after a foul call as teammate Anthony Davis looks on during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers star Paul George brings the ball up the court during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard shoots as the Lakers’ LeBron James (23), Christian Wood, far right, and Anthony Davis, left, look on during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Max Christie, center, loses the ball after being fouled by Clippers forward Paul George, left, during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy yells instructions from the bench during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James handles the ball as Clippers star Kawhi Leonard defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James handles the ball as Clippers star Kawhi Leonard defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers players look on from the bench during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, left, passes the ball while under pressure from Lakers forward LeBron James, second from left, during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham, left, and star big man Anthony Davis, right, argue with referee Mitchell Ervin, far left, during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Cam Reddish, second from right, shoots as Clippers guard Bones Hyland, right, defends and the Lakers’ bench watches during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard shoots as Lakers forward LeBron James defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers forward Christian Wood gestures after making a 3-point shot during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard loses the ball as Lakers forward Christian Wood defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes reacts after being called for a foul during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook celebrates a 3-point basket during the second half of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook drives to the basket past Lakers guard Austin Reaves, right, during overtime on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star Anthony Davis looks on while picking himself up off the court during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers forward Paul George, right, shoots as Lakers forward Anthony Davis defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves runs back up the court after making a 3-point shot as teammates on the bench celebrate during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James smiles during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook looks to shoot as Lakers guard Max Christie defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard drives to the basket against Lakers star LeBron James during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers forward LeBron James, right, reacts after being called for goaltending as Clippers guard Norman Powell looks on during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James, right, reacts after being called for goaltending during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James points to the crowd after he was called for goaltending during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward LeBron James, right, and forward Anthony Davis, center, complain to referee Curtis Blair about a call during the second half of their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Norman Powell, right, shoots as Lakers forward LeBron James defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Norman Powell drives to the basket as Lakers forward LeBron James defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James, center, shoots as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, left, forward P.J. Tucker, second from left, and guard Russell Westbrook, right, defend while forward Anthony Davis watches during the second half on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Lakers forward Cam Reddish reacts to a foul called on him against Clippers star Paul George during the final minute of the fourth quarter on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. George was awarded three free throws, made them all and sent the game into overtime. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Clippers star Paul George looks toward the video board after fouling out during overtime of their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers guard Austin Reaves reacts after being fouled by the Clippers’ Norman Powell (not pictured) during overtime on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers forward Christian Wood (35) celebrates after scoring in overtime of their game against the Clippers as teammate Cam Reddish looks on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, smiles as he greets Clippers star Kawhi Leonard (2) as Lakers star Anthony Davis, right, looks on after their overtime game on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Lakers star LeBron James, left, hugs Clippers star Kawhi Leonard after the Lakers’ 130-125 overtime win on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James celebrates after the Lakers defeated the Clippers, 130-125, in overtime on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
A general view of the court prior to the game between the Lakers and the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers star Anthony Davis looks on prior to their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
New Clippers forward P.J. Tucker warms up prior to their game against the Lakers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
Lakers forward LeBron James tosses powder in the air as fans take video prior to their game against the Clippers on Wednesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Expand

LOS ANGELES — For almost an hour inside Crypto.com Arena, it looked like the Lakers’ infamous losing streak against the Clippers was going to continue.

The Clippers, and especially Kawhi Leonard (18 first-quarter points), were rolling early, leading to the Lakers trailing by 19 early and staring at a 13-point deficit at the end of the first quarter. The Lakers were struggling to find answers defensively.

But in the second quarter, they started to piece together answers. And in the third, they found a big solution: a super-sized frontcourt, which slowed their opponents’ momentum and helped the Lakers navigate their way to a 130-125 overtime victory over the Clippers on Wednesday night that ended their 11-game losing streak in the rivalry.

“They came out real aggressive, physical, playing with force,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “We came out, weren’t really setting enough hard screens, weren’t really being physical with them on the defensive end as well. At halftime, I just talked to them about taking care of the ball, playing with physicality on both sides of the ball, showing your hands, being active, shifting – just being who we’re trying to be.

“And they received the message, they embraced it and they came out and executed.”

LeBron James had 35 points and 11 rebounds, Austin Reaves scored seven of his 15 points in OT, D’Angelo Russell scored 27 points and Anthony Davis had 27 points and 10 rebounds for the short-handed Lakers, who beat their local rivals for the first time since July 2020 in the Florida bubble.

“The party’s just getting started,” Ham said. “It’s good to come out on the right side of that one. But, they’re going to get all of their guys in uniform. They’re going to try to work on their cohesion. They’re very well-coached with [Clippers coach Ty Lue] and his staff. And they’re in our division, so we’re going to see them three more times. It should be fun each time.”

With James Harden watching in street clothes on the Clippers’ bench, Leonard finished with 38 points. Paul George scored 20 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, including eight points in the final minute before fouling out 30 seconds into overtime.

The Lakers’ bench was already thin with the injury absences of Jarred Vanderbilt, Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent and rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino even before starting forward Taurean Prince developed knee soreness in warmups, which severely limited their lineup rotations.

So late in the third, with the Lakers trailing 80-72 with 4:22 in the quarter, Ham turned to a 6-foot-10-plus frontcourt trio of Anthony Davis, Christian Wood and Jaxson Hayes.

The unconventional lineup did what was intended: muck things up defensively.

The Lakers (3-2) went on a 15-5 run with the aforementioned trio on the floor, using their length and size to bother the Clippers (3-2), who shot 2 for 9 from the field in that span, allowing the Lakers to take an 87-85 lead going into the fourth.

“They played well,” Lue said. “I thought we got to a good start being up 19 and then the rotation got kind of funky because of the early timeouts and we couldn’t get PG or Kawhi early and we had a second unit on the floor that I didn’t really like too much, but that was on me. We played hard, we just didn’t play smart at times, shot selection and kept our turnovers down a little bit, but I can’t fault the effort.”

The Clippers didn’t go down easily, going on an 8-2 run within the final two minutes capped by a George 3-pointer that cut the Lakers’ lead to 115-114 with 24 seconds left.

Russell knocked down a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left, but Cam Reddish (eight points, four assists, three rebounds) fouled George on a potential game-tying 3-point attempt, with George knocking down all three free throws to tie the score at 117 with 17 seconds left in regulation. Russell had an open shot at the buzzer but missed, sending the game to overtime.

The Lakers once again went bigger in overtime, subbing in Wood for Russell midway through the extra period. The move paid off, with Wood (10 points on 4-of-6 shooting to go with 11 rebounds in 29 minutes) dunking home a putback with nine seconds remaining to secure the Lakers’ streak-busting win.

“They’re a tough team to beat when you turn the ball over and they get out and transition, get easy baskets and so we need to do a better job with that,” said Lue, who saw the Lakers score 23 points off the Clippers’ 13 turnovers. “Overall, I love that fight, what it looked like and just got to continue to keep getting better.”

Even with the streak over, the Clippers have won 36 of the past 44 meetings overall.

“That was known,” Reaves said of the Clippers’ win streak and dominance in the series. “But at the same time, for me, and I (think) I speak for everybody, you want to win every game.”

It was James’ first 30-point game of the season, as he shot 13 for 19 (4 for 8 from 3-point range) to go with 11 rebounds, seven assists, two steals and a blocked shot in 42 minutes. He scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the fourth. His alley-oop dunk from Reaves put the Lakers up 124-119 with 2:12 remaining in overtime.

“He’s been phenomenal down the stretch,” Davis said of James. “And he’s making the right plays.”

Russell scored 19 of his 27 after halftime. Davis added four blocks, three assists and a pair of steals in 48 minutes. Reaves added seven rebounds and seven assists in 38 minutes.

“It’s just been a process this year of us figuring each other out as a group,” Ham said.

Leonard finished 15 for 28 from the field to go with six rebounds, five assists and two steals in 41 minutes.

“They dialed in, made sure they got to me, was in the gaps,” Leonard said of the Lakers adjusting after his fast start. “They’re not going to just let somebody keep shooting the ball.”

Russell Westbrook had 24 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists (six turnovers) and four steals against his former team.

“We played hard,” Lue said. “We just didn’t play smart at times. (Poor) shot selection, and (we needed to) keep our turnovers down a little bit. I can’t fault the effort.”

P.J. Tucker had five rebounds in 21 scoreless minutes off the bench in his debut for the Clippers after officially being traded to the team earlier in the day.

.@KingJames speaks on the little things that helped seal the win and his mindset headed into overtime. pic.twitter.com/caLrJCOWJ2

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 2, 2023

“They received the message, they embraced it, they came out and executed.” Darvin Ham speaks on the mental approach to the second half and LeBron’s preparation to be available. pic.twitter.com/3Rlk8F08qA

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 2, 2023

AD & LeBron show Austin Reaves love after his clutch performance. pic.twitter.com/G4IHj3CM0Z

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 2, 2023

“At the end of the day, it’s all about opportunity.” Anthony Davis speaks on his teammates’ readiness to make an impact on the game. pic.twitter.com/WVi0VUI2hn

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 2, 2023

Postgame thoughts from Ty Lue @LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/BW0xtt2lQS

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 2, 2023

D’Angelo Russell speaks on overcoming the deficit and praises his teammates for stepping up tonight. pic.twitter.com/Qf2JbMETh2

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 2, 2023

“Everybody stayed together defensively & offensively, and we came together and got the win.” Christian Wood on the big win and coming into his role on the team. pic.twitter.com/MkvCjctPNO

— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) November 2, 2023

Clippers expect James Harden will make sacrifices, help raise their ceiling

Janis Carr — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 03:29:29 +0000

LOS ANGELES — It was an opportunity Lawrence Frank couldn’t pass on. A once-in-a-career chance the Clippers’ president of basketball operations had to take – and so he did.

After months of speculation, deep dives on how the superstar might fit in with Kawhi Leonard and Paul Goerge, plus salary considerations, Frank completed the long-talked-about trade with the Philadelphia 76ers that brought James Harden, along with P.J. Tucker, to the Clippers in exchange for four players and several future draft picks. With that one move, the Clippers revved up their championship hopes.

“With James, it was an opportunity to maximize Kawhi and Paul and to give us the highest chance to win,” Frank said Wednesday evening before the Clippers faced the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. “It’s our responsibility not just to Kawhi and Paul and to the coaching staff and to the people in the organization, but to our fans to look at every single way where we can raise our ceiling.

“James is a ceiling-raiser.”

On the surface, acquiring the 34-year-old Harden made sense. A 10-time All-Star. A former league MVP. A high-caliber scorer and ball handler all in one jersey.

The convincing factor for Frank, though, was Harden’s postseason resume. Although the veteran point guard has never led any of his previous teams to an NBA championship, as Frank said, “One thing that always impressed us about James, is that the guy’s made the playoffs every single year.”

The Clippers had to do something; the status quo wasn’t working. Last season, with the same core players as this season, the team scrambled to avoid the play-in tournament and then with Leonard and George on the bench with injuries, lost to the Phoenix Suns in five games in a first-round series. Despite 12 consecutive winning seasons and 10 playoff berths in that time, the Clippers have made just one Western Conference finals appearance, with injuries often scuttling their best opportunities since Leonard and George came aboard.

“James Harden has an elite skill set and all he cares about is one thing: He wants to win a championship for the L.A. Clippers,” Frank said. “He wants to be part of something bigger than himself.”

The trade was agreed to Monday night, giving the Clippers a large window to integrate their two new additions. The 38-year-old Tucker made his Clippers debut on Wednesday, checking in at the 1:10 mark of the first quarter.

Harden, who did not play a game with the 76ers this season after demanding a trade in June, is expected to play his first game next week when the team travels to New York.

Frank said coaches ideally like to have players in camp for offseason workouts and training camp, but at the end of the day, he said, you make the best of circumstances. This season is barely into its second week.

“I think we still have a really, really long runway,” Frank said.

“It made a lot of sense to bring James and P.J. here as early as we can, just so our guys can get the reps, all the reps required to build continuity and rhythm and fit, and for Ty Lue and the coaching staff to be able to experiment with different combinations. So, we’re extremely excited to add James and P.J. and we feel we’ve gotten better.”

Lue believes the timing is fine.

“The good thing about the trade is we’re four games in, not 60 like last year” when (Russell) Westbrook joined the team, Lue said. “We’re going to have a lot of time. It’s going to be a process. We understand that. We’re excited about the journey ahead, but these four days are going to be really good for us. Came at a perfect time just to try to get James and P.J. up to speed.”

Harden is expected to start alongside center Ivica Zubac, Leonard, George and Westbrook, with Leonard moving to the power forward spot. Personalities aside, Frank sees the lineup as a winning combination of players.

“I think the one is there’s enough examples where just on video like so when you watch James with Kyrie and KD and even though those guys maybe they played 16 games together, but you saw a transformation,” Frank said.

“James from an individual standpoint, you think about it: he’s been a (three-time) scoring champ, the assists champ (twice), the MVP, Sixth Man of the Year. And then in Brooklyn, you saw at different moments of the game (when) he’d be strictly a playmaker, and then at times when he’d be with the second unit, he was more of a scorer.

“And in his first full year in Philly, you saw the pride he took helping make Joel Embiid be the MVP.”

Lue believes Harden and the other stars will make the adjustments necessary to turn the Clippers into a championship contender.

“Sacrifice is going to be the biggest thing,” Lue said. “Four guys from L.A., and four guys that have done a lot in their careers. So they understand, and they’ve talked about just winning a championship. That’s all we’re focused on. It’s going to take a lot of sacrifice, whether it’s shots, whether it’s minutes. They’re willing to do that.”

Frank echoed that, saying all four players are at the stage of their careers where winning a title is most important.

“They have all the individual accomplishments. They’ve made plenty of money. This is about one goal,” Frank said. “Just the uniqueness of the opportunity to have four guys from Los Angeles, who grew up within a couple years of each other to be able to come to a place that they want to be at and to do something that’s never been done before for the Clippers organization.

“The pride of place, the sense of pride. We see the investment every day and then have James and now also P.J., who’s a guy that we’ve targeted for a number of years, to be able to come together. I think it’s another important piece to continue to get better to come closer to trying to achieve our goal.”

PETRUSEV HEADED TO KINGS

In a move to preserve roster flexibility, the Clippers are reportedly trading forward Filip Petrusev and cash to the Sacramento Kings, ESPN was first to report.

Petrusev, a 23-year-old from Serbia who arrived in the Harden trade, was the 50th overall pick in the 2021 draft. He remained in Europe for two seasons before signing with the Philadelphia 76ers in July and joining the NBA.

The move means the Clippers have 13 players under contract now.

Clippers shake off slow start, pull away from Magic in 2nd half

Janis Carr — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 05:16:01 +0000

Clippers guard Bones Hyland shoots as Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35), guard Caleb Houstan (2) and guard Jett Howard defend during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, left, shoots as Clippers forward Paul George defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, center, shoots as Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs, right, and forward Franz Wagner defend during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, left, celebrates after blocking a shot during the first half of their game against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, center, shoots as Clippers guard Bones Hyland, left, and center Ivica Zubac defend during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland, right, shoots as Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr., left, dunks in front of Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, left, and Clippers guard Russell Westbrook reach for a rebound during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Amir Coffey, right, tries to shoot as Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Norman Powell celebrates after scoring during the first half of their game against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, left, shoots as Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers star Paul George shoots as Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz, right, shoots as Clippers forward Paul George defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, center, shoots as Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony, left, defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers forward Paul George, left, grabs a rebound away from Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, right, shoots as Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr., center, shoots as Clippers center Mason Plumlee, left, and guard Norman Powell defend during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers forward Paul George, right, shoots as Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers center Mason Plumlee, left, and Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony reach for a rebound during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris, left, shoots as Clippers center Mason Plumlee defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland, left, drives by Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers guard Bones Hyland, left, gestures after making a 3-point shot as Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley looks on during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony, center, shoots as Clippers center Ivica Zubac defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Clippers forward Paul George, left, shoots as Orlando Magic center Moritz Wagner defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Newly acquired James Harden, left, sits next to Clippers star Paul George as he visits the locker room prior to the team’s game against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to trade Harden, a 10-time All-Star, to the Clippers. (AP Photo/Joe Reedy)
Clippers guard Russell Westbrook runs to the corner of the court just before tip-off of their game against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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LOS ANGELES — Maybe it was a trade hangover. Or the fact that the Clippers were short-handed after trading away four players, leaving Coach Tyronn Lue with nine available players.

Or maybe they missed the defensive pressure that Nicolas Batum and Robert Covington provided on a nightly basis. Both Batum and Covington, along with Marcus Morris Sr. and K.J. Martin, were sent to the Philadelphia 76ers in a yet-to-become-official trade that brings former league MVP James Harden and veteran forward P.J. Tucker to Los Angeles.

“We got to be locked in for 48 minutes and it all starts the first five minutes of the game,” Lue said before their game against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. “Just having that defensive mindset.”

Just the opposite happened.

Whatever the distraction, the Clippers struggled early to play with the kind of focus that marked their first three games, falling behind by as many as nine points in the first half before rebounding for a convincing 118-102 victory over the Magic in the first game of a back-to-back set.

How bad was the first half? Paul George didn’t score his first basket until the 4:07 mark of the second quarter. Kawhi Leonard failed to connect on any of his six shots in the first half and Russell Westbrook made just one shot and had three assists in the first 24 minutes.

“We were nasty offensively,” Lue said of the first half.

George said the difference between the first and second halves was the team’s insistence on sticking with their game plan, which entailed getting out in transition and a focus on defense.

“We were getting great looks,” George said. “Shots just weren’t falling in the first half. We continued to be aggressive. I thought we didn’t panic.

“Our defense was holding us up, so it really wasn’t a need to panic at some point. We got great shot-makers and playmakers. You know, at some point we’ll find a rhythm.”

With future teammates Harden and Tucker watching from an arena suite upstairs (they can’t sit on the bench until the deal is official), the Clippers shot 33.3% from the field in the first half and made just 6 of 17 shots from 3-point range.

Lue said before the game that the team’s mindset was to win, not look ahead to the players who were there, the new players arriving or Wednesday’s rivalry game against the Lakers.

“We have to just take it one game at a time and understand that we got to have the right mindset offensively, making sure our spacing is good,” Lue said.

The Clippers did a better job in the second half locking down the Magic, who lost to the Lakers the night before, in the second half. The Clippers (3-1) took their first lead at 59-58 when Bones Hyland took a pass from Westbrook and drove the lane with 7:22 left in the third quarter. Hyland finished with 17 points and three assists in his first start of the season.

George took over from there, scoring on a 19-foot jumper, a 27-footer and another shot from the corner to give the Clippers a 10-point lead at 69-59 two minutes later. By the end of the third quarter, the Clippers led by 17 as George hit his fifth 3-pointer.

He scored a game-high 27 points on 8-of-17 shooting to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists.

“I had a good flow at that point in the second half,” George said.

Westbrook scored 16 of his 18 points in the third and George scored 14 in the third as the Clippers outscored the Magic 41-21.

“Our defense is what saved us,” Lue said. “I would say in the third quarter Russ did a good job pushing the pace. We got some turnovers getting out in transition and then PG got hot as well.”

Westbrook, who added six rebounds, seven assists and five steals, said if George gets aggressive, the team will respond.

“Miss or make … our team is better,” Westbrook said. “Our job is to make sure we keep making it easy for him, keep him in attack mode, keep his mind focused on what he’s able to do and that’s score the basketball at a high level. You’ve seen when he’s able to do that, we’re a different team.”

That 10-1 run seemed to deflate the Magic, who struggled to match their early energy despite having five players score in double figures. Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 15 points, Franz Wagner added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Moritz Wagner had 13 points and Markelle Fultz had 12.

The rest of the game belonged to the Clippers, who expect to have Harden and Tucker in uniform when the team begins a road trip at the New York Knicks on Monday.

Norman Powell added 17 points for the Clippers.

PG-13 had him on skates SCARY HOURS@LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/uNmSHTaUrF

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 1, 2023

PG stepback 3 and Russ is LOVING it!

ORL/LAC – Live on the NBA App pic.twitter.com/slx0nM0dAZ

— NBA (@NBA) November 1, 2023

"It can be anyone's night" – Coach Lue on tonight's win vs Orlando.@LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/7WHL2mPlsx

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 1, 2023

for 3! Bones has four 3's to go with 17 points on Halloween night It's only fitting right? pic.twitter.com/oZlDXk184h

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 1, 2023

.@Kristina_Pink checks in with Bones after his first Clippers start! @LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/mSOVSQEGf1

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 1, 2023

Kawhi isn't surprised by Russ's hot start to the season. "He's been doing this his whole career"@LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/xBICcaQc8B

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 1, 2023

Brodie is heating up again Russ has 16 midway through the 3rd@LAClippers | #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/LG9qVAHn2q

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) November 1, 2023