James Harden shoots another match 7 Houdini disappear the act while the mowers are eliminated by Nuggets

The Los Angeles Clippers were shaken by Denver Nuggets in match 7 Saturday, losing 120-101 in an eruption which was far from being as close as even this wide margin would indicate. With less than nine minutes to go, the mowers followed by 35.

In a game full of villains clipper numbers, including the worst more / less of Kawhi Leonard’s career (less-33), the seven points of James Harden on eight shots are distinguished as particularly derisory, if only for his predictability.

After all, the laying of eggs in elimination games is a hard -rated tradition from time to time. He deceived us with 28 points in match 6 Thursday, but given his story, there was no way that he was going to double this watch in match 7. The mathematics were simply too strong.

Consider that in his last 13 elimination games, Harden drew 39% of the field while his teams passed 2-11. In his last five elimination games, even including this aberrant performance in match 6, he only represents 14.2 points on 38% shooting. Take this pumping game of statistics 6 of the equation, and you will have to protect your eyes from the table below.

Before match 6 of Thursday, you had to go to the bubble until 2020 to find the last time that Harden had won an elimination match, when the Rockets outstripped Oklahoma City 104-102 in match 7-and even in it, he pulled only 4 for 15 and missed eight of his nine 3 points.

The Harden apologists will highlight his 13 assists on Saturday, 10 of which came from the first half, and try to tell you that he played well despite the seven points. Don’t pay attention to them. They are delusional.

It is not even as much the seven points as the eight shots. I promise you, if the Rockets direct the gymnasium warriors on Sunday in their match 7, Stephen Curry will erase the Rafters trying to put his team back into it. He’s not going to fall with bullets.

But harden? When the lights become shiny, it is too happy to turn off the switch. I do not know if he protects the little from his integrity of a box score or if he really loses confidence when the shots do not take place early in an elimination game, but anyway, it is a groaning trait for a guy who will be one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the NBA.

Speaking of Curry: in 14 career elimination games, do you care to risk how many times has he scored less than 20 points? Once. In 16 career elimination games, Kevin Durant also exceeded 20 points only once. LeBron James, in 29 career elimination games, Never was detained within 20 years.

Meanwhile, Harden scored less than 20 points in 12 of his 26 career elimination games, including seven of his last 13. His performances in match 7 are a special lamentable brand.

Harden is on many impressive historical lists. Just say that it is not one of them.

Look at this lower note: Scored less than 10 points in the consecutive match 7. Come on, guy. James Worthy collected on average more than 27 points in four career games 7 and collected 36 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in a match 7 Finals victory. This is how you get the nickname “Big Game James”.

Harden goes otherwise.

What makes these elimination game failures so much more difficult to swallow is that Harden has a way of being so good in the first part of these series. The same guy who scored seven points on Saturday also scored 32 in match 1.

Last season was the same story. Harden collected on average 26 points in the first four games in the Clippers series in the first round against Dallas; Then he scored seven points in match 5 and missed his six of his 3 points in match 6 while the Clippers went from 2-2 to elimination.

Two years ago with Philadelphia, Harden collected 45 and 42 points in two of the first four games in the 76th series in the second round against Boston. The Sixers led this 3-2 series, but in matches 6 and 7, Harden scored 13 points and nine points, respectively, on 25% of shooting when it lacked 10 of his 11 3 points.

Glorify the 13 assists he installed on Saturday whatever you want, but these acts of Houdini which harden the late that he obtains in a series has become an undeniable trend. Discover the figures in its last three qualifying series.

While the clippers entered the playoffs, they were a popular choice as a team with the best chance of upsetting thunder in the West. Kawhi Leonard was healthy and dominant. The defense was elite. But Harden playing at an All-NBA level was the third stage on which they were standing.

Chop this leg and the mowers were still going to be finished. Harden has been standing for two games in this series. But in the one who counted the most, his disappearing act was – unfortunately – too predictable.