James Harden's Minutes Are Killing Clippers, Tyrese Haliburton Has Become a Superstar
Welcome to the NBA Star Power Index, where we take a look at the league's biggest stars and how they are impacting their teams.
In this week's edition, we'll examine the impact of James Harden's minutes on the Los Angeles Clippers and Tyrese Haliburton's ascension to superstardom with the Indiana Pacers.
Harden's Heavy Minutes Taking a Toll on Clippers
James Harden's debut with the Los Angeles Clippers has been nothing short of underwhelming. The former MVP has been struggling to find his footing in Tyronn Lue's system, and his heavy minutes are starting to take a toll on the team.
Harden is averaging a career-low 34.3 minutes per game this season, but he is still playing too many minutes for a player of his age and conditioning. The 33-year-old has missed nine games this season due to injury, and his availability has been a major concern for the Clippers.
When Harden is on the court, the Clippers are a force to be reckoned with. They have a net rating of 11.0 with Harden on the floor, compared to a net rating of -4.9 without him. However, Harden's heavy minutes are starting to wear him down, and the Clippers are paying the price.
The Clippers are 10-11 this season, and they are currently in sixth place in the Western Conference. They are just 1.5 games back of the fourth place Los Angeles Lakers, but they will need Harden to be healthy and productive if they want to make a deep playoff run.
Haliburton's Stellar Play Making Pacers a Surprise Contender
The Indiana Pacers were not expected to be much of a factor in the Eastern Conference this season. However, thanks to the stellar play of Tyrese Haliburton, they are currently in sixth place in the conference and only 1.5 games back of the third place Milwaukee Bucks.
Haliburton is averaging 21.2 points, 10.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game this season. He is one of the most efficient scorers in the league, shooting 49.6% from the field and 40.3% from three-point range. Haliburton is also a gifted playmaker, and he is leading the league with 10.2 assists per game.
Haliburton's emergence has been a major reason for the Pacers' success this season. He is a legitimate star in the making, and he has the potential to lead the Pacers to a deep playoff run.
Other Notable Performances
Luka Doncic is having another incredible season for the Dallas Mavericks. He is averaging 34.0 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists per game. Doncic is one of the most unstoppable players in the league, and he is carrying the Mavericks on his back.
Nikola Jokic is on pace to win his third consecutive MVP award. He is averaging 26.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. Jokic is one of the most dominant players in the league, and he is leading the Denver Nuggets to another playoff appearance.
Joel Embiid is having a career year for the Philadelphia 76ers. He is averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. Embiid is one of the most unstoppable scorers in the league, and he is leading the 76ers to another playoff appearance.
Conclusion
The NBA is a star-driven league, and the players listed above are some of the brightest stars in the league. They are all having incredible seasons, and they are all making a major impact on their teams.
I hope you enjoyed this week's edition of the NBA Star Power Index. Check back next week for more analysis of the league's biggest stars.