What a waste of Harden s status! The Clippers have 1 win and 9 losses in the past 10 games and are struggling in vain. Isn’t it better to go on and off?

The Magic beat the Clippers 129-101 by 28 points. The Clippers have 1 win and 9 losses in the past 10 games. There is no hope at all.

Harden scored 31 points and 8 assists in three quarters. On the offensive end, he almost single-handedly matched the firepower of the Magic team. I believe that friends will have a deeper understanding of the two words "lone hero" and "dedicated effort" after watching Harden's performance.

The Clippers' dilemma against the Magic is clear at a glance: Zubac can't take advantage of the Magic's inside group in low singles. Carter, Bitadze, and Isaac are tall and hard. Zubac only scored 14 points in 16 shots (7 of 16). ; Sanders and Dunn, the two starting partners with Harden, were given unlimited three-pointers. Zubac + Sanders + Dunn were on the court at the same time. The Clippers were surrounded by a 1/5 pick-and-roll formation - helpless, Harden could only play singles without distinction.

Harden can't rest yet, Paul and Bogdan are in a sluggish state, making many mistakes and shooting hard, and the substitute backcourt is completely wasted. Harden returned from a break and the situation on the court was completely out of control.

Except for Harden, no one can do it. He is lonely, single-core, generous and sad. The Clippers have 1 win and 9 losses in the past 10 games. The most regrettable thing is that Harden's good state was wasted.

The Magic have top-notch defensive resources. In the first half of the Clippers, no one except Harden could stably hold the ball and score, putting all the pressure on Deng.

Zubac and Harden take turns playing singles. This is theoretically the Clippers' two most stable ways of attacking. But Zubac was limited by the Magic's inside towers. He played 18 minutes and 11 seconds in the first half and scored only 4 points on 2 of 7 shots - Carter 208 centimeters, Bitadze 211 centimeters, and Isaac 208 centimeters. The Magic's three inside rotations were able to defend Zubac without suffering a loss. Zubac was completely unable to attack in the low post, and his efficiency was suppressed to the lowest level by the Magic's single defense.

The Harden + Zubac pick-and-roll was also targeted by the Magic's defense: Since rookies Sanders and Dunn were on the court at the same time, the outside three-pointers at these two points could be opened up. The Magic freed up manpower to flank Harden's pick-and-roll, forcing Sanders and Dunn to receive the ball from the three-point line.

Sanders and Dunn combined for 0 of 4 three-pointers in the first half, plus 6 turnovers, of which rookie Sanders made 5 turnovers in the first half! That is to say, the Magic can boldly double-team Harden in the pick-and-roll, and others cannot defeat the Magic at all - and the effect is indeed the same. The highest score of Harden's teammates in the first half was only 6 points.

Zubac couldn't stop him from hitting him. Harden and Zubac were double-teamed in the pick-and-roll. The Clippers had no choice but to let the old Harden break the game in a one-on-one.

Harden almost single-handedly supports the Clippers' offense. The Magic has its own tall body BUFF, and its offense is obviously easier than that of the Clippers.

The Harden + Zubac pick-and-roll effect was not good, and the Magic simply ignored Dunn and Sanders' open long shots. Harden was forced to play the ball. The Magic's three players of at least 206 centimeters, Silva/Wagner Jr./Carter, at position 3/4/5, had enough rotation height to cover Zubac. Dunn/Sanders, who was left open in the Clippers' weak-side corner, did not have a stable three-point ability. Once Harden was pinched and hit the ball, the Clippers' position battle was completely awkward.

Harden was forced to start an indiscriminate one-on-one early. This is the best solution for the Clippers' offense to overcome their own on-court space constipation (Zubac + Sanders + Dunn): Harden singled out Suggs, the Magic's backcourt defensive lock, killing mid-range singles, and three corners from the corner. Threatening a three-pointer; Silva and Wagner switched defenses in isolation, combined with sudden shots and bravery to attack; Jeter Howard was called at the top of the arc and outside pick-and-rolls, and he advanced a long three-pointer and committed another three-point foul - Harden scored 24 points in the first half, single-handedly against the Magic team.

The Magic also boldly adopted a strategy of switching defense and consumption in response to Harden's one-on-one challenge. As long as Harden picks and rolls with the outside, the Magic will resolutely switch defenses at positions 1-4. Their defensive resources are too rich. Silva, Wagner Jr., Bane, Suggs, Blake, and Howard can all switch to guard Harden.

Harden scored 24 points in the first half, but only had 3 assists. The Clippers had 7 assists in the half and fell behind by double digits at halftime. The Magic are not afraid of Harden's one-on-one challenge. Wagner Jr., Suggs, and Bane can easily attack the Clippers' defense. The tall defensive counterattacks of the Magic generals make the Clippers desperate.

Harden struggled to score in isolation, scoring 31 points and 8 assists in three quarters, but his personal offensive gains could not withstand the points lost by the team's defense. Harden became more and more courageous as he fought, and the point difference became wider and wider.

Harden has no reliable helpers, which makes the game more difficult.

Harden cannot play, and the 40-year-old Paul makes frequent field control errors in the transition period. He makes 3 turnovers and 1 of 5. His fuel tank is at the bottom. His shooting accuracy and error control are not ideal. Paul is old and Bogdan's state is ups and downs. Once Harden rests, the Clippers no longer have a stable second ball handler.

Even when Harden is on the court, the Clippers still struggle.

Dunn and Sanders missed long-range shots from two points. Zubac + Dunn + Sanders had three points in the same court. Once Harden + Zubac pick and roll, the upper line and the middle will be blocked. The weak side corner three-pointer does not have stable firepower. It is as uncomfortable as it is.

The Clippers' Jigsaw players have many pie-eating end points, and only a handful of players can hold the ball and play in isolation. Zubac's state is completely different from last season. Once Zubac is frustrated in singles, the Clippers will be unable to find any offensive strength except Harden.

Given Harden's age, with such high-intensity consumption every game, it is only a matter of time before he is exhausted and injured. The Clippers are now drinking poison to quench their thirst, but there is no way. Bill is out for the season, Kazi and Jones are still recovering from injuries, Paul and Bogdan are not in good condition as expected, some Jigsaw players are old, and some can defend but cannot shoot. The Clippers' current lineup and rotation are problems.

If the Clippers don't make a deal, they can only struggle. What's even more difficult is that they have to hand over to the Thunder in the first round in 2026. They have 1 win and 9 losses recently. The only win is the Mavericks' remnant lineup without Irving and thick eyebrows. There is no hope.

The most regrettable thing is that Harden’s good form so far this season has been wasted. Considering the injury situation of Brother Kazi, Harden must be mentally prepared at any time in the Clippers if his ace is injured and he can lead the team with one core.. If you apply for a transaction in the future, you can sign up and leave without any debt, which may be the best result for both parties!