James Harden has been a better Playoffs Performer than 2x Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard when it matters the most. As absurd as that sounds, the stats back the Sixers‘ point guard up, even after his 0-of-6 meltdown from the 3-point line against the Celtics in Thursday night’s loss.
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There was no way the Sixers would lose Game 6 in Philly if Harden showed up half as good as he was in the other two games in the series.
However, in the closeout game for Joel Embiid and Co, The Beard folded again like he used to in almost every other post-season game with the Rockets.
But whatever you remember of him as a player in the post-season might not be the complete picture because that man is apparently better than ‘The Klaw’ in closeout and elimination games of the Playoffs.
NBA Twitter proves James Harden a better Playoff performer than Wilt Chamberlain and Kawhi Leonard
Harden’s comparison with Wilt Chamberlain might not sound as atrocious because the former Philadelphia great struggled in the Playoffs himself. But Kawhi Leonard is considered one of the greatest playoff performers of all time.
That’s the reason why he is part of the NBA’s 75th-anniversary team. Now, out of the blue, if you get to know that nobody else, but James Harden is better than the Clippers star in closeout and elimination games, would you believe it?
Well, after reading this chain of Tweets from ‘Kicks’, you might as well forget the narrative of him being awful in the Playoffs.
James Harden has a reputation as a bad playoff performer, but did you know he has a better postseason scoring average than Wilt Chamberlain?
Here are some other facts that prove this narrative is overblown: pic.twitter.com/Rogu9S3uEi
— Kicks (@kicks) May 11, 2023
In 158 career-postseason games, Harden has dropped 40+ points an incredible eleven times.
He’s also dropped 30 or more points a whopping 47 times.
— Kicks (@kicks) May 11, 2023
In closeout and elimination games, James Harden has a true shooting percentage of 57.6 and 58.8, respectively.
Both of these figures are better than two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard, who most people regard as an all-time playoff performer.
— Kicks (@kicks) May 11, 2023
His higher free throw attempts and conversion rate also must be the reason for his better true-shooting percentage over the years.
Can Harden be that man for the Sixers in Game 7?
The 10x All-Star had 13 points, on 4-of-16 shooting from the field, which had his true-shooting percentage at 41.6. That too because he was 5/5 from the charity stripe.
But considering the fact that Harden has scored over 40 points twice in the series, where he shot at least over 55% from both, the field and the 3-point line, he might show up again.
Also, his 45-point performance came in TD Garden in a win without Embiid, so the C’s better believe he will bring his A-game Saturday, and play him accordingly.
