The Los Angeles Clippers were supposed to be title contenders after acquiring James Harden. However, they look like one of the worst teams in the NBA.

The Los Angeles Clippers entered the season with high expectations. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were healthy, and Russell Westbrook was coming off a productive 2023 playoffs.

The Clippers started the season 3-2. They didn’t look like a championship contender, but it was still too early in the season for players or coaches to panic. After all, George, Leonard, and Westbrook were playing well. It looked like the three All-Stars were beginning to understand how to play and win together.

Then November 1 happened and nothing has been the same since. The Clippers traded Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, Nicolas Batum, and draft picks to the Philadelphia 76ers for James Harden. Los Angeles now had a “Big 4” of Leonard, George, Westbrook, and Harden and Clippers fans were excited to see the four California natives play together.

However, the Clippers have started 0-4 with Harden in the lineup and they look like one of the worst teams in the NBA. Los Angeles has several issues, but we’ll try and identify the team’s five biggest problems.

5. The Los Angeles Clippers Don’t Take Care Of The Ball

You’re not going to win many games in the NBA if you don’t protect the ball and the Los Angeles Clippers are finding that out the hard way.

Through nine games, the Clippers are averaging 16.3 turnovers per contest. They are fourth-worst in the NBA in turnovers per game and things may get even worse now that James Harden is on the team.

Harden and Russell Westbrook are both erratic with the ball. Westbrook has led the NBA in total turnovers four times. Meanwhile, Harden has led the league in total turnovers six times.

Harden has 10 turnovers in four games with the Clippers, while Russell Westbrook has 30 turnovers in nine games. Paul George is also turning the ball over a lot this season, as he has 29 turnovers in nine games.

Harden and Westbrook will likely continue to turn the ball over at a high rate moving forward and that will cost the Clippers. Both future Hall of Famers aren’t going to change who they are this late in their careers.

And to make matters worse, George seems to have lost his touch with the basketball, as the former Indiana Pacers star hasn’t been taking care of the ball either this season and that’s a trend that may continue now that Harden is on the Clippers.

George’s usage rate will continue to decrease with Harden on the team. Whenever George does get the ball, he may try to do too much with it so he can take advantage of having the ball. Doing too much with the ball in your hands usually results in trouble.

4. The Los Angeles Clippers Don’t Move The Ball Enough

The Los Angeles Clippers average only 24.1 assists per game. Their four best players are guys who thrive with the ball in their hands. As a result, the Clippers’ offense doesn’t have much ball movement.

Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook are used to having the ball. In today’s NBA, you’re not going to win games with four talented isolation players. Defenses can focus on one guy when he has the ball. It’s the teams that move the ball side to side and score off zipper cuts that usually win a lot of games.

The Clippers just have 217 assists in nine games. Only four teams have fewer assists. Leonard, Harden, Westbrook, and George aren’t always looking to pass the ball when their number is called by head coach Tyronn Lue. All four players are scorers. They are at their best when they are in “score mode.”

Sure, Westbrook and Harden have won assists titles, but that was when they were the No. 1 scoring option on their respective team. Leonard is the “guy” on the Clippers. Harden and Westbrook’s usage rates will be as high as they used to be. Therefore, both players are looking to score more now when they have the ball.

Leonard and George have never been “pass-first” guys. They are “score-first” guys. Neither forward makes their teammates better. So unless the Clippers move the ball more and have multiple threats on the floor outside of the “Big 4,” they will continue to struggle with Harden in the fold.

3. The Los Angeles Clippers Can’t Rebound The Ball

The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA. They are a bottom-five rebounding team, a bottom-10 defensive rebounding team, and a bottom-10 offensive rebounding team.

Ivica Zubac is averaging 7.9 rebounds per game for the Clippers. Russell Westbrook is second on the team in rebounds per game. The UCLA product is averaging 7.1 rebounds per contest. Third on the team is Kawhi Leonard, who is averaging 5.6 rebounds a night.

The Clippers can’t clear the boards. If they force a miss, they don’t finish the possession by securing the defensive rebound. Many Clippers fans didn’t want to trade for James Harden. They wanted the front office to trade for a big man since Mason Plumlee will miss the next two months with a knee injury. Los Angeles can’t rely on one guy (Ivica) to rebound the ball.

It seems like the Clippers’ front office knows the team needs more rebounders in the wake of Plumlee going down. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Los Angeles is interested in trading for Indiana Pacers big man Daniel Theis,

It will be interesting to see if the Clippers trade for Theis. The team needs all the help it can get on the boards. Theis has career averages of 7.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.9 blocks with the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Pacers.

2. Paul George Isn’t Consistent

Paul George is one of the most talented players in the NBA. However, the Los Angeles Clippers star can’t be trusted to stay consistent.

On the season, George is averaging 23.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.3 steals, and 0.1 blocks while shooting 46.9% from the field, 39.4% from beyond the arc and 92.6% from the free-throw line. Those are good numbers and shoot splits.

However, George has been a shell of himself ever since the Clippers acquired James Harden. PG-13 is averaging only 17.0 points while shooting 33.9% overall and 23.2% from 3 with Harden in the lineup.

While George’s recent struggles can be blamed on the arrival of Harden, George has never been able to play at a high level for all 82 games in a regular season and every game in the playoffs. Since getting traded to the Clippers in 2019, George has scored under 10 points in the regular season seven times.

In the 2020 playoffs, the Clippers blew a 3-1 series lead to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals. George shot 38.2% from the field and 33.3% from beyond the arc over Games 5-7. In Game 7, George finished with 10 points and five turnovers while shooting 4-of-16 overall and 2-of-11 from 3. He hit the side of the backboard on one of his 3-point attempts despite being wide open.

George is one of the best players in the league. Everyone contender would love to have him. However, George’s inconsistent play in the postseason is a big reason why he’s never been to the Finals. The All-Star is a career 42.4% shooter from the field in the postseason. That’s not efficient.

1. James Harden Doesn’t Impact Winning Anymore

The Los Angeles Clippers are 0-4 with James Harden in the lineup. They have lost to the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, and Memphis Grizzlies.

Harden has finished with a negative plus-minus rating in each game with the Clippers, who have gotten outscored by 67 points with Harden on the court. The Beard no longer impacts winning anymore and it’s evident Los Angeles made a mistake acquiring him.

Harden is averaging 13.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.5 turnovers in four games with the Clippers. The 10-time All-Star and 2017-18 MVP is shooting 47.2% from the floor and 36.8% from beyond the arc. The Clippers were outscored by a team-worst 28 points in Harden’s minutes versus the Grizzlies, who had only one win entering their game versus Los Angeles.

Harden doesn’t play defense. He doesn’t dive for loose balls. He’s a “score-first” player who is past his prime. The 34-year-old can’t get by defenders anymore, and like George, Harden has had some terrible performances in the playoffs.

Let’s say the Clippers figure things out in the regular season and make the postseason. Who is to say that Harden won’t choke again? The Philadelphia 76ers had a 3-2 lead over the Boston Celtics in the 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Harden played poorly in Games 6 and 7. He averaged just 11.0 points while shooting 25.9% from the field and 0.91% from beyond the arc.

In Game 7, Harden scored just nine points on 3-of-11 from the floor and 1-of-5 from 3. When the going gets tough, Harden folds.

Harden has requested a trade from the Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets and Sixers. He didn’t win with Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, or Russell Westbrook in Houston. He didn’t win with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant in Brooklyn. He didn’t win with Joel Embiid in Philadelphia and now he’s off to a poor start with Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George in Los Angeles.

Harden will make the Hall of Fame one day. He’s one of the best scorers in NBA history. However, he is what we call an “empty stats player.” His numbers don’t results in wins and that’s why Harden doesn’t have a championship yet.