Why did James Harden contest teammate Kawhi Leonard’s shot against the Blazers?

Despite facing criticism over the years, James Harden consistently shines in two key areas: scoring and passing. His ability to create his shot or draw fouls has made him one of the best offensive players of his era. Additionally, he has consistently been recognized as one of the best players in the league at setting up his teammates.

Last night, during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Harden demonstrated his usual passing skills by getting into the paint and drawing significant attention from the opposition. In the third quarter, he passed a lateral ball to Kawhi Leonard, who was open in the corner. Leonard attempted a shot, but to everyone’s surprise, Harden tried to block it. Although the move worked, it was odd because Harden was essentially trying to block a shot by one of his teammates.

Leonard missed the shot and appeared to look in Harden’s direction with his arms lashing.

“Got to bring some excitement to this team,” Harden said after the game during a locker-room interview. “I think these last few weeks have been a fog for us, and I think every team goes through it. So I think it’s just me trying to create a great energy, a great vibe.

“Maybe it would’ve been better if he made the shot, gives us something to laugh about.”

Despite the unusual block, Harden’s playmaking skills were still on display. After grabbing the rebound, he quickly passed the ball to Amir Coffey, who could shoot a three-pointer. Coffey made the shot, and Harden was credited with an assist. This play may have been unconventional, but it demonstrated Harden’s creativity and ability to make things happen on the court. At the end of the game, Harden posted 19 points on 6 of 11 shooting overall, along with 14 assists, four rebounds, and a block, with the Clippers finally getting their win on the road after a poor four-game losing streak.