Jason Kidd explains defensive issues against James Harden
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks they were defeated by the los angeles clippers on friday night at NBA Cup match, losing SCORE. With the loss, the Mavs fall to 3-10 on the season, while the Clippers are now 4-8 overall. Despite that Derek Lively II returns from injuryThe Mavs failed to overcome James Harden and LA. Harden led all scorers in POINTS, while also notching REBOUNDS and ASSISTS.
“You have to show your hands,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said about how to defend a star like Harden. “He’s the best at drawing fouls. That’s why he’s one of the best in the world… He understands what to do, the time to score. It’s not always the dunk, it’s getting to the free throw line that leads to the goal. He gets to the shot he wants and that’s the difference between great players and ordinary players.”
Harden is still one of the best offensive players in the NBA at the age of 36. His ability to make defenses and make the right play causes headaches for opponents. He’s capable of dropping 40 on a nightly basis, but he can also put up assists with the best guards in the league. A game of around 30 points and 10 assists is certainly not rare for the Clippers star.
Kidd’s defense simply had no answers for Harden all game. If the Mavs sent a double team, Harden made the right pass. If Dallas attempted a one-on-one defense, the future Hall of Fame point guard scored without too much trouble. Harden’s efficiency — SHOOTING EFFICIENCY STATISTICS — helps tell the story.
The Clippers had other players who made a positive impact on the game, but Harden undoubtedly set the tone. As a result, the Mavs suffered their third straight loss amid a frustrating start to the 2025-26 campaign.
The Mavericks play the final contest of their current four-game homestand on Sunday night against the Portland Trail Blazers. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM EST.
2025-11-15 05:18:00
