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  • Poor shooting in season-ending loss
    Harden finished with 16 points (5-16 FG, 0-6 3Pt, 6-7 FT), seven rebounds, 13 assists, one block and two steals over 43 minutes during Friday's 114-101 loss to Dallas in Game 6 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Harden was one of the players the Clippers needed to have step up with Kawhi Leonard (knee) sidelined, but the veteran guard didn't come through. He was particularly woeful in the final two games of the series, during which he went 7-for-28 from the field, including 1-for-13 from three-point range. He averaged 21.2 points and 8.0 assists per game in the series, but the numbers don't tell the whole story, as the Clippers needed -- and expected -- more out of him, but he couldn't deliver when called upon. Rotowire.com Saturday, 6:23 am
     
  • James Harden drops 16 points, 13 assists Friday
    James Harden finished Friday’s 114-101 loss to the Mavericks with 16 points (5-of-16 FGs, 6-of-7 FTs), seven rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and one blocked shot in 43 minutes.

    Advice: Harden may have dished out 13 assists while only committing one turnover in Game 6, but he struggled shooting the basketball in his final game of the season. The Beard did not play well in the series’ final two games, which was also the case for Paul George. Friday’s loss sends James into what could be another offseason of change. Harden’s season began with instability, as he made it clear that he wanted out of Philadelphia. The 76ers ultimately accommodated that desire, and after a slow start to his time with the Clippers, The Beard rounded into form. Harden’s Yahoo ADP (31.3) suffered due to the preseason questions, but he finished the year as a top 30 player in 8- and 9-cat formats. Harden will be a free agent this summer, and the Clippers could also have to negotiate a new deal with George. Look for his ADP to improve by a few spots if the Clippers keep the roster intact. Rotoworld Friday, 9:54 pm
     
  • Strong double-double in win
    Hart closed with 16 points (5-11 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), 14 rebounds and seven assists over 46 minutes during Thursday's 118-115 win over the 76ers in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Hart finished just three assists away from recording a triple-double as the Knicks clinched a 4-2 series win over the 76ers, and the small forward played a prominent role on both ends of the court throughout the first round. Hart recorded three double-doubles in the series but grabbed double-digit rebounds four times and scored 15-plus points in all but one of the six contests. Hart should have a tougher matchup in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and it wouldn't be surprising if he ends up being matched up against Pascal Siakam for stretches. Rotowire.com Friday, 8:52 am
     
  • Josh Hart records 16/14/7 stat line in Game 6 win
    Josh Hart accounted for 16 points (5-of-11 FGs, 3-of-3 FTs), 14 rebounds, seven assists, and three 3-pointers in 46 minutes in Thursday’s 118-115 win over Philadelphia.

    Advice: The Knicks are headed to the second round, the first time since 2000 that they’ve won a series in two consecutive postseasons. Hart was one of the reasons, as he hit a crucial 3-pointer with 25.1 seconds remaining to give the Knicks the lead for good. From that point onward, the Knicks hit four straight free throws, an issue in their Game 5 collapse, to lock up the series. Hart was one of four Knicks starters to log at least 44 minutes, so the second-round series against the Pacers not starting until Monday is a big deal. Rotoworld Thursday, 9:10 pm
     
  • Obi Toppin scores 21 in series-clinching win
    Obi Toppin was outstanding in Thursday’s 120-98 win over the Bucks, finishing with 21 points (8-of-15 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), eight rebounds, two assists, one block, and three 3-pointers in 24 minutes.

    Advice: The Pacers are off to the second round after eliminating Milwaukee in six games, and Toppin was a massive factor in Game 6. A double-digit scorer in the series’ final four games, the fourth-year forward scored a team-high 21 points in Game 6. Toppin’s production was critical, as Indiana’s starting frontcourt struggled with fouls. Pascal Siakam (19/7/4/1 with one 3-pointer) and Myles Turner (5/5/1/0/1) were whistled for four fouls, while Aaron Nesmith (15/3/1 with three 3-pointers) picked up five. Indiana’s depth was a significant factor in the first round, and that could also be the case in the second, whether they get New York or Philadelphia. Game 1 is on Monday night. Rotoworld Thursday, 6:44 pm
     
  • Top scorer off bench in Game 6
    Toppin posted 21 points (8-15 FG, 3-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), eight rebounds, two assists and one block over 24 minutes in Thursday's 120-98 win over Milwaukee in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Toppin gave Indiana a much-needed lift off the bench, leading all Pacers in scoring while connecting on a team-high-tying trio of threes and ending two rebounds shy of a double-double in just under 25 minutes on the second unit. Toppin has been stellar off the bench this postseason but posted his best outing of the playoffs thus far in the series-clinching victory. Toppin concluded the first-round series by surpassing the double-digit scoring mark in four straight outings. Rotowire.com Thursday, 6:11 pm
     
  • Ends season plagued by struggles
    Herro ended Wednesday's 118-84 loss to the Celtics in Game 5 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with 15 points (6-19 FG, 1-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), three rebounds and three assists across 35 minutes.

    Advice: Herro was forced to embrace a more prominent role on offense due to the absences of Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck) in the series against the Celtics. While the numbers were decent across the board, he struggled badly in terms of efficiency and shooting percentages. Over the five games of the series, Herro made just 38.5 percent of his shots from the field and 34.9 percent of his three-pointers. He averaged 16.8 points per game, but that was not enough to lift Miami to victory against the team with the best record in the NBA. Rotowire.com Thursday, 5:51 am
     
  • Limited impact in Game 5 loss
    Harden amassed seven points (2-12 FG, 1-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds and seven assists over 33 minutes during Wednesday's 123-93 loss to the Mavericks in Game 5 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

    Advice: Harden was a non-factor in the loss, a far cry from what he has been able to deliver thus far in the series. Both he and Paul George had off nights, much to the joy of Mavericks fans. The Clippers are now one loss away from elimination, a result that would leave the future of the current squad in some doubt. If they are to force a Game 7, Harden is going to need to rediscover his early-series form. Rotowire.com Thursday, 2:58 am
     
  • James Harden offers little in Game 5 blowout loss
    James Harden played 33 minutes in Wednesday’s 123-93 loss to the Mavericks, accounting for seven points (2-of-12 FGs, 2-of-2 FTs), four rebounds, seven assists, and one 3-pointer.

    Advice: After shining in Sunday’s Game 4 victory, Harden put up an absolute stinker in Game 5. He finished with more turnovers (four) than made field goals (two), failing to reach double figures in a postseason game for the first time since Game 7 of the 76ers’ second-round loss to the Celtics last season. We’ve seen Harden have great games before, and he’ll need to do the same in Game 6 on Friday if the Clippers are to extend their season. Rotoworld Wednesday, 9:32 pm