In the high stakes playoff showdown between the Mavericks and Clippers, all signs point to James Harden dishing out fewer than 9.5 assists. 

As the NBA playoffs heat up, the spotlight intensifies on the key players expected to make or break their team's fortunes. One such player under the microscope is James Harden of the LA Clippers, known for his ability to orchestrate the offense and rack up assists. However, when diving into the numbers and trends, a compelling case emerges for betting the under 9.5 on Harden's assists in the upcoming clash against the Dallas Mavericks.

Firstly, let's address the elephant in the room: Harden's performance against the Mavericks this season. Averaging 7.25 assists in four games doesn't just whisper; it screams that when up against Dallas, Harden's playmaking efficiency takes a dip. This statistic alone might raise a few eyebrows, but it's not an anomaly. It's a trend supported by recent performances and Harden's overall season trajectory.

Delving deeper into Harden's recent form reveals that he's been under the 9.5 assists mark in four of his last five games, averaging 8.2 assists. This isn't just a minor blip on the radar; it's indicative of a downward trend that's hard to ignore. For bettors and fans alike, this signals that Harden, while still a formidable force on the court, might not be the assist machine recently that we’ve been accustomed to seeing throughout his career. 

With an average of 8.52 assists for the season and a further dip to 8.4 assists over the last ten games, the narrative remains consistent. It's clear that Harden is trending downwards in the assists column, and against a team like the Mavericks, which has proven to be a challenging matchup for him, expecting a sudden upswing seems more like wishful thinking than a sound prediction.

Moreover, when Harden plays at home, where tonights game against the Mavericks is set, his trend continues to favor the under. In the last nine home games, Harden has fallen under the 9.5 assists mark in seven of those contests. This is not just a coincidence; it's a pattern that's hard to overlook. The arena formerly known as the Staples Center (now known as Crypto.Com Arena) has been a detriment for Harden's assists lately and it seems to be where they take a downturn.

In the high-stakes environment of NBA playoffs betting, where every point and every assist counts, leaning on the under for Harden's assists against the Mavericks is a move grounded in logic and statistics. As the Clippers and Mavericks gear up for another epic showdown, the under on Harden's assists emerges as a bet that's hard to pass up. Let’s lock this up and get this DUB!

Pick: James Harden Under 9.5 Assists

JP👊🏾🤑