The Los Angeles Clippers enter this season with less star power than last year after Paul George left for the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency and Kawhi Leonard was sidelined indefinitely due to right knee inflammation.

Now James Harden leads the team as the clear leader and best option. In an interview with Shams Charania of ESPN, Harden noted that this year’s Clipper squad does not “have room for mistakes, just like many other teams.”

“I’ve been in situations like this where we didn’t have as much as other teams, but that’s where my leadership role really has to come into its own. We don’t have room for mistakes like many other teams. We must be detailed and precise in everything we do, and that starts with me. We started in the summer and we’ve had a really good pre-season, so I think it’s been a really good start for us.”

Harden’s response was an answer to this question: “Do you see yourself as ‘the guy’ here now that you’re starting the season without Kawhi? What’s your mentality?”

Last season, Leonard averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals per game. George scored 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals. That pair of two-way stars led the Clippers in scoring, and it will be difficult for the team to replace that production.

The Clippers also face the challenge of fighting for the playoffs in a stacked Western Conference, where 11 teams finished .500 or better and 10 teams finished the season with 46 or more wins. Only a few teams are currently going through a rebuilding phase, with most of the West setting their sights on a spot in the NBA Finals. That makes it all the more difficult for the Clippers and Harden, even if he seems ready for the challenge.

“I’ve been in this situation before, so it’s easy for me,” Harden told Charania when asked about his experience working on a team that has been looked at in the past.

“I feel comfortable in this role. And then you get a chance to build guys up. Guys who don’t feel like they have the most confidence or who are still trying to fill that role, you kind of help guys to build their feeling. Someone like Kai Jones, who hasn’t really had a real chance in his class yet, so I think my experience will help him.”

Ultimately, Harden has a big task ahead of him in leading a team as its lone star, though the Clippers certainly have some solid talent left over from last year’s 51-win team, including Norman Powell, Terance Mann and Ivica Zubac, among others.

Game 1 for the Clippers will take place Wednesday at their new home, the Intuit Dome, against the Phoenix Suns.