ClutchFans Game Thread: Clippers @ Rockets 12/19/2015

You mentioned all of Dwight's flaws (even exaggerated them), while not mentioning all of Harden's. He's currently on pace for MOST TURNOVERS ALL-TIME IN A SEASON

Is it not the PG's job to initiate ball movement and get the ball to certain players? Neither player is a leader, but Harden still has a chance in becoming one due to his age. James is the team's best player, so yeah, if the team is playing crap defense while he plays crap defense, he gets the blame. If you wanna bump about how you should've been MVP, you get the blame. All the blame? No. Most of the blame? Yes

Better to have Martin, Lamb, and James though

Those players were only introduced to justify H&H's salaries.

 

You would have been proud of James tonight he's effort in the defensive side of the ball was hands down the best it's been all year and made a huge difference in the outcome of the game.

Ariza even said after that when JH and DH are setting the tone and playing hard like last night it's inpossible for the rest of the guys not to follow.

We need this JH and DH every game to lead by example and we will wind a lot of games.

Here's to a nice long win streak on the horizon against good opponents.

Would love to see a Spurs smackdown in front of a national audience on Christmas Day, followed by a big win against the the Warriors.

I think when we play defense with bev and dmo back we can beat anyone our team is extremely long and athletic. We can be the best defensive team in the league we have the personnel. It's all about commitment and desire to pride ourselfs on that side of the ball.

This team can score points but we're never going to be an offensive team like GSW or the Spurs but we can smother them on defense with our length and versatility and speed.

 

Harden isn't paid as much so his flaws should be burried under the ground? Esp since he has the highest USG% ?

I wonder what some people will say in a couple of years when if he hasn't left/demanded a trade by then,he will get paid 30+ while only playing one side of the ball, having so many turnovers and not being any kind of leader.
What will be the excuse then to completely ignore his flaws?

 

Why are we sand bagging Harden this game? He just played a very team oriented game was solid on defense and set the tone early with 11 first quarter points and 5 dimes.

Of all the games this is not the one to HATE HARDen.

He got dwight the ball early and often and made a concerted effort to play some very good defense from the opening jump.

And why are you bringing up what JH will be paid in 3 years? For all we know he might have led us to a ring has an mvp and is seen as the goat around here no reason to bring any of that up malakas, your better than that.

Once again this is not the game to do it, best win on the season.

This board has had enough negative comments about JH and DH the last several weeks, why can't we enjoy a win were we looked like a contender against a contender?

 

I bring it up because there are a couple of posters here that absolve Harden of all his flaws, or put them aside, and blame Dwight with such an argument as "he's paid 22 mil" so he should be the best in offence and defence, while he's not the one with the highest USG% of this team, and he doesn't even get the ball in his hands in most games.
I don't sandbag Harden at all. The reason most people here are talking about Harden's faults, is because they are Rockets fans and want from their superstar and franchise player to be the best and he isn't. He has regressed. It's not hatred to hold someone accountable. It's not hatred to want the best for your team and not be a player only fan.

 

#leadership

And agreed with the rest of your post... The Season Isn't Over Yet. Rockets can still be a huge success.

 

They both have flaws thats not the point. You guys have no idea I'm a bigger Howard fan than Harden fan and that's my point. Howard was a star long before Harden came along and people are acting like its all on Harden that's what I have a problem with. People are also acting as if Harden is responsible for how other players are playing and its not true. Howard has sucked because he has sucked not because of James Harden. I only defend Harden because its like people are forgetting we have Dwight Howard on this team. You guys want to turn this into a DOF vs HOF fight but its not. I'm simply saying Dwight needs to be aggressive and play the way he did last night every game. They have tried to get it to him but he sucked just like Lawson. Neither Lawson or Howard's play is Harden's fault.

 

How does a Howard fan criticize his weak offense when it's always been weak?

You seriously believe Harden's effort doesn't his teammates effort?

 

Yes Harden has mind control over other players and makes them play without effort as well

 

You don't understand basketball or any sport.

Just sit back, listen, and learn

 

If you think Harden is the reason Dwight hasn't played well this season maybe you should be the one to sit back and listen. Your post is ass backwards.

 

Again, Howard is no saint and is not a leader.


Is Harden Dwight's entire problem? Of course not.

Is he part of it? Yes

Is Harden the primary reason behind the '16 Rockets' defensive fall off? No doubt

 

No he's not. Harden's defense has always been bad I don't know why you guys can't understand that it's pretty simple. Even the defense he played last year was below average. The defense he has played this year is still better than the 2013-2014 season. That tells you that we still win when the role players do their damn job and they havent been. Harden is not responsible for the rest of the team basketball is a team sport and they all have sucked. There is actually no good reason to all out blame Harden unless you are gunning for him. Which you and a couple of others here are clearly doing struggling to explain why James Harden is the reason Trevor Ariza has even fallen in defense even when Harden isn't on the floor it makes no sense.

 

DMo did a good job against Blake.

 

Except words as :"bellow average"and "bad" and "attrocious" are simple for us fans to say but don't capture the extend that it affects a team, and the teammates.
One bellow average may cost their team 2 points, one bad may cost their team 10 points and one attrocious may cost their team games.

 

Oh snap!!!.... An argent Harden defender said his defense wasn't good (overall) last year. Agreed

And no, Harden's (the Rockets best player) effort DOES effect his teammates. Did you not read Ariza's comments posted earlier in this thread?

Refute what I said, so I can re-post the dialogue.

 

Fine so our entire team played horrid earlier in the season. They need to motivate themselves. Harden's turnovers are up and fg% is down though. But he played defense tonight - closing out on shooters and staying in front of his man. That's the difference right there, imo.

I started watching other teams play after our awful losses. Even some of our wins were awful. Miss watching some really good basketball. - the Bucks GSW game and spurs clippers were really good. Bulls Detroit was a slugfest but not as entertaining

 

When Harden doesn't properly cover his man with some decent defense an entire game it throws everybody's game off because of the compensation factor. I think Harden has another case of the swollen feet... Man needs to foot bath system with some treatment settings post game.

 

Why do you feel that Ariza was only implying Harden?

Ariza was visibly upset at Dwight's lack of effort on the court in past games, our last two losses (Sacramento and Denver) were firmly on Dwight for lack of effort, absolutely 100% on him.

Harden deserved the blame for much of the early season, but more recently? lol no

 

Harden freezing Howard out early on and Howard is still dealing with injuries is some of the reason why were 14-14.