Again like I said... both were pretty bad in this series. Trade Lin+Harden for JJ Redick and Matt Barnes
Lin has played bad, but Harden has sucked just as much. We all know this, it's just nobody has really talked about it due to Lin screwing up in game 4. oh and this video is always reassuring as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVYJULACcao
His point is Harden is our best player and leader. His performance has a MUCH bigger effect on wins & losses. He's shot horribly this series, and a MUCH MUCH bigger reason why we're down 1-3. Yet, there's all these threads about our backup PG single handedly losing this series for us?
He can take 200 shots but it all comes down to one simple mistake ( Lin) would cost you a game over and over ......
if he scores 300 points with 200 shots, one simple mistake by Lin would bring our lead down to 16 points instead of 18.
Here you go dream_team, arabrocket beat me to it. I'm not saying Harden has been playing great, but blaming Harden just isn't going to cut it. You know your ass will be roasted when you make 2 stupid mistakes in a row in 2 games. Especially in the playoffs.
The former OKC trio is looking pretty rough this postseason. Durant .396/.265/.798 Westbrook .351/.194/.793 Harden .350/.268/.871
When two team are dead even it usually comes down to the last minute and then the mistakes are even more costly. That is why Lin should NOT be playing in the 4th quarter next game. If he does play then McHale is begging to get fired.
some blame goes on harden, some goes on the offensive system the players operate in. really this is a giant team fail with some performing better than others. asik, daniels, and howard (although some things do fall on him) are standing out above others. bev had the flu for one game and is playing with a deficient knee. he has to get some leeway.
If we go on to lose this series, looking forward, is Harden still considered untouchable? I love what the guy brings on offense and think he's a dynamic player, but his complete inability to even pretend that he cares about defense makes me want to pull my hair out. Looking around the league, and assuming their teams go on to fail to win it all or meet expectations, I see two trading partners where both parties may seriously ponder a mutually-beneficial trade. 1.) Trade Harden to OKC for Westbrook, assuming his knee is fine of course. OKC gets back a dynamic scoring threat who loves playing with Durant, and they can re-sign Jackson to be their point moving forward. 2.) Harden to Indy for George and whatever filler necessary to make salaries match. Potential problem I see here is that Bird is apparently huge on character and work ethic... What do ya'll think of either of these? Again, I haven't written off the Rockets' season just yet, but honestly with the way they're playing, looking to the future and how we can improve is the only thing keeping me same.
i would not do harden for westbrook at all. I still think defense is mostly effort and it can be instilled. so like most of the team's problems, it starts and ends with mchale. if harden's d pulls your hair out, i dont want to know what watching westbrook night in and night out would make you pull out. harden for george i would do in a heartbeat.
Yes because Terry Stotts goes to bed at night after a long session of coming up with a game plan of stopping Jeremy Lin.