Harden: "Dwight and I are the cornerstones of the Rockets. The rest of the guys are role players..."

it's called team chemistry. Plus you wouldn't be mad if someone at work called themselves a superstar yet your project leader always falls short in the biggest spots throughout the last year?

 

Doesn't sound much different than Parsons proclaiming his superiority to Batum and worthiness of being a "3rd star", then proceeding to get consistently punked.

 

Agreed. Also wasn't there something about Parsons complaining that he wasn't in the conversation for the olympics?

He has an ego. Almost all NBA stars do. But usually the role players do a better job of keeping their mouths shut.

I don't really like ANY athlete with a massive ego, but everyone seems to either villify or ardently defend guys for the exact same things. It just depends on the posters' prior feelings towards the player.

 

Most people like humble stars. This is why guys like Yao is so loved even though he has not really won us anything big.

Some people believe that a player has to have big ego to win big. They pretty much equate competitiveness to big ego. I guess it could just be semantic. Personally, I don't think competitiveness is the same as big ego.

 

I don't think so either. You can be a quiet competitive. Or even tough and aggressive on the court. But too many guys have this burning need to manage their social media image or cultivate a media presence. Aint nobody got time for that.

 

Harden can become humble after he wins a title. Until then, I want our lead players to be egotistical. Like mentioned above, that usually equates to competitive spirit.

Harden is about to show the world that Parsons isn't on Harden's level.

 

I know my role. Its the role I signed for and accepted. So they can say it as much as they want. I dont care. I am a physical therapist and that is it. I do not desire to be the CEO of a hospital so I could care less.

 

Actually James Harden was the 2nd leading 4th qtr scorer behind Durant and made the highest % of clutch shots in last 3 min with game close. Check the numbers before you post this garbage.

 

If his teammates have come out and said he is right then how does it negatively affect team chemistry. You are making up s+*t.

 

so the president of a company or country can't call himself a president?

 

Yao had a competitive spirit in addition to being one of the most humble players in the league.

You can have one without the other.

 

IMO, yao didn't have that killer mentality

 

It depends on how close the team is.

If the team is all on the same page and they all like each other, then they'll defend their friend even when the media wants to jump on him.

Plus, I'm not sure how many of you know this, but players are given "roles" by the coaching staff. Coaches tell each player what he wants them to do and what he doesn't want them doing.

Guys like Harden and Howard are given free-reign. Guys like Beverley and Ariza are given defined roles... hence the meaning of "role player". If a player starts doing things outside of his role, that's a good way for that player to find a seat on the bench.

 

There are two kinds of players in this league.

1) Star/franchise players
2) Role players

The role players jobs are to support and help the franchise players. That is the way it is and the way it has always been. The players know this, the coaches know this, experienced fans know this....so why is this a big deal?

it is a tale, told by a idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

 

This has essentially become a Harden vs. Parsons thing. And come on, we all know who you would rather have on the Rockets.

Parsons was under the impression that this was his team, and that Les would rename them The Houston Parsons.

Harden actually has a chance of stepping up now, and I think previous instances in which he didn't can be attributed to Parsons standing in the way.

 

Sadly agree. The fact that Okur and Boozer could hold him down was enough to figure that out. All you had to do was front Yao and it was over.

 

We can speculate as to how the team will react to Harden's comment, but we won't really know until the season starts and we get to watch the team in action.

To me, the team's reaction to the comment will depend on how Harden handles his business next season.

If Harden comes in focused and pushes hard on both ends of the court, teammates will take him seriously as a "cornerstone" and follow his lead. However, if Harden still plays lazy defense and relies on teammates to cover his ass, then the rest of the guys are more likely to roll their eyes at any "cornerstone/role player" talk from Harden and take it as an expression of a sense of entitlement-- to money, publicity, shots and a free pass from doing the dirty work.

It isn't a matter of having no ego or needing to be nice to teammates. Star players can push the guys on the team hard-- yell at them, needle them, and slap them on the head like Kobe did to Pau Gasol and others. But to do that you have to hold yourself to an even higher standard than you hold your teammates. When teammates perceive you as giving less than 100% yourself but demanding that from them, the attempt at "leadership" is likely to look ridiculous.

Also, whether or not a star is nice to teammates is a whole different matter from whether he understands the importance of the teammates. A team leader would push and prod guys not because they are expendable, but precisely because they are important and you need them to be at their best (or be replaced by someone better). It's quite another thing to say that "I don't really care who else is on the team with me and Dwight, we are the only two that matter."

 

He's 24 and is a rockstar. As much flack as we give him around here he's still seen around the nba as one of the best players in the game. I think even other fans around the nba forget how young this guy really is. What he did in yr one with us was very special and not done often, let alone a guy who had just turned 23 and had never been more than a super sub. To drag that team and make them all buy in and rally around him was special. Those guys we're young and a lot of other teams spare parts. IMO that was great leadership. I remember hearing defino speak about how harden was the best player he has ever been around because he made everyone around him better but still got his.

I think harden can become a great leader. Last season with Dwight brought championship aspirations and we really expected harden to act like a 10 yr vet. I think it was a wake up call, much needed also. We need james harden mindset of yr one but the offensive game of post allstar yr two. Sprinkle in defense and you got the 3rd best player in the game a true MVP and the rockets will be playing like true contenders.

 

Agreed, and to add, there is a third kind of player that is just itching to crack the rotation and become a role player. Being an NBA role player is an incredible accomplishment. Fan's get caught up in the star/superstar labels, but I guarantee Danny Green slept might comfortably the night he was first called an NBA role player.

 

http://cdn16.castfire.com/audio/303...erer=http://grantland.com/podcasts/bs-report/

Lowe and Simmons talking about the upcoming bball tournament and who their crunch time 5 is around the 29 minute mark.

Lowe went with Curry/Harden/George/Durant/Davis

Simmons went Curry/Thompson/George/Durant/Davis

Somewhat paraphrasing but basically what Lowe said...