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Zach Lowe: Ten things I like and don't like (James Harden, lob artiste)

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by ChrisP, Nov 19, 2017.

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  1. ChrisP

    ChrisP Contributing Member

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    Didn't see this posted elsewhere... this guy has a fun writing style - read the rest here:
    http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/21438641/zach-lowe-10-things-like-featuring-pelicans-nba

    His take on James Harden (there are a couple of good videos but I don't know how to embed them):

    2. James Harden, lob artiste
    Everyone appreciates Harden's one-step-ahead passing now, but we tend to think mostly of those cross-court lasers to open corner shooters; only LeBron assisted on more corner 3s last season, per data from ESPN Stats & Information.

    But Harden is one of the league's best and most artful lob passers. He is daring, and he uses his dribble to engineer lobs that even the best point guards can't generate. This is very much a James Harden lob:

    [video]

    Clint Capela. The first pick-and-roll gains Houston no traction. Harden realizes that, toasts Jerryd Bayless with an absolutely mean-spirited, right-handed, though-the-legs crossover, and conjures an advantage out of thin air.

    He then zips down the gut, straight toward Capela, before drawing the last help defender and lobbing an alley-oop. Most lobs come at diagonal angles. Think of Chris Paul, now Harden's teammate, tossing an over-the-shoulder lob across the paint to DeAndre Jordan. This is almost a perfectly straight lob. It looks like a shot.

    And this ... this is audacious:

    [video]

    Kyle Lowry cheating away from Eric Gordon in the right corner, but not far enough to interfere with an accurate lob.

    And so he tosses it from 35 feet, to a spot only Capela can reach, because why in the hell not? Harden is a genius. He can give the architect of Lob City a run.
     
    #1 ChrisP, Nov 19, 2017
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  2. DonKnock

    DonKnock Member

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    We have the 2 best pick and roll players to ever play the game
     
    #2 DonKnock, Nov 19, 2017
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  3. napalm06

    napalm06 Huge Flopping Fan

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    There was a time, back when Dwight was around that I felt that Harden sucked at lob passes. This is an example of massive improvement by him.
     
    #3 napalm06, Nov 19, 2017
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2017
    Rocket River likes this.
  4. RocketsFido

    RocketsFido Member

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    Harden's improved so drastically over the years but it's a shame the media doesn't reward him with an MVP.
     
    #4 RocketsFido, Nov 19, 2017
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  5. Pen15clubber

    Pen15clubber Member

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    @tinman
     
    #5 Pen15clubber, Nov 19, 2017
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  6. Mazulis

    Mazulis Member

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    I like it LOB CITY!
     
    #6 Mazulis, Nov 19, 2017
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  7. tinman

    tinman Contributing Member
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    Lin passes=passing to the other team
     
    #7 tinman, Nov 19, 2017
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  8. Roc Paint

    Roc Paint Contributing Member

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    Harden could find Lin, Lin just couldn't find the basket

    How Lowe can you go
     
    #8 Roc Paint, Nov 19, 2017
  9. pippendagimp

    pippendagimp Member

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    "he uses his dribble to engineer lobs that even the best point guards can't generate"

    so the guy who leads the league in assists 2 years in a row is not considered one of the best point guards. keep voting for kashi, lowe.
     
    #9 pippendagimp, Nov 19, 2017
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  10. Os Trigonum

    Os Trigonum Contributing Member
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    media conspiracy
     
    #10 Os Trigonum, Nov 19, 2017
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  11. napalm06

    napalm06 Huge Flopping Fan

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    Whew, my phone auto-corrected Lob to Lin. Must be because I post about him so much.
     
    #11 napalm06, Nov 19, 2017
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  12. Pen15clubber

    Pen15clubber Member

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    No joke one time @basketballholic worked in Rubio as a subliminal message in a conversation about Adam silver
     
    #12 Pen15clubber, Nov 19, 2017
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  13. Blurr#7

    Blurr#7 Contributing Member

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    Harden is a horrible passer.

    DD
     
    #13 Blurr#7, Nov 19, 2017
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  14. Spacemoth

    Spacemoth Contributing Member

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    When is the world gonna realize that we are their only hope, from three GSW championships in four years.
     
    #14 Spacemoth, Nov 19, 2017
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  15. hakeem94

    hakeem94 Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    #15 hakeem94, Nov 19, 2017
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  16. valorita

    valorita Member

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    Harden's brilliance yes.
    But look at the spacing provided by our shooters.
    For example, Jonas starting to be drawn in but then remembers Ryno is 30ft away and has a dilemma.
    The other two are the same with Ariza in a corner and EJ in the other.
    That is why our system works. Its not just Harden or Capela. It is them in the setting of our system and knockdown threats that make us an all time offense.
     
    #16 valorita, Nov 19, 2017
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  17. Carl Herrera

    Carl Herrera Contributing Member

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    [​IMG]
     
    #17 Carl Herrera, Nov 19, 2017
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  18. Williamson

    Williamson JOSH CHRISTOPHER ONLY FAN
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    Dwight was also refusing to play the pick and roll much. He wanted post touches. We'd have seen a lot more lobs with Dwight if he were more willing to play the pick and roll.
     
    #18 Williamson, Nov 19, 2017
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  19. Houstunna

    Houstunna The Most Unbiased Fan
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    Always good seeing Harden get positive press.
     
    #19 Houstunna, Nov 19, 2017
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  20. napalm06

    napalm06 Huge Flopping Fan

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    Yeah, that's true. But Harden's lobs were also high and away many times; back in the Lin/Parsons era. He has improved a lot...
     
    #20 napalm06, Nov 19, 2017
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