After getting robbed for Regular Season MVP. Leading Vipers to 1st Seed, Best Record, losing Season MVP to a guy whose team only got a 4th seed. Hartenstein and Frazier led Vipers to 2-1 win after a Game 1 loss. Hartenstein shot 8-9 from 3 in the Game 2 win, too. Clark, Edwards and GP III played, too. Stacked team! Even without Chiozza @Williamson Rockets assignee Isaiah Hartenstein, a 2017 second-round pick, led the Vipers with 30 points, 17 rebounds and was named the G League Finals MVP. Michael Frazier, who signed with the Rockets last week after playing with the Vipers this season, added 24 points, going 6 of 11 on 3s.
The thing about Hartenstein is that he's really close to being a very good player in this league. He has great size and a soft touch. In our offense he's not asked to do more than hustle, dunk and hit the corner pass when Harden gets doubled at the top of the key. Hartenstein doesn't have the pace of the game down, he's playing too fast. That pace will get you rebounds, especially offensive and brownie points with the fans, but it won't get you buckets. I've never seen a strong 7-footer get blocked so many times. If he catches a roll pass, he jumps without a plan or surveying the defense. Capela looked the same exact way early on. Hartenstein will try to go up in front of the rim with defenders on his back. I've counted so many times, where he hasn't utilized his one step. If he would just gather himself for a second and step away for the reverse dunk or layup, he wpuld avoid getting blocked a lot. His timing is awful, but can be learned quicker than most other things. He also got a lot of rookie calls called against him. He needs NBA minutes. 30/17 in the G-League isn't helping him. He really needs to practice with James in the post and get his timing. He's reached Jimmer Status for a center in my opinion, he just needs to do it in the NBA.
Really think next year will be his year. Him and Capela would work if he could gain some muscle and keep expanding on his defense.
he's clearly capable of playing as backup big for us but our coach doesn't trust him. Here's hoping he gets minutes next year.
Good future players in House, Clark and Hartenstein. All might be worthy of being in 8-man rotation next season.
If he doesn't win it after having a historic season of statistical dominance then nothing James does ever again will get him another MVP. Might as well point out the bias and idiocy of the arguments against James Harden. Scorch the Earth Maury!
If left alone, yes. I believe he has hit a 3 with the Rockets. It might have been a 2. HP would know more, I'm sure.
Not explosive but so smart, high release point and long enough that his lack of lift is not as problematic. In G League anyway. But have high Hope's for IH contribution with Rockets soon.