From what I have seen of late is Harden mixing it up in paint on the defensive end he seem to always switch to a the bigger player. He built like a truck now. His body type has changed as his role on the team changes.
It may be worth experimenting playing Harden as a PF in small ball. He seems to lose a bit of foot speed and explosiveness but added some bulk. They moved Carmelo later in career to PF and it worked well
Can't entirely blame losses on Harden. The entire team struggled behind the 3pt line against Clippers (7-42). If others were able to make their shots and Rockets could have won, Harden's stats wouldn't stand out like this. Harden struggles many times behind 3pt line even when they win games. Although I do agree that he should no settle for as many 3s and take it to the basket more. Russ has been playing his part. The rest of them needs to step up!
Times like this, the star of the team is generally held accountable Cant blame role players like PJ Tucker or Daniel House who earn a tiny fraction of Hardens salary We need Harden to be a leader now. He needs to raise his hand, say "its on me" and rally the troops Harden has had some horrid games but he is a talented player and he will come back
Midrange please. He's very predictable. Step back 3 or layup with no lift at times getting blocked. He needs someone to lob the ball when gets trapped going to the basket. Green, Covington or House can replicate Capela. But we have a rigid system. So frustrating especially when the threes don't come.
I would love to start seeing Harden playing off the ball as a 3 point sniper Sort of how Reggie Miller, Ray Allen or Klay Thompson play It is very efficient and doesn't require a lot of dribbling, dribbling, and dribbling We have Russ penetrating at will freeing up our shooters and Harden will get a ton of wind open 3s (instead of step backs) is he must moved better without the ball
It is a team sport and blame falls on everyone. Off the 7-42 3s against Clippers, Harden missed 8. So it was an overall team stinker. From the salary perspective, Harden has been delivering for many seasons now including a trip to WCF. It's a game and the team fell short of getting a title. It happens. He's worth the salary and performing at that level too. He barely even takes nights off. The horrid games where he scored less than 20 points total to only 7 games this season.
Its all in his head He has been in the NBA for a long time and it has not changed. IMO it only will get worse...he just doesnt have that urge But he is a mile better than TMac
can u imagine LeBron blaming Danny green or Kyle kuzma on if team not playing well. LeBron being a leader would take responsibility for the team
Yeah there was a moment in the clippers game where harden switched onto paul george. Paul George proceeded to elbow and push Harden in the lower back. Not sure if Harden was the same after the licks he was getting in the paint against Los Angeles!
He looks legit scared against the Hornets. So tentative. Think his bad streak is starting to effect him mentally in a sucky loop. Just hope he snaps out of it. Oh and he looks really slow last few games, that's a issue also.
I am just stating the facts that overall team missed lot of 3pts which cost Rockets that 1 game. Besides I do not expect Harden to be a leader like Lebron. Players like Lebron only comes few times in our lifetime. Of all the players in the league in 30 years, Jordan, Kobe and LBJ are the only ones that stands out as an all rounder greatest players that has ever played and singularly showed true leadership. Some just don’t have it and Rockets fans can’t expect Harden to be that if he hasn’t shown it yet after so many years in the league. It becomes a moot conversation. He is a scorer and a passer and has lead the team to victory on most occasions. This is his strength and his type of leadership and it is expected out of him which he delivers most of the time. Even if coach is changed, Harden style of play wont change and neither is his emotional state. Best Rockets could do is surround him with shooters which is what they have done. It’s either this or Rockets completely rebuild. I am not criticising Harden, I’m just being realistic to the situation.
