I don't know why everyone is so sensitive. I'm not complaining. Just stating an observation. I'm not a Harden hater. I'm just saying against great teams, it's what we need from Harden. We're blowing out crap teams we don't even need cp3 for. Of course the stats are great. If we're beating the warriors, celtics, and spurs by 40 I'll shut up and celebrate with everyone, but this is against the nuggets and knicks (without porzingis). Stop pegging me to be a hater when I'm for the team's end-goal success (playoffs), where Harden is going to need to be able to sustain stellar play against the exhausting defenses that don't just let him get in a rhythm nearly as easily. I believe he can do it (and think off-ball play will actually HELP him do it) and offered my opinion because this is a fan site and you're encouraged to talk about the substance of the game rather than just defending against supposed trolls.
Those are great numbers and credit to Harden for being great regardless, but the point I'm making is that we're playing against very subpar teams in this small sample size. I'm not doubting the two's ability to play together, I'm just stating a concern when we play against better teams that will force us to be able to play with both of them going at their highest capabilities. Watching the Knicks' game today, it looks like Harden is doing more off-ball stuff and I hope it continues and gets even more dynamic. Once it becomes a regular part of his game, we're going to be at another level.
Yep the real test will come in december and january when we play the Warriors and the likes of the Wolves.
Yeah, also wanna see how we do against the Spurs (even without Kawhi, their defense is a good test), Thunder, & Celtics.
Not afraid of the Thunder or the Spurs without Leonard. The Thunder are a team that if you slow them or get the game away from them early will get frustrated and will start making bad decisions with the ball. A team like us that can blow any team out will frustrate them. They also are a horrible and i mean horrible team in end game situations and we have two players who are great finishers.
Paul had 5 assists to Harden this game 4 catch-and-shoot 3s 1 alley oop layup to a cutting Harden This game is the best I've seen in terms of these two playing off of each other. They're figuring things out yet destroying teams while doing it. If Harden can keep nailing these 3s off of Paul's passes, the offense is going to be unreal.
Yeah, I agree. I believe we should be able to beat them for sure. But it's still a confidence boost if we do so because most of our competition (besides the Grizzlies at times) has been pretty easy. Oh and that first game of the season haha. But I agree with you on the Thunder. I just hope they never figure it out ...
Yeah, I definitely noticed Harden coming more off screens for 3s. It seemed simple, efficient, and just the right basketball play. It was good to see and I'm hopeful to see more in transition/semi-transition where I think Paul can find Harden for even more open 3s. I also was glad he got that cut as I think they will be there a lot in the future due cp3's ability to probe and not lose the ball.
Some people has to find something to complain about. If they didn't, this world wouldn't be civilized.
LOL we beat the defending champion warriors first game of the season at their home court during their trophy night a team with basically 5 superstars 2 top 5, 1 top 10, 1 top 20, 1 top 50 player with only a top 5 player outscoring and ourproducing everyone in the game including those 5 superstars in the game and half of a top 10 player and you can't even celebrate that with everyone? you must be trippin! lighten up! stop digging for trivial and insignificant negatives the fact that 1st seed in the west and 2nd overall in pt differential with only 1 superstar playing MVP calibre ball for 15 out of 19 games is amazing or are you saying wins against weak teams or teams without their superstar doesn't count so the more you should celebrate because those 4 losses without our 25M superstar doesn't count either
I'm not sure why you're so scared to acknowledge reality. If it's "negative" to you that we're playing crap teams, then so be it. Most Rockets fan can acknowledge that our schedule hasn't been that hard and that isn't taking a dig at Harden. In fact, I DID celebrate for us winning the first game against the warriors and was freakin' surprised we pulled it off. But making a big deal about stats against the nuggets doesn't have much relevance to our play against truly good teams. Why is it such a bad thing to want more for our team (and our best player) so that we can all celebrate a potential championship? I think you're being overly sensitive. I'm not even taking a shot at Harden, merely mentioning my opinion on what I hope (and do currently see) him doing, which is off-ball options on offense.
Reality says you'r being a Debbie downer. Dude we have won against some very stout teams, Warriors, Cavaliers, 76ers (big surprise) Grizzlies twice( we started their downfall) Nuggets, Knicks ( I don't care they were two key players) and Pacers. Do we have room for improvements, heck yeah. But as of right now, they are playing some very inspiring and exciting basketball. Harden is playing like the best in the business. We are getting better defensively. We are not turning the ball over like year's past. Capela all around game has improved tremendously. The man has had quite a few double doubles.
I'm confused now. "If we're beating the warriors by 40 I'll shut up and celebrate with everyone" the team you expect who can't beat the warriors just beat them and is now 1st seed in the west over the warriors so the team pretty much surpassed your expectations amiright? it's just CP3's 5th or 6th game. We've seen Harden play elite off-ball SG in OKC, we've Harden play elite offball SG in limited plays with CP3. But most of the time even with CP3 in the court Harden will be MVP Harden. Not off-ball Reddick. Running around off-ball is for people who can't create their own shot. Morey and MDAs system is more 3's and layups, spacing, shooters staying in their spots not running around for a midrange at the elbow. And not sure how Harden playing like Reddick l can help the rockets beat GSW by 40. How do you even do that? How much can harden score by playing like Reddick? I trust MDA, CP3, and Harden at which points in the game Harden will run around off-ball like Reddick. Not some debbie downer who expects the MVP to be a combination of Lebron and Reddick. The main selling of the Rocket was CP3 was gonna play with an elite playmaker like himself. Not play with a richman's JJ Reddick. so you' don't think the 11-8 6th in the west Nuggets with its wins over multiple .500 teams Memphis (beat us twice), Toronto (beat us), NOP, MIA, OKC is a good team? you trippin again? let me summarize win over GSW during thier trophy night on the road - not enough unless its a 40 pt blowout 30 point win over the Nuggets - Nuggets ain't even a good team. We should have beat them by 60. Will you still be this unsatisfied if you were a GSW fan?
Good post. However I'd argue a win is a win is a win. As long as the Rockets win, I don't care about anything else. They could win 75 games all by 1 point each...and I'd be just fine with that.
What would I do if we were perfect, where would I go for disappointment. Love without pain would leave me wonderin' why i stayed. Rocket River
You keep hammering home this turnover point so let's analyze turnovers. All turnovers are not created equally. Harden may average most turnovers, but he has a high percentage of dead ball turnovers. Why does this matter? If the turnover is dead ball then the defense at least has the time to reset. https://public.tableau.com/views/Tu...t1?:embed=y&:loadOrderID=0&:display_count=yes Who are the worst at live ball turnovers? Ironically, 2 players that Harden played with. 1) Lin 2) Westbrook
