1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Isn’t the news about why Harden and CP3 blew up at each other a little concerning?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by igotwhipscollectingdust, Jul 13, 2019.

  1. ChillyPete32

    ChillyPete32 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2018
    Messages:
    935
    Likes Received:
    1,427
    Of course the entire team can't play like Harden. Guys need to play their roles. Harden probably know his tank pretty well. If he was constantly cutting and running off screens on offense, getting back on D full sprint every play and precisely rotating on every play there isn't a chance he could do what he does in isolation as much as he does it.

    When you have one of the best individual isolation players in NBA history who can play elite post defense and has some of the quickest hands in the NBA for creating deflections, the goal it to put a team around him that can maximize those abilities rather than have him adapt.

    Morey did that two years ago. The problem was they ran into one of the best teams in NBA history.

    I think the Russ thing can work, but Russ is going to have to adapt his game quite a bit (and IMO cut down on his minutes so he can expend more energy in other aspects like becoming the defender he is capable of being) and I don't think Harden really should have to change much. I'm not sure we see that happen but I'm going to try to be optimistic.
     
  2. Mathloom

    Mathloom Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2008
    Messages:
    18,155
    Likes Received:
    17,963
    So, you're confused about why James Harden ignored an underperforming teammate who refused to run the system that brought us within a torn hamstring (of said underperforming player) of taking down a Warriors team that remains unbeaten to this day?

    Maybe Chris Paul is wrong even though you have a nostalgic obsession with what he prefers.
     
    luckyman76, Air Canada and eliefor3 like this.
  3. LorneMalvo

    LorneMalvo Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2017
    Messages:
    2,713
    Likes Received:
    2,173
    Westbrook’s impact is not what his box score would make one believe.

    It’s why OKC has underachieved the past two years. I guarantee you were one of the many people thinking 2018 OKC was a threat to anybody at all in the postseason.

    CP3 is the exact opposite. Always better than the box score. Always making winning plays. Look at his 18 WCF stats. Nothing super impressive but he was the best player.

    Rockets lost a lot of value in all reality.

    And like I said Westbrook is declining. As in progressively. There’s a real chance he’s even worse next year. It’s actually likely. He just had another knee surgery and he’s turning 31 to start the year.
     
    PlayBall likes this.
  4. Monkeychef02

    Monkeychef02 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2016
    Messages:
    65
    Likes Received:
    94
    You mean after Steph took the first four games off he had energy to finish out the last two?
    Go figure. Shame Harden didn’t have that luxury.
     
  5. fattz

    fattz Member

    Joined:
    Oct 27, 2009
    Messages:
    5,358
    Likes Received:
    5,087
    rapid??? to sustain a triple double average is almost impossible so yes there is going to be a decline.

    Note:
    It was impossible till he did it.
     
  6. PhiSlamma15

    PhiSlamma15 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2014
    Messages:
    4,581
    Likes Received:
    1,047
  7. TEXNIFICENT

    TEXNIFICENT Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2008
    Messages:
    7,741
    Likes Received:
    6,410
    Who's the better player? Westbrook or CP3?
     
  8. jordnnnn

    jordnnnn Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2010
    Messages:
    10,875
    Likes Received:
    11,805
    Just my opinion, I think as of today....

    Westbrook can elevate a pretty average team higher than Paul could.

    Paul, more than Westbrook, can help a good team be great.
     
    harold bingo and HP3 like this.
  9. HP3

    HP3 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2018
    Messages:
    22,867
    Likes Received:
    32,132
    People arent really understanding that right now. They also dont understand that Paul's decision making with the ball is almost always on point.
     
    DaDakota likes this.
  10. cheke64

    cheke64 Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2009
    Messages:
    23,517
    Likes Received:
    14,909
    Westbrook and Harden have the same problem melo has. Mvp seasons mean too much for them. We have 2 players that are the lowest move off the ball players per stats also their usage rate is too damn high. Tag this issue with a yes man coach that doesn't make adjustments and a questionable defensive coach in Turner.
     
    LosPollosHermanos and DaDakota like this.
  11. PersianRocket

    PersianRocket Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2012
    Messages:
    1,755
    Likes Received:
    282
    Man some of y’all really hate Harden for making us the most competitive we’ve been since Hakeem. The 2009-2012 Rockets were really a treasure we should’ve stayed mediocre ;(
     
    RayRay10 likes this.
  12. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2002
    Messages:
    46,550
    Likes Received:
    6,131
    Offense wont be the problem, defense will
     
    LosPollosHermanos and HP3 like this.
  13. DaDakota

    DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 1999
    Messages:
    123,886
    Likes Received:
    32,777
    Too early to do that, it may take some time to get that chemistry, so for me, it is all about the playoffs....if they gel and play well in the playoffs I am good.....not even championship or bust, just that they played well, and had a good chance.

    If they struggle in the playoffs due to deficiencies in fit, or attitude, I will be wanting a reboot.

    DD
     
  14. IBTL

    IBTL Member

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2010
    Messages:
    11,487
    Likes Received:
    11,657
    Fair you are giving them one good playoff run. Thats fair.

    With that in mind be critical but I hope you will not be calling to blow it up after a few losses. You are getting old like me. If you remember it even took old coog buddies olajuwon and drexler about 20 games to get it going.

    The donkey dies while the grass grows. Let it grow.
     
  15. TEXNIFICENT

    TEXNIFICENT Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2008
    Messages:
    7,741
    Likes Received:
    6,410
    Paul is Always hurt. Part of ability is availability, plus Russ is just a superior player at this point.
     
  16. topfive

    topfive CF OG

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    18,940
    Likes Received:
    37,194
    Year 1: Worked spectacularly

    Year2: Not so much because one star was no longer on board
     
    luckyman76 likes this.
  17. PhiSlamma15

    PhiSlamma15 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2014
    Messages:
    4,581
    Likes Received:
    1,047
    yea but we're better now than before in my opinion... lets see if Morey is done pulling something out of the majic hat before All Star break

     
  18. Air Canada

    Air Canada Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2009
    Messages:
    1,231
    Likes Received:
    1,306
    It ignores that this is happening in real time and we don't know CP is gonna struggle to make shots to the degree in which he did.... It makes sense even if CP can't beat his man 1 on 1 to think that he can still hit shots since he's a very good shooter... If he did, then we beat the Warriors, but he didn't and instead missed many open shots and shots he hits with regularity... We know if CP played average or up to his ability we could've won and very likely would have won.. This sudden change in play style could've been better or worse you say? Exactly.... It's pure speculation supported by nothing that it would have helped us win... Yet this is somehow the prevailing focal point... It was "our style" and Harden's stubbornness as opposed to CP having the worst playoff series of his career.. There have been times to go in on Harden(game 6 SA), but this ain't it... This is bending over backwards to slander Harden based on pure speculation.... Or as you said... Mental gymnastics.
     
    HP3 likes this.
  19. eliefor3

    eliefor3 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2019
    Messages:
    3,212
    Likes Received:
    4,532
    this is so accurate, we were not relevant at all and were a constant 7-8th seed with no hope (unless you count lin as hope)
    harden has made us relevant and led us to some great seasons with the potential greatest team of all time being in his way
     
  20. Air Canada

    Air Canada Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2009
    Messages:
    1,231
    Likes Received:
    1,306
    You're 10% to me of what Harden is 100% to you.
     

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now