Sources: Westbrook Recently called out Harden for having the "worst attitude" on the team

2nd fiddle? No he wasn't lol. Shaq admitted HIMSELF that 2nd year he was out of shape & depended on Kobe to carry that team. He was never a closer & at times a liability due to his free throws. How do you argue against Shaq's own words?

The last 2 rings were even more impressive because he did it without Shaq & with a considerably less talented roster. Pau Gasol is no Bosh, Wade, Pippen, Kyrie, or Ray Allen. Andrew Bynum is trash. Being a dick paid off for Kobe, and he didn't have to "team up" for no super team either

 

Russ be thinking that he's in a team best suited to his strengths and as much as the team is Beard's to begin with, there is a leadership vacuum that he can step up to. Russ is like a combo Hulk/ Flash on the court, just a force of nature, all out effort, energy, fiery and lightning quick. He exudes that balls to the wall mentality that is easy to cheer on and hope it rubs off on the team. Maybe it ignites something within Beard because there are no Cupcakes in the West this year. Seize the opportunity!

 

Not surprising to hear Harden has a poor attitude when the going gets tough. Still support.

(yes, you can criticize and support someone like Rus here)

 

First part is correct, the second one isn't though, Gasol was in his prime and still a top 5/10 PF in the league, Bynum was a pretty good player at the time, arguably a top 10 center in league, not trash at all, he was really big and kinda skilled, you also forgot about Odom who was in his prime and a terrific player on both ends, that team was really good, it wasn't Kobe plus Gasol and scrubs at all.

 

Why should they be?

If you need to go that stat you have already lost the argument.

 

Really good to see not only Westbrook take this step, but all the kudo's he's getting on this board for doing it.

 

Don’t get why people get so exited over this type of thing. It happens all the time in sports. Especially if you have good friends, I’m sure James has told Russell to quit shooting plenty of times.

 

Ariza did not even look at Paul what hell are you watching.

You people crack me up.

 

Gasol was a solid player but wasn't ever the best at his position Yao was. If you compare that Lakers team to any of Lebron's, MJ or other championship rosters, it's no comparison. He WILLED that team to the finals & eventually broke down game 7. His leadership made guys like Bynum step their games up

 

Kobe was the 2nd best player on that team. Considering the best player on that team is one of the 5 or 6 greatest players of all time doesn’t mean I’m putting Kobe down. Teams win championships and pretty clearly Kobe was a massive part of that. I’m not arguing that.

You’re saying Kobe’s leadership got him 5 championships and comparing that to Harden’s leadership and 0 championships. It’s a little more complicated than that.

 

Shaq was the better player for 2/3.

Gasol led the lakers in win shares and was one of the league leaders that year during one of those titles. He was no slouch at all. And prior to being hurt all the time Bynum was not trash.

 

Lebron's Cavs that won the chip against the Warriors wasn't as good as those Lakers bro, Gasol, Odom, Bynum combined were just better then Irving and Love. Those Lakers also had Phil Jackson on the bench,

Regardless i never said Gasol was the best in his position, i don't understand why this matters in the argument we have, the point is that those Lakers had a really good starting 5, not just Kobe and a couple of decent dudes.

 

Not according to Shaq

Gasol was a very solid offensive option. Not great but very good All-Star level player. Kobe carried the team on his back through hard work & work ethic. He wasn't nice or friendly but won 5 rings, end of story

 

Those two lakers teams and then the 2012 Dallas team that won the title were clearly the 3 least talented title teams this century. It was a weird in between time for the NBA- SA has a little lull, LeBron wasn’t ready to win a. Title yet, and the super team era hasn’t heated up. Then KG also got hurt dropping the talent level.
This isn’t a slight toward Kobe or anything, but a team like the 2017 rockets would have butt****ed that lakers team and coasted to a title.
Sometimes it’s not just about how good you are but also your time and space in the league. We saw that LA team get destroyed by a healthy KG said the year before and an ok SA squad the year after.

 

agreed. Remember the 09 series where we took them to 7 games... it wasn't necessarily kobe that killed us ... more like rebounding and size from gasol and bynum

 

I have done nothing but absolutely stan for James Harden for about 7 years now.

It is unfortunate to say that I'm questioning this dude's heart and desire to win right now. He has not looked interested in basketball for a good month now. He has done nothing but hurt the team. He is now apparently being called out by his teammates. It's not just a "slump".

If he is hurt, don't play. If he is worn down, don't play. Hell, if he is mentally not right, don't play. But man...it's tough watching this dude right now.

 

We've seen this before. More girl problems? Where is his mom? I remember the year he won MVP she was at like every game supporting him. Haven't been paying attention if she's still going to every game or not. Maybe she's not well?

 

Welp. Judging by his performance tonight he took that **** to heart.

 

He has been awful for a solid month now. I'm legit worried. He can't be slowing down at 30 right?

 

I hoped we had a younger star to move the focus to. We do not.
We are too locked in on 1 player.