Harden on Giannis: “I wish I could just run and just dunk. That takes no skill at all.”

Yet, the media won't show Harden passing -- that was Greek's bad take.

 

Being a ball hog is a insult that people make towards some all time greats like Kobe.

Saying you have no skill is more off base.

 

You didn't address what I said.

 

Watch a simple game highlight of Kobe or Jordan and watch in how many ways they will score in a game. They'll run off curls and catch the ball at the elbow and make a quick move. They'll cut to the baseline. They'll post up.

There are ways to score than face up dribbling iso plays.

 

The fact is Giannis is probably the best player in the league, and Harden suggesting what he does takes no skill comes across as sour grapes. He should have just focused on how terrible the take is that he doesn’t pass or that he doesn’t play defense, because the truth would be on his side there.

It’s true that Harden doesn’t get enough credit for being so dominant despite not having the same physical advantages of other elite scorers in NBA history. There’s a better way of making that point that wouldn’t possibly come back and bite him in the ass.

 

When Giannis ends up injuring himself desperately trying to prove how skillful he is, everyone will blame Harden.

Harden (like Houston), forever the black hat.

 

Harden's misspoke with his exact words, but his sentiment was true. Greek is NOT a skilled player.

Unfortunately, James gets zero benefit of the doubt, thus, in most people's eyes, he can't do anything right.

 

What does “skilled” mean? How many near 7 footers, in NBA history, had his dribbling and playmaking ability? It’s not like all he does is dunk the ball. And I’m pretty sure the percentage of the shots he makes that are unassisted is above average for a guy of his size. Isn’t that something we’d typically treat as evidence of skill as a scorer?

 

'Shooting' is the most fundamental skill in basketball.

Greek is subpar in that area. His main talent is size and athleticism.

 

fact? your post lost any credibility by just the 2nd word

cannot claim fact when this guy wilted just 9 months ago losing 4 straight to kawhi who ate his lunch, or just a couple weeks ago wilted to wilt harden's D in the 4th Q unable to score even 1pt

 

Who’s more skilled Hakeem or Shaq? It’s really not as complicated as you want to make it.

 

So we go from “he is a subpar shooter” to “he’s not a skilled player” — like passing and dribbling aren’t also fundamental basketball skills that’s he above average at for his position?

 

It’s not complicated at all. Giannis is clearly a skilled basketball player, despite not being a particularly good shooter.

 

Harden said all Giannis does is run and dunk. That takes no skill.

This doesn't prove him wrong.

 

Lol Harden just saying what everyone in the league already knew.

 

He has some skills obviously but isn't a particularly skilled player. There is a difference hence my Hakeem/Shaq comparison.

 

I already said Harden misspoke... he exaggerated.

Now, go ahead and admit Giannis misspoke too with his 'Harden doesn't pass' comment.

Go ahead. The media won't.

 

Wish Harden can just prove Giannis wrong with his play. No point in arguing with the MVP whom is probably the most skilled big man in recent years (dribbling, passing, shoots 3s, great defender etc.)

He now has a golden opportunity to do so with Russ running the show and start playing off the ball with some back door cuts, curls and produce without being so ball dominant. I have faith that he will turn the corner

 

I said it earlier. This notion that "if this guys was x inches taller, or more athletic, etc" is pretty meaningless. It's like saying, "if Yao Ming could dribble and shoot like Steph Curry and wouldn't get hurt..." But he's not and he could not.

If Harden was 6 inches taller, he might not be able to shoot like he does. Players with superior physical abilities AND elite skills are EXTREMELY rare, not to mention the winning mentality and other intangibles.

In fact, what Harden said about Giannis could apply almost the same to Westbrook. If Westbrook didn't have his athleticism, he'd be a mediocre player at best. But he has and he uses it to superstardom.

If we are honest and put down our homer glasses, we know that both Giannis and Harden were wrong. But as many have already pointed out, nobody in the media said anything when Giannis said Harden didn't pass. So it's not fair. In a way, that's kind of expected, not just because Harden is hated, but because the one who hits second is always the one who gets caught.

 

I don’t need to admit anything, since I already said that Harden should have defended himself against falsehoods like he doesn’t pass or he can’t defend. Responding to someone who misspeaks about you by misspeaking about them is not a particularly smart way of going about it.