we likely aren't winning this game. This could be a killer for James and the trophy. Sit him tonight and pray Spurs take out the thunder. Also James needs to rest that injured hand. He really shouldn't have said that thing about 82 games, especially since Westbrook is more likely to play all then James. Sit out James, you could lose the trophy...sit your fat ass down tonight.
At first I liked Harden's comments about not resting, but now I think that he's refusing to rest when his body needs it. If he keeps this up, he might not be 100% for our playoff run, and I'd hate to look back and wonder, "what if..."
I was about to start this exact same thread and then saw it. I think harden, EG, Anderson should rest the remainder of the season. Lou will replace harden, Kyle will replace Anderson, and some other dude will replace EG
I've got an NBA newsletter from NBA.com today called "Is Westbrook a lock for MVP?"... Yeah, at this point there's no reason for James to bother trying to win the MVP.
The game against the Thunder should have sealed the MVP. I believe it exposed Westbrook's hollow stat padding. If it didn't, tonight won't matter.
Now we're calling this "the trophy"? There is only one "the trophy" and nothing that happens tonight will affect it!
Nope play him. If harden wants to win the mvp that bad then by all means go for it. This team isnt built to make it out of the west this year and im ok with that
Call up the D League players and roll with it. James needs to rest. Williams and Gordon need to step up.
Regardless of a win or loss, I respect James for playing through the pain and adversity. On the physical side of things, you could make the argument that sitting out could cause James' wrist to stiffen up. I like the idea of him healing while he plays and keeping that wrist relatively loose. There's nothing worse for a shooter than an immobile wrist on the shooting hand. We desperately need FlyRy back. MDA should consider giving Montrezl some burn tonight, especially for some rebounding and fresh legs against Asshat Green. I like our chances in this one...we need a feel-good win.
Who cares about being MVP. Rockets have legit chance at the title. Lets not waste this opportunity because a franchise only has a limited window of being a contender. History will remember championships better than a regular season award.
it's a L/L for us and Harden If Harden sits, he discredits himself with the recent resting comments and loses MVP (media will jump on this for sure) If Harden plays, he re-aggravates his injury which probably will lead to a loss(which kills his MVP campaign) and early exit for the playoffs.
James Harden is true to himself and his word. He is real. You have to take the good with the bad. This stubborn and prideful mentality thats causing him to refuse to sit is part of what makes Harden who he is. Kobe has played through torn ligaments in his wrist in the regular season.
I think the media would understand if he chose to sit. There's a difference between sitting because you're tired and want some rest and sitting because you have a legitimate injury, especially when that injury is clearly bothering and affecting him.