He has mastered the step back this season, what I like him to do this summer is work on his post game that we've seen in the regular season. It was working for him but I was sure why he stop doing it.
Whatever it is .... he needs to hide it until the playoffs . Or at least hold some things in reserve . Harden is a master offensive player . But since MDA relies on him to do everything there are 82 games worth of tape on his moves and tendencies . He can work on off ball shooting Cardio Midrange stepback But none of that will matter unless MDA builds a system that isn't "ISO and let James create"
Right-handed stuff. Gotta make them pay for shading his left so hard. I want to see Ambidextrous James in October.
post game. Starting his offense extended way past the 3 point line every possession in the half court is not doing him any favors. But MDA and Morey would have to let him use it.
To not waste the shot clock and shoot those bullsh*t ass step backs when the moment doesnt call for it.....
Mental toughness. Killer instinct. No more “only one shot in a quarter after KD got injured” softness. Not sure how those things can be worked on. But without them other stuff here and there won’t matter much
Recruit All Stars that fit Kemba Walker Jimmy Butler Kelly Oubre Jr. - His skills in shooting and defending with length, dribbling, create his shot Trade Chris Paul if possible, pay for half of his contract, to move him Trade Clint Capela for Aaron Gordon, the Magic Vucecic is a Free Agent. The Magic might want a Center
Understanding the moment. He has gotten slightly better but I would say this is his weakest attribute.
A. Gordon would be excellent here. That would be a nice here-and-now move that also gives us a bright future.
Aaron Gordon is a specialist corner 3 point shooter, dribble to create shots for others, his dribbling is All a Star type. Muscle Rebounder, Alley Oop Dunker, Extremely Strong like Blake Griffin Aaron Gordon really reminds me of Shawn Kemp, Shawn Kemp had range, midrange shooter, if Shawn played in this era he can work on his 3s and make them. No Doubt.
This isn't an improvement as much as it is being EMPOWERED to shoot good midrange shots. I would also like to see him postup against shorter, scrawnier guards. I don't know what can really be done about the turnovers, but he has to find a way to get those down. 6 turnovers against the Warriors in Game 6 stings when you only lose by 2 possessions. Also, I'd like to see him push the pace more, especially when he has numbers. In Game 6 I recall one play where Draymond was on the ground and Harden was ahead of him with the ball. He could've easily pushed it and drove or pass but instead he slowed it down and let Draymond get back into the play. I want to see Harden punish defenses earlier in the shot clock. I get why we play slow with ISO ball, but one thing I really want to see reduced next year is 24 second shot clock violations. As for something we can do to help him, play Isaiah Hartenstein, Faried, or an equivalent stretch 5 A LOT and have him parked on the 3-point line. He can be our version of Brook Lopez. What that will do for Harden cannot be underestimated.
