AMAZING win. Simply amazing. Harden played 44 minutes, the entire 2nd half. What a BOSS. Was exhausted at the end and CP came through to help close it out. Considering the B2B and the injuries + Tucker's ridiculous ejection.....just one of the biggest wins of the year. As MDA said, a real character win. Also, in the "rest vs rhythm" debate on Harden.....folks he is a grinder. He grinds. He wants a lather and a rhythm. It was REST that was the problem. Harden is a different breed.
So when he ran out of gas in the SA series the answer was to play him more ? Everyone has a limit Harden would play all 48 every night if you let him . But that doesn't mean it's a good idea . There is obviously a middle ground . I just tend to think MDA leans a little too far away from the resting side of that middle ground
Minutes in a game sure, but playing the games, he can play those. I am talking about rhythm vs rest. the lather vs the "bubble wrap."
Ehhh , I'd go as far to say that a whole game off is worth more than a minute or two here and there . I want harden to play as much as he can when he's fully healthy . I just don't like sending him out there when he is bruised up. Are some things you can play through and even need to play through because to wait until it's totally healed would take too long . But, I'm definitely in favor of giving a game off every now and then just to drastically reduce the stress on the body Then again , I'm no doctor
I understand your conventional thinking with Harden. But Harden is unconventional and thus a different approach.
This. I've been watching and following the NBA for over 3 decades. Seen tons of players come and go. Pound for pound, Harden is one of the toughest players to ever play the game. Ankle sprains that would shelf mist people for 2 weeks are just shrug off by Harden. We are SO LUCKY to have him, and I do pray he's able to win at least one ring for Houston.
