[Grantland] The Inadequate Villain: James Harden Is Ruining the Playoffs

The Rockets performance reminds me of the movie The Royal Tenenbaums where Luke Wilson just gives up in that one tennis match because his adopted sister got married. Regardless I'm bothered with a lot of things with this organization and I'm not even talking about the players yet. Really hope there is some glimmer of hope this summer. Trades, staff firings, free agents, draft picks, whatever we need something to happen.

 

Best article I have read in a very very long time

 

How can you hate somebody who's working their butts off?

 

I really miss that combo as well. I wouldn't go so far as to call Harden a "flopper" but he does embellish contact in order to have a foul called. It is ugly to watch but is perfectly legal so meh. As for Howard, well I have been pretty consistent about my doubts as to his level of dedication, desire to win and so on. Oh, I really believe that he wants to be on a championship team but he doesn't possess the burning desire to be the reason that team wins a championship. It is what it is I suppose. His meltdown in game 4 did him no favors and only served to reinforce the doubts about him that exist out there.

In game 4, I could see their level of frustration reach the tipping point. They had things go their way so much during the regular season and the first round against Dallas that they took the Clippers lightly. When the Clippers showed that they could negate what the Rox had been doing to others with ease, the entire team from the GM to the coaches to the players simply got caught flat-footed. They have yet to adjust to what LAC is doing and even if they manage to do so tonight, it may simply be too little, too late in this series. Only 8 NBA teams (including the 1995 Houston Rockets) have been able to climb out of a 3-1 hole in the playoffs and this Rockets team has yet to show that it possesses the wherewithall to become the 9th team to do so.

 

Without even reading the link I'm guessing sharp or concepcion?

 

The only thing I can think of is that Harden puts the playoffs on a pedestal. Just like you should t put p***y on a pedestal, neither should you the playoffs. He just needs to take a deep breath, enjoy the moment and dominate like everyone knows he can.

 

grantland are r****ds and rockets haters. called harden a f**kboy. if you fall for the harden hate then you're a f**kboy

 

Ooh they need to print this out & post it in the lockeroom tonight- then he'll get REALLY mad, for sure this time.

 

Because that's just one piece of the puzzle.