Go through each possession. Watch how many times Harden (and the rest) don't even look for Howard. Then watch them miss him. You want to view one possession through a water tube, and not even consider any of the other possessions. That's phony. A real point guard like Paul or Rondo or Rubio or Lawson would have 4-5 assists in the first 6 minutes of the game simply by throwing the ball at the rim. Move on heyp. Understand what is happening here and how Dwight is being wasted while we throw up trash 3's.
I don't understand the doesn't work on his game statement. Excluding the beginning of this season, he has gotten better, and added an element to his game every off season. The midrange step back, the post up, finishing with his right hand, etc. I think it is awfully naive to assume he doesn't work on his game. You can't just be one of the best offensive players in the NBA without working on your game. It doesn't work like that. Now does he have the competitive "fire" or whatever sports cliches you want to use? I don't know, he definitely has a more aloof personality, but I still see him physically break down after losing a game. I still see him get pissed off when we lose. I see him get fired up when teammates make a big play. I'm not in his head, but from where I'm sitting, it sure looks like he is trying to win to me.
you are right, anyone that argues against this....must be blind. I see it all game, even when Howard runs to front of rim and pins his man *jack 3* or pass to wing, or pass to top of key. this team does everything but make the easy smart play. now is it because they dont like Howard? I doubt it....but James, never dumps it down to Howard...if you watched Tmac and Yao work together, you can tell just how bad Harden and Howard combo doesnt
Your description of your first play was phony. Your first play. Do the Rockets have poor court vision and bad ball movement, Yes, absolutely? Can any of us find such plays? Yes, absolutely. Does Howard not roll aggressively? Yes, absolutely. Is he money anytime he gets the ball outside the arc? No. Do defenses have help available to reach him before he gets inside the arc. Quite often. Your interpretation that we are icing-out Howard is highly suspect, exhibited in your very first play. It's futile discussing this with you, because you don't accept other takes. Move on
I see Howard turn it over at an insane rate. I also see him fumble passes that are thrown. I guess I'm blind, but I don't think there is some conspiracy because they all dislike Dwight. Honestly I think Harden, and maybe others, don't believe in Dwight's game anymore. I don't think they have faith in his abilities offensively. If he posts up, it's almost certainly going to be a turnover, and unless it's a simple lob, there is about a 40% chance he isn't going to catch the ball. It is just my opinion, and I could be 100% wrong, but that is what I feel is going on.
People here are trying really hard to make this a Harden vs. the team thing. They'll find any play any sign or comment. Plenty of changes from adding and subtracting to this roster from past years to this and of course most come to one conclusion, Harden has changed. Could be true, could be false. But you guys trying so hard have no clue as to what's going on in and oustide of the locker room with this team. But for you all to simply jump into assumption and attack mode on Harden is crazy. I like Harden I also like Howard. I would hope they both know and understand that this team is going nowhere if those two are not on the same page. It's obvious you guys don't and don't care. Just ready to b**** and point fingers at people without many facts, all assupmtions.
If I'm not mistaken, even Thornton was finding Howard in his minutes, and last season Papa seemed to find Howard often in his limited minutes.
Those things are true. Go deeper and understand why. He's looking for the lob, they try to throw him a bullet pass between defenders. He's looking for the lob, Harden backs up and tries to lauch the lob from 30 feet after the defense recovers. Ball tips off Dwight's fingers. Turnover. Watch the game. Watch the plays. Look at this still shot, tell us what's wrong here. Tell us what should happen.
I watch every play of every game. There is blame to be placed on every single player for their terrible record. I just think it has more to do with trusting Dwight to make the right offensive play (which he rarely does unless it is an alley or easy dunk), then the players having it out for Dwight. Either way it sucks, but I find it alarming that they seem to trust a second year player in Capela more than Dwight.
In the MEM game, Thornton's one assist was a 4 out 1 play to Capela, identical to the first play of the game that we are discussing. I've described that in another thread (actually a bbholic thread). It is 1:50 of the 3rd. Capela goes out to set a high pick, MEM traps, but not aggressively (Thornton is a yard outside the 3pt line). Capela immediately dives to the rim, and unlike the first play (another 4 out 1), there are no help defenders in low post position. It's an easy pass for a dunk. Also, in the last seven games, Thornton only has three more assists. One is to Harden for a three, one is to Terrence, and the other is indeed an assist to Howard. The large chunk of his assists to Howard came earlier in the season under McHale...games I'm not really interested in re-watching. I hope Thornton's not icing-him out now under Bickerstaff! Harden has plenty of assists to Howard, too. Do we want more, sure? Is there a conspiracy, no! If y'all care, I'm cataloging the other recent games as well.
We can discuss trust vs. having it out for Dwight all day long. Makes no difference. The plays aren't being made. And the plays I'm bringing up here aren't plays where Dwight has to make decisions besides to jump. We're pretty much agreed we don't want Dwight dribbling around on the post and making decisions. But these I'm bringing up are no-brainers. Jump, catch, dunk.
In the first tv screen shot above, that is an Ariza backdoor pass (if not alley-oop) waiting to happen as Jone's defender moves to pick up Howard. Barnes is out of position on Ariza. Of course, if the 4 does not actually execute help on Howard, it a lob to Howard. But if help does reach Howard, and Ariza does not go to the hole for the backdoor, then Harden needs to do a step back on Gasol or drive on him. Point is: that's a triple threat position for us, since Ariza is unguarded.
Doh...... ...........here's another one ....................................Vat should happen here brehs?
basketballholic...why are you covering up the clock. You do realize we can see the clock behind the basket. lols
That's what I'm thinking of, when Thornton was starting in the small ball line ups he seemed to have a good rapport with Howard, finding him for lobs and good touches. Which seems to me there are more quality touches for Howard to get lobs, pin and dunks, or fouled that Harden is missing... for some reason. And it does seem that in the games where Howard sat, and Capela was playing with the starters, he gets more touches coming from Harden off pnr than when Howard is in similar situations. Is Harden deliberately icing Howard? I don't know man.
At the end of the day, if it's a Harden v Howard situation, just like the Kobe vs Shaq situation.. You favor the 25 something year old guard over the 30 something year old center 10/10.
