Breakdown: Bickerstaff Was Talking About James Harden

or he shows other teams he is willing to alienate his superstar players
he is really in a tough tough situation
but
he has to decide . . .right now. . . what kind of coach is he

Rocket River

 

He's the kind of coach who wants to have a permanent head coaching gig

 

Remember when Harden surprised Barkley and nearly everybody else with his first year in Houston? And then he has an MVP-level season last year, and everyone's asking: Where's his limit?

Well, here's your answer. He has psychological defects that prevent him from being a model of effort or a true team leader.

Now, ask yourself whether it's worth the max to have a player with those defects and Harden's abilities. The answer is a pretty simple yes.

And the next question is: Who can you put alongside him to be the leader he isn't? And only if the answer is "Nobody, because Harden not only won't lead the team but also won't let anyone else do it" -- only then do you trade him.

 

Shane Battier type - or Kevin Garnett - something like that.

DD

 

If Harden truly is the problem - we're absolutely effed. We cannot trade him for full value as superstars are NEVER traded for full value. Trading him will likely mean a rebuild. The only way I can see a way out of that is if somebody like DeMarcus Cousins demands to be traded and is so grateful for the change of scenery that becomes more manageable. But then I don't know what you do with Dwight.

Could we play Cousins at the 4 alongside Dwight and roll out Ariza, Thornton and Lawson or Bev?

Are there any other potentially disgruntled stars out there?

 

Danm... Sounds like my ex-wife....

Doesn't want to be with me and doesn't want anybody else to be with me..

T_Man

 

If he is the cancer you have to remove it early...

I'm think Sam knew something when he made that trade with Morey...

T_Man

 

Unfortunately I don't think those guys could get thru to him... The only player I think that could possibly get thru to him would be LeBron, because he feels as if their on the same level...

The only other option would be Thibs as a coach...

Rockets are at the crossroads... Going to be interesting to see what they do.

T_Man

 

Harden has been Melo for quite some time now. He is a ball dominant, ball stopper who doesn't play defense and only cares about stats.

 

Naw, I think Presti would have taken last year's Harden in a second.

 

Dangit, I meant to reply to your previous post, T-man

 

LOL!!!!


T_Man

 

Dont get me wrong, I am a huge Harden fan, that why it frustrates me that he wont adjust his style of play...

Maybe its not on him, because, if he has the ball....the other players can still move and run around the court...they dont have to just stand above the arc

 

If that's the case, then I think management also needs to think about how things ended with Melo in Denver. Harden might similarly demand a trade in order to go to a more glamorous market, especially if this team isn't winning. Of course, the team won't be winning if Harden continues to play uninspired ball.

My question is this - how can a coach motivate someone like Harden? What can they say that probably hasn't already been said?

I think this season will ultimately be used to evaluate the character and fortitude of everyone on the team (players and coaches). So I'd be surprised to see either Harden or Howard traded or Bickerstaff replaced. If this collection of players continues its inconsistent, disjointed play, then I would hope the whole team gets blown up (as best as Morey can - Brewer may be untradeable if he sucks this much through April) the way Portland blew things up last summer.

 

Rockets players agree with coach’s assessment about them disrespecting the game
By Jenny Dial Creech on December 28, 2015 at 3:29 PM

The Rockets met for practice Monday afternoon for the first time since their coach, J.B. Bickerstaff, said the team “disrespected the game,” and had an intense practice.

Guard James Harden said he hoped the whole team took Bickerstaff’s words to heart.

“We should,” Harden said. “If we don’t take it seriously, something is wrong.”

Bickerstaff made the comments following the Rockets’ 110-108 loss to New Orleans on Saturday night. Harden said he understood where his coach was coming from.

“Just not bringing it every night, no matter who we are playing,” Harden said. “We have to be ready to go, ready to play, ready to get wins.”

Forward Donatas Motiejunas said the team had a good practice Monday, with a lot of communication and priorities in place.

“I think he was accurate to say that,” Motiejunas said. “We aren’t the same team we were last year. We have to work harder to get back to that level.”

The Rockets host Atlanta at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

 

Dmo doing his best Jimmy Butler impression... work harder lol. I want to keep believing but the inconsistency of this season has left a terrible taste in my mouth. I don't even follow the other teams like I usually do.

I have high expectations for this team which is why they are killing my love for basketball this season. I been watching for 20 plus years and there have been very few times where I just turn off games when they haven't even finished. This season I've done it way too many times. What a depressing season.

 

I know it isn't realistic but I would rather the team do a self imposed media ban.

Enough of saying "We need to get better", it is something we've heard hundreds of times already.

I know the players are just instructed to play the PR game but I would rather watch them shut it and let their play do the talking.

 

Dwight is a bigger star than James Harden, the problem is he doesn't even touch the ball and has been relegated to being an Asik. You keep talking about having no second star but Harden has shown an inability to move without the ball so even if you have a WB or LMA out there how will that work out? This team on paper is the 3rd best in the league and while you don't have a 3rd superstar:

1) On pg you have Lawson who can create and has shown an ability to score
2) On PF/C you have DMo who is an amazing post scorer
3) You have Ariza and Bev to provide spacing and 3 pts

The ingredients of a 3rd option are all there and if Harden can't get it to work with a 3rd option like DMo or Lawson how can he work with a 3rd superstar? In terms of Harden I have no idea why he took a giant step back from his play last season, is it because he started the season so badly? I really want Harden to succeed but he is so inconsistent, hopefully Christmas is the time he gets his head on straight.

 

Harden was one of the worst players on the court when it comes to net contribution. His defense was so pathetic that it made his good scoring not matter at all.