I think it's perfectly obvious that in a league where team ball, passing, and movement are dominating that we as a team are stuck in a James Harden p*rnography of iso ball, lackadaisical play, and poor effort on far too consistent a basis. The question is why? I propose that in fact Milkhair did ruin James Harden. James Harden, as evidenced by his play and obvious improvement under Mike Krzyzewski, is a player that requires some measure of structure and discipline to thrive. McHale provided none of that. At a time in a young all-star's career where teaching and guidance matter, milkhair in fact encouraged Harden to run around doing whatever on the court. Iso after iso late in games, long stretches during games where the offense stagnates because James has to get his dribbles in. The lack of commitment to playing defense which is still a mammoth problem this many years later. The lack of leadership from James Harden. Dude hasn't grown up yet and no one, certainly not Milkhair ie Mr. player's coach, has forced him to do so. This team is going nowhere until the James Harden problem is fixed by management/coaching or we get a player better than James Harden to tell James like it is and how much he needs to grow the hell up for this team to be a champion. You certainly can't with any credibility have class clown Dwight Howard trying to tell anyone how to be a leader. Basically, we're screwed until James Harden takes a long look at himself and decides he wants to change his game and his attitude. Stop hanging out with strippers and hoes, get a life that doesn't involve getting drunk and high in night clubs all the time. Grow up dude.
This is how James Harden has always been and most likely always be as a NBA player on and off the court. People want to go back to days of debating whether Patrick Patterson or Scola is the best player on the team? Screw that. I'll take Harden, warts and all.
James Harden became a Rocket when he was 23. A grown man, not a child. If he's undisciplined it's on him not anyone else. He could have easily trained with the likes of Kobe, Lebron, CP3, hell even Carmelo during his offseason a but no he wants to do his own thing.
Harden is a good kid he's just manipulated by Morey's scam bull**** scheme. My hat has been redirected to just Morey
Look, I disagree with the OPs premise. However, I will admit that I had hoped Harden would become a +20pts and +10 assists type of player. In terms of ISO ball and blah blah blah, we just need an above average secondary ball handler. We had hope Lawson would be that guy but it simply hasn't worked out. I think we need a Lou Williams or AB type of back up PG.
LOL the scheme that is being emulated across the league? Technically the Spurs started this before we did.
Good grief. Stop trying to blame other people for Harden's issues. Harden and the Rockets won 56 games last season with McHale coaching. He appeared to give a damn last season with McHale coaching. Try to remember what McHale was always preaching. He wanted ball movement and effort. He always complained about the ball getting sticky. McHale didn't give Harden a free pass to be lazy. McHale probably got fired because he was putting too much pressure on Harden to play the right way. Harden is stubborn. Harden is going to do what he wants to do, and no coach has the power to stop him. Harden is showing everyone in Houston, including Les and Morey, who really runs this team. Harden WILL go to the strip clubs whenever he damn well pleases. Harden WILL date whatever bimbo he damn well pleases. Harden WILL play however he damn well pleases. Harden IS showing everyone who the boss really is.
It doesn't matter who is in the back court with Harden when Harden wants to dribble around Steve Francis style and then pass with 2 left on the shot clock. It just doesn't matter.
Not really. He probably made Harden great. Under a coach that insist in defense, harden might never developed into the elite offensive player he is. What milkhair did is ruin the Rockets for years.
