Yeah, he was terrific in the post season last year (27.2 PTS, 5.7 RPG, 7.5 AST, 62% TS). He also had a triple double in the game 5 elimination game vs the clippers (26 pts, 11 reb, 10 assists) and led the team to victory in game 7 with 31 points. People always talk about game 6, but never seem to mention game 5 and 7, which Harden was key in.
-Harden was player MVP last season, which I hold in higher regard then something chosen by the media. -Harden was most definitely the Rockets playoffs MVP last year. -We wouldn't even have been in the playoffs if it was for that crazy season from Harden because Dwight is always hurt. But don't let the facts deter you guys from nonsense. Like I said some of you guys are spoiled and ungrateful.
I think we should revise this debate in a few years, right now there's no point. People can say that "trade Harden, he doesn't have it" are idiots, we will see in a few years who was right. But calling someone an idiot over this is the wrong way to go, the people who think keeping him is a waste of time may very well be right. The guys who say he's young and will turn out great may also be right, we just don't know it. But calling someone an idiot over his opinion would imply you know how Harden turns out and that their opinion is wrong, you don't know yet and may be the idiot five years later.
Because Moreh hasn't used him to try to recruit Durant yet. If the Durant operation fails, then we can trade him to Charlotte for Jerry Lin.
IMO, he's untouchable bc he's still one of the best players in the league and there isn't anything time/age can't fix. How long will it take is the question. I don't believe the majority of Rockets fans have turned on him. Just upset with the way things have gone so far. We can be highly critical, that's bc he's our star player. As the "greatest fans in the world" imo, we hold him to higher standards, deservedly so. With his God-given talents, there isn't anything he can't do on the court. More focus/determination is all it takes. IMO As a leader, he should continue to get better with age. No doubt about that. As a selfish fan, I hope that it all comes together much sooner rather than later. I will admit, that there are many times when I do lose hope and question whether this will work out. Only time will tell. At the end of the day, he's is a Houston Rocket, and I will continue to support him. ------ Don't mind criticism. If it's untrue, disregard it. If it's unfair,keep from irritation. If it is ignorant, laugh. If it's justified, learn from it.
There's nothing wrong with Harden that wasn't wrong with prime Kobe Bryant, for example. I'm not talking about specific on court weaknesses/strengths, I'm talking about mentality. These are both guys who believe that doing what they want to do, the best they can do it, will necessarily lead to a championship. Kobe discovered that without Shaq and without motivated role players, he can put up 36ppg and not make the playoffs. Can Harden learn from this season that he can do everything which he BELIEVES is his responsibility and still not win? That a leader looks above and beyond the minimum expectations of each player? Which is why Harden needs a Phil Jackson. A guy who knows how EVERY type of player, from star to role player, ticks and knows how to make them make sacrifices they wouldn't ever make otherwise. These days the technicalities of on-court coaching can be delegated to excellent assistants, and that's another sign of a great coach - someone who will hire a better technical expert than themselves, being secure in their ability to motivate and manage players better than anyone else. This is what worries me about getting Thibs with only Harden as an elite piece. It works for a season or two. The barking gets old, the insistence on playing at 150% effort for 82 games leaves you with no extra gear in the playoffs. That kind of coach loses the team's ear quickly, and it seems players are more injury prone under that system too. We need to think about maybe getting Luke Walton. I like that he's played for Phil, coached for Kerr and in his playing career he seemed to be very smart on the court. He had 40 games of practice as semi head coach, which makes him a bit readier than a 100% rookie coach. A lot of teams will be going for this guy, but no one needs him as badly as we do. We need to make a move before Riley, Jackson or Kupchak do.
Sorry, but depending only on statistics to tell someone is great was never a good idea. If it was, one would think LeBron should win all 6 finals he played in. Both game 5 and 7 were more or less blowouts. Harden played 43 minutes in a 21-point blowout, why is that? He could also pad his stats as much as he wanted against Dallas, so his last season's playoffs averages don't tell half the story. Don't get me wrong, I prefer Rockets succeed with Harden rather than without him. But in order to do that, Harden must not fold under pressure whe it counts the most (Portland, Clippers game 6). Also let's not forget how Reddick's defense frustrated Harden at beginning of the series. Leonard or Butler, yeah ok. But Reddick of all people?
I think this is what it would have been like if the board existed back in the early 90s when Olajuwon wanted to be traded.
He shows lack of effort. Les Alexander is going to eat crow after that bold statement he made after dismissing Kevin Mchale. Just empty threats Les.
In no order Lebron Durant Curry Leonard George Westbrook Butler some days Cp3 Draymond AD A bag of chips on days he decides to let guys torch him. Not saying they are all better. But definitely guys on a lot of days I'd rather have.
Back in the days, I was with the crowd saying that giving up on McGrady would be stupid. I know, the two situations are not the same. McGrady never got past the first round as the lead player, and the debate started when there were signs of his body breaking down. But the principle is the same. The argument back then was that you really can't get equal value trading a star in his prime. While there were signs that he didn't really have what it takes to lead a team to championship, you still have the hope that maybe he could given the right conditions. Anyway, keeping Harden might waste x years, but giving him up might also waste x years to find another franchise player to build on. So it's a gamble no matter which way you go.
Can we resign him in 2018? That's the key question here, not his talent, leadership, etc. I have nightmares of him walking out the door just like Howard is now. That would set the franchise back indefinitely.
He might be waiting for the cap to jump before signing an extension. There's no way Morey lets him walk and I don't think Harden will leave millions on the table to go elsewhere.
