Harden takes a lot of contact. I think he's fine at his current weight, 82 games has a way of slimming guys down.
If you are a Harden fan at the very least you want him to slim down so there is less stress on his body. Kobe learned this and had a low body fat percentage late into his 30s which helped extend his career. He explicitly mentiones how he went on a strict diet. Harden needs to do this. It will beneficial in the long run also.
OP you mean lose weight like LeBron did 2 years ago, where he really slimmed down and then took a 2-3 week mid-season vacation to put on some weight? Harden is in good shape - he is just built bigger than many other guys, he isn't fat. Yeah he isn't as quick or athletic as Westbrook, LeBron, etc...but who really cares? He is crafty, can change speed, direction, decelerate like no other....he IS playing at an elite level and has been since he became a Rocket. Most importantly he is durable and can probably take contact like he does because he is bigger and stronger than most guys playing his position. Some of you make it sound like he is fat and slow and can't get by anyone...matter of fact, he is one of the most unguardable players in the league, despite him being slow, fat, lazy, etc.
He's always been good in the regular season but this year I think he finally "gets it" and he's shown signs of maturity and being a leader. It's not just noticeable on the court but there's been several times where he's shown putting in work in the weight room after games (we won). I think his progression has been very organic and he's on the right path. He's 27, in his prime and he's acting like it. There's a focus there that wasn't always there in years past. He bought in by signing that extension (I totally didn't see coming btw) and he's proving that he really wants to be here and do everything it takes to win. He's on a new level and I don't think anybody expected/guessed we'd be where we're at now before the season started. I have no doubt we'll be successful in the playoffs as long as he stays focused and continues doing his thing.
He has always been a fat kid. Actually he lost weight already if you watch his documentary on e60. He was a fat kid that could hardly do lay ups and not athletic.
He has been a PG version of regular season Lebron, more so than being Kobe like. There was a reproach that he could not play alongside an Allstar big guy. Playing with Dwight has not been easy. Kobe won 2 rings with Gasol and 3 with the Diesel. As it stands now, Kobe, being called out as a bad teammate, has successfully tuned his game to play with another allstar. Also Lebron co-existed with his Superfriend Allstars. Harden has yet to do it, he has to play great alongside a legit allstar.
Yes it would be nice, but it would have to be in the summer. I don't understand why we can't do ISO's early in the game and avoid ISO's late in game. Seems like we are picking the time when defenses are most locked down and most aware of our patterns to go for the ISO. Also why not do the exact same thing with a pick? I really don't get why someone would rather go one on one than have a pick set and use it? Harden's done more than enough to earn some screw ups, but I hope they are looking at efficiency closely as we progress through the season.
The issue isn't Harden being overweight, the issue is Roberson. There's a reason he starts despite being one of the worst shooters in the league, the dude is an absolutely elite defender.
I don't think @Vivi is saying he's overweight. It's more a matter of seeing your body as one of your weapons. What's the best way to sculpt it for the way you want to play? Even if his body fat % is very low, there are sometimes (though rarely) clear benefits to reducing your total weight. In this new offense, I can see it being beneficial. It's also a good idea for his overall longevity because of the minutes he plays and the frequency with which he attacks the rim.
Absolutely not. James' build is what sets him apart from other elite players. His low-to-the-ground game gives him durability and saves him from injuries. He'll never have Lebron's physique, but I'll take James' game over Durant right now. James is becoming a triple threat. Kevin is still evolving into a scorer, which is fine, but the best players learn to supplement their game. If only this team had a late 20's Cuttino Mobley coming off of the bench and available for his epic 4th quarters ....
Harden doesn't play above the rim like Kobe or T-mac so he will have a longer longevity. My issue with Harden is that he is a bit of a ball stopper still and man has he looked shaky in crunch time this year. It's a credit to the team that we pull a lot of these games out. The Ryan Anderson put back saved him.
I have seen Harden nudes. He is not that big or thick As the old saying goes, it's not the size that matters but rather how you use it
This is my biggest problem with him as well. The team is just better around him and is overcoming his shakiness down the stretch of games. MDA needs to stress to Harden to stop ball stopping down the stretch of close games. It makes the team predictable and easier to guard.
No he doesn't. At the end of close games you put the ball in the hands in by far and away your best player and trust them to make the best decision to get the W. People need to stop complaining about harden at the end of games. Iso is going to happen in close games whether you like it or not. It's always been that way. You live with the results of your best player. It's a luxury to have a player like that at the end of games
yea but maybe its not that hes fat, but that he has severe asthma. I think he could drop 10-15 pounds
