Last two championship teams, great #1 guys in LeBron and Steph. Take those guys off those teams and what other playmakers did they have? Kyrie, Livingston, Iggy, Draymond. Take away Harden and what do you have? Gordon? Bev? Great players. I love what they bring. But they're nowhere close to the other guys in terms of playmaking. You could make a case for Donatas helping. But he may be good enough to offset Desmond playmaking on the Warriors. Dubs now have KD. OP is pointing out the obvious. We're even more Harden-centric than we've ever been before. Harden is actually handling the ball 44% more time than he was last season. (9.1 minutes a game) Go back even further than the last two teams. Lebron/Wade. Understand the power of that. When one guys rests there's always another primo playmaker on the floor. We ain't got it. Here's the other thing about those teams. Those #1 guys deferred to #2 guy for much of the time they were on the floor together. Lebron defers to Kyrie constantly, let's him run the possession and LeBron goes to the wing. Same thing with Wade. When Steph and Livingston roll together Steph is on the wing at least half the time or more. Same thing with Iggy. Steph defers to him many times. We've got.......Tyler Ennis. And we've got a #1 guy that will not defer. That's why our next best playmaker is....Ennis. Who will probably be passed over by DMo in a couple weeks. This is our identity. Yeah we're legit. We're a legit second round exit. Better than a year ago because the dysfunctionality is no longer present. But we're the same one-dimensional team. Yes, that one dimension is great, like MDA says. And we've gotten rid of the post and added knock-down shooters so were are more potent offensively. But we're still one-dimensional. So we can go out and duel another one-dimensional team like we did last night and we can pull W's a large percentage of the time. But we all know where this headed. Until we acquire another great playmaker and become a multi-dimensional team we're headed for early playoff exits and we might as well change the team name to the Houston Hardens.
Exactly this. I already see the writing on the wall, and I would almost kill myself if Harden does the same thing in the playoffs during crucial moments. That's why we need to correct this when there is still time. Letting John Lucas talk to Harden is a great idea too.
When did clutchfans become so defensive over one player. No player is above criticism, not Yao, not Hakeem not Harden. Harden's game has flaws. He takes too long to initiate offense and bogs down the pace with iso's that are low percentage imo because of turnovers and desperation shots at the end of shot clocks. This isn't new either. he has been completely put out of rhythm before in the playoffs because of how he plays. Did anyone not remember the Portland series, he has been very inconsistent in the playoffs and against great defensive teams. He needs to cut down the iso's. He can abuse bad teams with them, but they are iffy against good defenders.
Harden and D'antoni have said they talk and text each other all the time so I'm sure D'antoni is always telling him stuff but it was clear last night that those isos were by D'antoni's design. He did away with the pick and rolls and put in his seldom used ultra floor spacing lineup with Anderson at C so Harden would go one on one and it resulted in line drives to the basket because defenders were looking over their shoulders expecting the pick and rolls that never came. That was D'antoni messing with Donovan and OKC's pick and roll defense plans. Got no problem with those iso's last night.
I don't think it has to come to a Players Only Meeting or a MDA sit down, I just think someone who Harden respects need to sit down with him and point out what we all are seeing in the 4th quarters of games; unforced turnovers, driving to the basket looking for fouls rather than looking to score and forcing a foul and protecting the ball. It's not magnified because the Rockets won but if we would have loss, the outcry would have been enormous.
Great idea. Let's focus on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and forget about all the other positive things that Einstein's contribution produced. Classic "cant see the forest for the trees"
I have no problem with Harden's ISOS, because more times than not it's effective. It's the decisions he makes; the behind the back pass, the driving looking for a foul and lazy dribble. In quarters 1-3, those things can be viewed differently, than in the 4th quarter.
wow, this is truly delusional. Pointing out where Harden can better his game is ignoring all his contributions? and you get mad when I call out homers like you, smh
Who said he is above criticism? go see the game thread and see if he is above criticism. He got called every name under the sun for his turnovers.
Honestly, People are seriously kidding themselves if they don't think personnel at the highest level just kick back and relax and not know the pros and cons on what's going on. "We" are not seeing anything here that they don't already now. You can point out flaws in every single team in the world and every player. Some valid some not. But thinking some kind of 1 on 1 serious talk is some kind of absolute need is just comical.
Because you're saying why isn't Harden getting roasted all over the page. So you want people to start a thread all over the page and bash Harden? Game thread not enough?
You need to go back to bed and wake up again. You're on something totally different. We're talking BB 101. I'm not saying don't take a 3 going down the stretch or if you see a player reaching don't look to draw contact, just simplify the game going down the stretch. Simple passes and open shots.
by your logic, everything that has been said in the GARM should not be made into other threads, and that includes everything about MDA, Brewer, Dmo, Beverly, Gordon, etc. makes sense?
It is because it is not freaking warranted. So we should start 5 or 6 different threads to bash harden so you feel better?. Are you even listening to yourself? Get a grip son. Go outside. The rage and hate you have for harden is overwhelming you. Take a break.
Understand that Harden has the ball for the MAJORITY OF THE GAME BY DESIGN BY MDA...IT'S BOUND TO HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME
You label us as delusional and homers and we are the ones who's mad? LOL. By stating that you will kill uourself it Harden makes those mistakes in the playoff is ignoring all the positive things that got us there
