I agree with the assessment that Harden could be more efficient in crunch time but this could be said about the whole squad. As you've said this entire team has to learn how to win at the highest level.
Well, we all want Harden to be better in the clutch but you also have to be realistic about that too. We tend to remember the missed shots/passes more than we do the made ones. Part of being clutch is a result of the team you have around you and familiarity with those players. Lebron took a lot of heat for not being clutch earlier in his career because he didn't trust his team. Kobe, for all of the media dick sucking fascination with the Lakers, was actually not even the best clutch shooter on his own team, that was Derek Fisher. Yet, Kobe was labeled so because some of the clutch shots he actually did make were very memorable and amazing. Kobe actually went 4 for 26 in game 7 of the finals against Boston and somehow stole the finals MVP away from Pau Gasol. He also shot the Lakers out of the 2004 finals series against the Pistons. Kobe put up a great many stinkers in his day, and was often bailed out by guys like Fisher, Horry, even the likes of Donyell Marshall, Gasol with the offensive put backs, Shaq, Bynum, Odom, Artest, the list goes on. Kobe was very good but he had help getting there too. It's not as simple as saying, "James, you need to be more clutch." The avenue has to exist for it first. The team has to be there, coaches, play calling, etc. Harden has already proven he can make the clutch shots, he's done it many many times since putting on a Rockets jersey. So, I'm not too worried about that. In fact, if you told me the Rockets would be 22-9 right now despite one of the toughest schedules to start the season, and James Harden hasn't been clutch yet, I would say that I'm awfully excited about this team right now.
That wasnt the question. The question was which superstars could lead their teams to a championship that aren't on Cleveland and Golden State? I gave you the short list of teams that could win a championship with their best players and the circumstances under which they could possibly win a championship.
It would do you a lot of good to research turnovers. You haven't. And therefore you are not telling the entire story.
I don't post in the GARM very often because of stupid crap like this. Harden is terrible, Harden is killing us, Harden isn't a real MVP, this loaded team will never win with an anchor like Harden. Does he have ball security issues he can improve, of course, but people acting like he is having an abysmal team killing season is preposterous. We are in the midst of an 11-2 stretch, with our 2 losses being a 2 point loss to the 3rd best team in the NBA, and the best defensive team in their gym. He is having an absolutely insane season, but people are choosing to all but ignore that because he still has areas to improve upon. I mean 27 and 12, 60% TS, 5th best record in the NBA, but he's not a real MVP because he isn't perfect. Apparently unless he is an absolute basketball god, he will always be lazy ball hog Harden.
Dude. You're not making much sense. You're saying because of Harden's current play or attitude this team is not good enough to be a championship contender but Boston and Toronto and Clippers are. There is soooo much crazy going on in this thread!
Khwai Lenard has more flexibility in his game than Harden. SHM and LOL. If you Say Khwai is better defensively, ok, but Khwai Lenard has more flexibility than Harden? We are witnessing something special here and you guys are still unhappy. Just Name other players that can do it all on their own. I remeber people used to criticize Jordan for not being a team player and when did Jordan get his first ring. Kobe couldn't do it on his own and I remeber he was so confused when they were sending quick double teams on his catch.
We have to understand the way we are playing predicates on PnR, quick outlets, fast breaks, etc. Those things are hard to come by at the end game situation. We are asking Harden to do a lot and he is IMO doing pretty OK. The mistakes he makes are just magnified because we lost close games and we remeber those. But look why are we not talking about how he sliced the Spurs entire defense for a gorgeous layup down the wire , why are we not talking about his beautiful pass to Harrel for a dunk against Mem down the wire. Some of the TO can be avoided and I am sure he will learn from his mistakes, but some of those were just poor execution. Harrel more than once set a double screen at the point when Ryan was setting one too. That brought an extra defender to crowd Harden who is not a periemer dribble handler like Parker or Paul. So he was confused and drove into the teeth of the defense with no passing or layup angle, and he turned it over by threw it blindly. Those are not just Harden and I am sure we will improve as the season progresses so.
MDA has to have a serious talk with Harden......about how if they beat the Suns tomorrow they are only 4 games out of the number 1 spot in the West. Now I don't actually think we will compete for that number 1 seed, but that should be put some things into perspective.
Posts like this are one of the reasons you are one of my least favorite posters. First of all, the irony of you telling people they have to understand the game. Ummm, Harden leads the league in assists. Now you might think it's because he's such a ball hog, but perhaps - just perhaps - he's doing what the coaching staff is asking of him? Harden is one of the most efficient scorers in the league - I am not sure what you want him to do when he's racking up double digit assists. Pass more? Let Beverly run the offense? Do you watch the games? Demands the basketball? Dump other playmakers? Like...Dwight Howard? Harden dumped him for sure but I don't think he was a playmaker last time I checked. Do you forget that Harden was friends with Ty Lawson and recruited him to Houston? The same Lawson who has put of awful numbers in Indiana and Sac-town since leaving here? I just think you must be a disgruntled Lin fan or something. You sound like someone who is arrogant and acts like a know-it-all but actually doesn't know jack.
Crazy how people can b**** about a team that has already exceeded expectations to this point of the season... People saying Harden is just lazy with his passes Is crazy.. Turnovers happen.. I think he more than makes up for them ..
Yes. That's what I'm saying. Comprehende? Si No? We are 4 games out of the #2 spot and 4 games from #7 spot. Perspective Clutchies, perspective.
Morey just need to surround Harden with more shooters and/or better shooters. Harden is unbelievable, he's providing team with soooo many open looks it's just that when they miss them we sometimes lose. BBHolic is knowledgeable and he knows how to write in convincing fashion but then remember that we feature Brewer a lot. Imagine if someone with a decent shot would play instead of him?! we would be right there with GSW. Harden would have more space to operate and we would have a lot more points from 3 pt shots. So i guess in that case hardens warts wouldn't even mattered.
Harden has pretty much improved in every facet of his game this season.Sure he can improve on his turnovers, but the crap being spewed is a bit excessive. The guy is having a historic level season.For his haters he can do no right.
I understand that unlike Lebron, Harden has never had the quality number 2 or 3. Lebron has Wade and Bosh in Miami, and has Kyrie in Cleveland. Are you saying that Harden's number 2 was Lin, Tyson, or Beverley? Who is this amazing playmaker that Harden dumped that was on par with Kyrie? Please do tell us since clearly you know so much about basketball.
Morey needs to acquire a post-up threat as another weapon that MDA can integrate to the system. Plus JH13 should train with Dream and add post moves to the arsenal. The team needs to work on eliminating turnovers, not just JH13.
I'm saying there's a reason why we don't have another superstar around Harden. I've already said it. Harden wants to win a certain way. He didn't want to share enough. He's not willing to play off the ball when the defense is choking him. His best friend blew him off for an already loaded team. For the same reason Durant left Westbrook. Harden and Westbrook are too ball dominant to win championships in today's NBA. Durant knows Harden ain't ready to win a C. There's a reason why our supporting cast is what it is. There's a reason why we keep cycling through and replacing the second and third best players on the roster. It's James Harden.
You literally and irrationally blame Harden for EVERYTHING. So why hasn't Chris Paul gotten to the WCF since 2005? Why didn't Kyle Lowry win anything in Memphis, Houston and now Toronto? Why has Kawhi Leonard gone home in the first two rounds the last 2 years?
