[SI] The Beard: James Harden Untangles His Life And Game

I found this interesting

At the end of the worst year of his life—the term he uses, and not lightly, having grown up in a mobile home on the outskirts of Compton—Harden gathered his four best friends, high school teammates who now live in Houston, to review summer plans. Entourage carries a negative connotation in sports, as if it’s all Turtle and Johnny Drama, but the inner circle often provides the reality check. Its members are sometimes the only ones who go back far enough to share unvarnished truth.

“We just sat down in his house and let him know, ‘Something has to change,’” says Camilo (Juny) Valencia, a former Artesia guard. “‘You have to simplify.’”

 

It is a stormy Valentine’s Day in downtown Houston and Harden lounges on a red sofa at Toyota Center, as appropriate a time and place as any to discuss the power of relationships. “I might watch a movie tonight,” he says. “My mom is my valentine.” Khloé has moved on to the Cavaliers and their relentless power forward, Tristan Thompson, while Harden has rekindled his partnership with the Rockets and his courtship of the MVP trophy.

 

Such a brilliantly written article.

 

Great article. Thanks for posting.

Helps explain not only what's happening this year, but last as well.

 

Actually saw a lot of pro-Harden reaction from non-Rockets fans to the parts about throwing Khloe in the bushes.

 

I've never heard that expression before.

 

Fear the Bush

 

Thought this was an interesting item with regards to TEAM BUILDING and the Rockets shift. Something to consider moving forward towards the draft and summer free agency/trades.

The Rockets would love to employ four superstars, but they’ve discovered some fringe benefits to one. Hierarchy is understood. Roles are fixed. Starters are satisfied chipping in 12 points per game. Anderson and Gordon, expats from New Orleans, came up with the idea to set up several feet behind the three-point line. The extra distance imperils their accuracy, but provides even more space for Harden’s headlong drives. Morey, who long trumpeted talent over harmony, has taken a slightly different approach. The Rockets don’t have an elite player alongside Harden. They have an elite fit. ​

 

James Harden !!!!! All I can say.

 

I like all this media coverage for Harden.

Hopefully it will aid him in the MVP race.

But, at the end of the day, I just want the Rox to keep winning!

 

But Tristan Thompson now has the same reality show girlfriend, and the most passive-aggressive teammate in the NBA.

 

Tristan is a glorified role player.

 

Really good article!!

I was under the assumption that the D'Antoni hire was Alexander's doing. This article says it was Morey who wanted this, and that Les just signed off on it.

 

Shouldn't be missed. Morey didn't even make the hardest double down decision. Les did.

 

Did you read the article? It specifically says, "Let's not put a boat anchor on Secretariat," Morey concluded, during a staff meeting at the end of the search. "Let's double down". So it was Morey's decision NOT Alexander's.

 

I wonder who doubled down on Morey's line of thinking, after having him in the hot seat 6 months earlier?

Most owners, if approached with "lets double down on what didn't work last time," respond with "are you serious?"

 

Thanks for posting this POD. It is only 10min, worth a listen. Wanted to bump this. Nice coda to Lee Jenkins story.