I agree that Harden has always been a willing passer. What has really changed is the offensive system. He is now the PG, and the system allows him to make those passes in the flow, and he and his teammates are more often on the same page because they are playing within an organized system. He has definitely continued to work on his game, and he has great chemistry with these guys, so there has been some changes, but it isn't as if he's done a 180 or anything.
Daryl Morey said in an interview a few years ago that he analyzed Harden was as good a pnr player as Chris Paul before bringing him to Houston He also said the pnr was the most effective offense
i think there's def been a change to his game.... Imo, the difference is now he is sharing to get teammates involved - whereas in the past, he shared typically because he didn't have a decent shot.... It seems to me, he is passing earlier in the shot clock to try to help the team get the best shot possible... as opposed to the past where he would hold the ball too long and then pass with 3 seconds left if he didn't get an opening... I think the difference is apparent... and props to him for doing so!
Harden has been playing the same way since high school. His Coaches have pleaded with him to be more selfish. Makes me cringe when these guys call him selfish.
Before nobody moved without the ball. They clumped all the people together with no floor spacing. He didn't pass because he knew the result.
Wasn't he averaging like 7 assists in that filthy McHale offense?? I believe that the conversion from McHale stats to MDA stats is the same as dog to human, so that's like the equivalent of 49 assists/game this year. I've heard @FTW Rockets FTW is the expert on all things McFail, so back me up here, breh.
McFail "offense" - 1st option - ISO, 2nd option - ISO, 3rd option - ISO, 4th option - pass to a 3 point shooter for a hail mary with 2s left in the shot clock and pray that it goes in vs Mike AntoniO offense - Pass, pass, pass, pass until you find the best shot. Mike AntoniO >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Kevin mcFail
I wonder how much credit MDA really deserves. It seems like he downplays his role, in interviews he always seems to say he doesn't have to coach much, and just lets harden do his thing most of the time because he's a genius. I wonder if he's just being humble.
