Howard was not the same guy when he got here and neither was Westbrook. I can tell you I would rather have had that Love that came from Minnesota or Kyrie on the Cavs than either the Howard(this one is debatable though) that came here or Westbrook that came here. But yes Lebron is better. Im not disputing that. But I just wish we had fair shot is all. But it is what is.
Howard never performed that well for the Rockets. His best years were behind him. We also signed an injury-prone CP3.... and he was injury-prone whilst playing for us. Westbrook has only given us 3 good months since he's signed here. Not sure he's on the decline, but he's nowhere near the level he was 3 years ago. I also feel he's going to be inconsistent next season. Westbrook relies a lot on his athleticism, and that's only going to get worse. People seem to forget that Harden didn't have CP3, Gordon and Capela for a combined total of 45 games one year. He basically played with a G League for half the season. We were 11-14, had so many injuries, yet Harden still carried us to a 4th place finish in a tough conference. What other NBA star could have done that with the problems we had that year?
Expect more of these throughout the season in regards to Harden. Even when Harden is playing well and carrying, they always find ways to blame him. These topics always come after a loss.
No one has forgotten that, and no one is questioning Harden's regular season greatness. This thread is about the playoffs.
Facts...we have a top 5 player who still has at least 3-4 more high level seasons. Look elsewhere for the blame you weirdos. *Cough Cough* @Asian Sensation
Did you read the article? It wasn't any of the calls the Lakers were complaining about. One was a 1 FTA defensive 3 seconds. The other LeBron immediately got the offensive rebound and putback. So really, the biggest gripe is the defensive 3 seconds miss, which everyone missed.
Then look at his playoff performances. He's actually been great in the playoffs. James Harden in the playoffs since 2013: 42.1% from the field - 32% from the 3pt (he's had 1737 field goal attempts and 803 of those are 3pt attempts), over 28 points per game, over 6 rebounds, over 7 assists, close to 2 steals per game. That's in 85 playoff games. Yes, his 3pt % should be higher, but he does shoot an awful off the dribble and step back 3pt shots, so he's bound to miss a lot of them. Obviously, his field goal % drops a lot because of the amount of 3pt shots he takes. That's pretty good considering he's barely had any all-stars to play with. The only all-stars he had to play with is Howard, who didn't hit the level he could with the Rockets... and an injury-prone CP3 who missed games 6 and 7 against the Warriors. Not to mention, CP3 didn't turn up against the Warriors till game 6 last season. He's also got Westbrook, but Westbrook has had a pretty inconsistent season. He's been doing this on a decent to good Rockets team.... but never an elite team like certain players have had. Harden has improved a lot in the last 3 years in the playoffs, so him not performing in the playoffs anymore is just stupid. He's got better and better in the playoffs as the years as gone on. As I said, he's doing this without the best supporting cast.
This is interesting logic. Harden has been statistically great in elimination series for the past 2 years, but he gets no sympathy points for a weaker supporting cast since he's the reason for the weaker supporting cast.
Team Building is on Morey. Period. That stupid Microball, no mid range and the coach is on Morey. The organization has to own it. Harden or no Harden. It may be time to fire Morey.
Absolutely wrong and intellectually dishonest. When the owner and star player push for a specific personnel change, how can the GM veto it? Ideally, Harden should have zero input on roster changes, and Morey should be allowed to do his job.
Actually, it isn't (notice that the whole NBA is mostly following it), but even if it is, that's on MDA, not Harden, right? CP3 did that because that's his game. Harden's game IS either step back 3's or layups (and fouls, on either). And you CANNOT make any legitimate argument that it hasn't been HIGHLY effective for him.
Uhh, by growing a pair, and doing his job? You're the GM, YOU make such decisions. Now, if you want to incorporate player input, fine, but that's still on YOU, since its YOUR job, not theirs. A prime example of how the league has let players get FAR too much control. You simply tell them," appreciate your input, I will take that into consideration, but putting the team together is my job, playing basketball is yours. If you want to be GM, fine, quit playing and shoot your resume out there. You will find that there aren't going to be any takers, because you have zero experience in doing my job. But thank you for bringing your input to me, my door is always open." What's do damn hard about that???? As for the owner, maybe a bit harder because they can directly fire you, but 'Look, you hired me to put the team together. Let me do my job." also isn't that hard. In all honesty, if you're going to let the owner make such decisions, you need to move on anyway, since you're just a lackey at that point, and have lost responsibility for the things you're supposed to be responsible for.
So what's your solution? For Morey to attempt to veto Tillman and get fired? Because that's not reality. If Lebron wants to make a realistic personnel move and the GM is unwilling, then Lebron won't re-sign with the team. And then, the GM will get fired for not doing all he could to keep Lebron. And then that GM would struggle to find another job.
There is no other Clutchfans, that is definitely true. Props to @Clutch and all the posters here for that. Does he, really? There are a couple superstars that are pretty well rounded, but most absolutely have some unique problems. They are just so good a the things they're good at that they're still superstars. Not sure how Harden doesn't fit into that group. But, probably worth discussion. What are the unique problems that other superstars don't have?
They will never or barely own it. Nobody has ever pressured Morey, he was mostly trusted. At least on the surface. In addition Tilman is cheap but doesn't like changes, ushering in his son wouldn't be so great for the team record. Would like Morey be given an ultimatum, either win it or leave. Otherwise it could be seen a weakness of management, feeding someone without achieving in the postseason.
Yep. Or quit. If you CAN'T do your job, why stay? Or, live with the results, and accept that it was, ultimately, really YOUR decision. Whether or not getting fired factored into it, you're still the GM, and you own ALL personnel decisions. Sure it is. Same as above...if you're going to let the players do your job, without even telling them just what I did (and, by the way, mount a PR campaign around just that), then WTF are you doing there anyway? You're not the GM, the players are. If you ARE going to let that happen, as above, it is still YOUR decision. The players don't make the moves, regardless of their input, the GM does. Every GM in the league makes enough bank that they should have plenty of walk away money. When you aren't being allowed to do your job, why not walk away? Particularly when the alternative is to let the inmates run the asylum, when they have NO skills or experience in that area. There is a reason very very few players become GM's, and even fewer succeed when they do. Because they're not good at it. If you're letting people who aren't good at it dictate what YOU do, you aren't doing your job.
In what way? It's actually a complete description of reality. I suspect you're glossing over the 'if you decide to let the owner or players make your decisions for you, that's still on you, since you're the GM' part. As for letting the players make the decisions, that absolutely needs to be curtailed. Players suck as GM's. That's just true. Is Jerry West the ONLY exception? I think so. So, again, still describing reality, no? This is why I laugh at the talk of players just becoming owners, and running the league. Go for it! You will suck at it, and the nonsense will die down, and we can be back to the way things should be. Owner's should absolutely tell the players, 'ok, we'll help you create a team, let you own it and run it'. Players will also then wake up to ownership. You know what the big difference between the two is (and players don't think about this)? Owners still have to pay the bills when revenue is down. They can actually lose money, especially cash money, in any given year. What do you think players reaction would be if they set their contracts up the same way? 'Ok, we'll give you a piece of the action. When revenues are up, we'll pay you a percentage. BUT, when revenues are down, and we lose money, you will OWE US a percentage of the loss'. You think players would go for that? Hell to no. Well, players, THAT'S ownership, so if you don't like it, stop with the nonsense talk. This BS is among the reasons many are losing interest in the NBA. Players may get their wish, and start talking more ownership, in a league with dwindling revenues. So, absolutely I am describing reality in saying that GM's own the decisions, regardless of WHY they made them. Moreso, they lose the respect (and interest) of fans if they let that happen. How many loyal Rocket's fans here are proud and behind the moves it seems Morey made due to this? I'm thinking...no one? Further proof of my point, and how it is indeed reality.
