James Harden and the Houston Rockets are at a breaking point

Bad guy? No-one said that in the article. Bad leader and culture setter? Oh yeah.

 

No wonder Chris Paul wanted out. He demands a lot of his teammates and it sounds like Westbrook does, too, even though the latter's game isn't good enough to demand it. The off days for partying and the apparent long-running trade demand threats are awful looks for James.

I know he doesn't care, as evidenced by his awful MVP "speech," but no other fanbase will love him as much as Houston did. That's what makes this trade demand (and the torching of the organization) so painful. I'd be a lot less angry if we had not mortgaged our future draft capital to OKC for one year of Westbrook in a desperate attempt to please Harden.

 

That trade has set this franchise back more than most realize.

 

Lebron has his boys on the team plane when others can't bring anyone. (and so forth and so one). You should catch Kawhi's & PG13's act in Clipperland. Kawhi & PG13 have their own medical staff and Kawhi makes the team wait for is San Diego commute so the team plane can leave. I have a family member who was recently a member of the Denver Nuggets, and Jamal Murray gets love like this BEFORE his bubble performance. Stars get pampered, professional sports has been that way forever. Doesn't make right , it's just not surprising.

 

CP3 did not want out. Morey did not want to trade CP3. Mike D did not want CP3 gone. Even Harden did not advocate to get rid of CP3. Morey said that Harden wanted to trade for Westbrook without trading CP3. Of course, Morey could be lying, but I find it genuine.

 

This is standard operating procedure under Tilman Fertitta..... he throws everyone under the bus.

Also, I like the quote from the ex assistant (everyone knows who it is) that has an axe to grind because he wasn't brought back.... maybe he should look in the mirror and consider that he is part of the problem as well.

Let's accept for a minute that the leak isn't being approved by ownership......... if that isn't the case, then the owner needs to clean out the organization from top to bottom......... but we all know the reality is that this ISN'T coincidence.... MDA left and Morey did everything possible to get out of town, and Rockets ownership isn angry that in no time he was head of another wealthier franchise.

 

Absolutely, I’m not saying any different.
But.......are they missing meetings? Are they making entire teams travel times different? Are they selfishly handpicking a team, creating a culture of no accountability and then when it doesn’t work, bailing on the team?

Again, this isn’t just James. Morey and ownership are just as complicit, if not more.

 

I had not heard that about wanting to keep Paul with Westbrook!

 

We'll realize it when the team is flushed out with G-Leaguers and Euro stashes.

 

First Nuk and then this!? SMH.

 

It’s hard being a Houston sports fan these days.

 

Yes there are starts like this. As much as I despise some of Lebron's actions and tweeting like a 16 year old I assume he leads be example on and off the court. He is likely the 1st one in the film room, etc. I assume he gets unbelievable special treatment but likely can tell when his teammates feel akward and insecure. It is about awareness. Guys like Lebron, Kawhi, Tim Duncan have that humbleness/awareness about them which is why they are champions. If any of this is true, it explains why guys like this were consistently competing and winning championships even with some strict coaches. You can't let superstardom get in your head when it comes to your teammates. I assume respect has been lost by some of them for James over the years especially a guy like Ariza who played with Kobe of all people who demanded the most out of his teammates but also himself.

Of course, when the clock starts Harden is locked in and focused more than anyone in NBA history and we all know his work ethic during the season has never been questioned but it is the little things that leaders do throughout the season and playoffs that help the other teammates rise to the occasion when the going gets tough. If you have any doubts in your leader, it snowballs for the role players.

I would be concerned with young players like Wood, etc. being around this culture. Not to mention that Cousins and Wall don't have the clout these days to stop Harden from being Harden. Even Westbrook couldn't get James to show up on time to things. Man if you could swap Westbrook's leadership skills with Harden's ability/work ethic/ability to improve his weaknesses/etc. you would have the perfect player and a likely champion by now.

Not sure where to go from here but I am thinking we go the Pistons/Heat route. Create a culture with 15 above average players with 2-4 near all-star level players that don't only play for themselves but the team and see where it goes. That type of unselfish winning basketball can still win in the NBA if all of the players buy in. If James is truly disgruntled then take the Heat or 76ers to the woodshed and roll with Simmons or Herro as guys that can play within a system. Harden on a team like the Heat with Jimmy Butler would be laughable since you know Jimmy won't be afraid of getting in Harden's grill anytime he is out of line. Harden better be careful what he wishes for.

 

https://theathletic.com/1328656/201...ut-dives-deep-on-the-russell-westbrook-trade/

 

Ferntits one leaky *******.

 

The article does mention several times a recent assistant coach from last season so maybe Elston Turner or someone like that?

 

Trade him to the Heat already, take all their young tradeable assets and 5 unprotected picks.

Morey can go **** himself, saying that Harden is better than MJ but refusing to deal Simmons for him.

I'll be happy to see the 76ers never make it out of the East under Morey.

 

True or not, this is team Fertitta-leaked PR spin. We were a hamstring away from a title running things that way. Better management could handle this.

 

This article sounds like a Morey hit piece.

 

LOL....Harden, CP3 and Westbrook on the same team?....okayyyyy

 

This. Plus, I don't get the reverence for CP3 on this board, the guy grabbed his hamstring and walked off the floor during one of the most epic playoff series in franchise history. Yet he's achieved sainthood around here, it's amazing. OKC loved him so much that CP3 has been traded yet again to Phoenix. He's always hurt & seems to wear out his welcome EVERYWHERE he goes. Looks like the team will trade Harden but when you get another superstar Rockets player, they are going to want the Rocket red carpet rolled out for them too. It's pro sports and people don't want to know how the sausage is made.