Imagine putting up 44 points .... and still losing. When did anyone stop believing Harden wasn't capable of putting up big numbers?
Lol harden haters doesn't bother reading OP post. Op is pointing out we have a lot of dumbfks devaluing or underappreciating one of the greatest players to grace our franchise just bc he wants to leave. It is what it is.
I remember the good old days when the organization didn’t provide the player with a ring, but the player obtained one on sheer will and determination.
Please tell me where I said Harden cost the game? When we switch to a system where the player with the most points wins the game for his team, then Hardens 44 points means everything. For now, Nothing. Has. Changed....at all. Not before the game or after the game. Or in the last week. The last month. The last year. The last 5 years. Hardens trade value hasn't gone up. He is STILL the same player, good or bad. Big numbers dont impress me. Making it to the finals does.
You didn’t. But your implication is clear. Things aren’t as black and white as show me the finals or I don’t give a ****. It’s not productive in roster building or constructive criticism of any individual player. There are lots of factors involved in winning a ring.
Rockets have all the power on this one. Keep him for the remaining two years and then get 50 million in cap space may ve the best move. He can’t sit out because he’ll lose his last couple of prime years before a major decline due to age.
Sadly, after watching last night, reality hits that he’s the best player in basketball and nobody can give us a truly fair return without it putting them in the same situation as us (very little chance for a Title).
It was never a question of what he does on the court, the criticism is of him as a person and the stupid things he does off the court.
Its always been a question of what he does on the court. If putting up big numbers translated to championships, we would have went 82-0 with Harden/Westbrook combo. Good teams (read: not 4 out of 5 players) play the ENTIRE floor on BOTH sides of the court. Three point shootouts win you regular games but send you packing 2nd round.
I think most Rocket fans want Harden to stay. But, Harden is the one that created all this with his request for a trade. Harden is the one that wants a Harden trade. The fans are just reacting to the words and the actions of James Harden. It really doesn’t even matter what the fans think or say. What matters is what Harden wants and what Harden does. Hopefully, Harden will see that there is talent on this team and decides he wants to stay. Everyone knows what Harden can do on the court. Everyone knows we are unlikely to get back equal talent in a trade. HARDEN is the one that needs to imagine what this team can be. The talent is there.
The key to win with Harden is surround him with elite defenders and shooters. Nwaba, Tate and Brown seem to fit the mold of elite defender. If Eric can hit at 36% like he normally does and Ben McLemore continues his shooting, those players will all complement him well. Then you have two bigs that fit his game perfectly in Wood and Boogie. John Wall is the biggest question mark for fit I have. If John and James both learn to play off of each other, this is a championship contender.
Imagine. Imagine saying Tyler Herro is off limits. Imagine Duncan Robinson being a “deal breaker” Imagine saying “We need more than Harden” to trade Can’t Shoot Simmons Imagine saying this player and that player is off limits. Imagine being that team. Imagine.
I dont know if the nbatv crew is always so surprised but they seemed rather surprised Harden put up that game. Being a fan of this team, that’s EXACTLY what I expect from Harden because 1- that’s what he always does and 2- that’s what he was supposed to do. I’ll tell you though, hearing them discuss “well he’s still 15 pounds overweight” as a diversion tactic? I mean why in the hell. Talk about, “lots of guys think they can put up Harden’s numbers if they played like him. I wonder what they are all waiting on.
I could say you are overreacting as well. It's only one game where Harden clearly wanted to make a statement. Probably more to the media than the Rockets. But the problem is how long this "will" is going to last, since him and his momma already said he wants to be traded. In the current state we still need to trade him. And if Herro is in the package, good for us. We won't have ONE player to replace him. Lebron and KD are not available and Harden is at their level. It's multiple players for Harden. Also, like you said yourself 2 all-stars and 1 sixth man didn't play. But it doesn't mean I take what Harden has done for this franchise for granted
