CP3 was HATED here his 2nd season guys like DD now want to act like CP3 is the truth and they always loved him, but he’s the same dude who said we would never win a title with CP3 and his contract most wanted CP3 gone after that season, but didn’t believe anyone would take him because he was that bad combined with his contract
All this talk about Harden being more likable because he changed his game up is BS. Last night without KD and Kyrie, BKN got a full taste of of Rockets James Harden and everybody LOVED it and sang his praises all last night, this morning, and into the afternoon. Nothing about his stat line or how he played yesterday was shocking or quite frankly that overly impressive to any of us because 38 and 11 had become pretty much the norm for him. Dare i say that’s what we’d come to expect and we’d consider that an average game. This man averaged 40, 7, and 7 over 40 games. We took it for granted because he made it look easy. It took 50 point triple doubles and 60 point games to get our attention.
It's true. Chris Paul one of the most efficient guards ever shot 42 percent that season. He didn't look the same...he was moving slow, wasn't beating his man, it was clear to the eye he wasn't right. He looked washed. If CP played year 2 the same way he played year 1 in OKC he would have NEVER been traded. I can guarantee that.
There is no doubt that Chris Paul could irritate Harden and vice versa but it wasn't to the point that Paul had to go. He still played cards with Harden on flights, they sat next to each other and they kept in touch. It was a perfect storm that lead to Paul leaving.... Paul not playing well, the Rockets not getting Butler, the owner wanting badly to move Paul and Westbrook being available. Paul was pissed that Harden didn't choose him over Westbrook and I can understand Paul's position and would likely feel the same if I were him.... but I can also understand Harden's concern about his play slipping.
It's an exaggeration to say that what he did against the Suns is an average game for him as a Rocket. For sure he's had even better games as a Rocket (and he's been duly praised for those performances). Still, his game against the Suns would still rate among his best games. Cool stat, by the way. I wasn't aware that he averaged 40+ during a 40 game span. That's crazy.
Paul buys into his own hype. He thinks he knows how to play winning basketball when he's never really won anything. Like seriously, he hasn't gotten out of the 2nd round without Harden even though he played with another MVP candidate.
CP3 wore out his welcome when he didn't do crap after the extension, but was talking down to Harden who was literally carrying the team by himself and averaging over 35 points a game. Harden was just tired of the lectures.
he avearaged almost the same for a whole season last year last night's game was the norm not the exception
Yep, its sad how quickly some people forget how good he is. He literally could average 40 and 10 if he wanted to be a stat padder.
Wut? He passed up a mid range shot right before Harden hit the 3 to take the lead. What were you watching?
Last year, his average Game Score rating was 25.3. In last night's game against the Suns, it was 36.2. As I said, it's an exaggeration to suggest it was an average performance for him.
The reason I disagree with this is because in his previous 4 seasons, he averaged 29 and 11, 30 and 9, 36 and 7.5, and 34 and 7.5. Him dropping a 38 and 11 type stat line or something on par was very common place and happened frequently enough that I think people took it for granted. He had to go god mode for people to really take notice. I for one was more surprised when he didn’t score 30.
Not saying last night wasn’t a good game for him. I’m saying he’s had plenty of similar level games close to, equal, and even better.
Paul: some people are built for this and went on to choke game 7 for the Thunder away last season. Last night he got owned again
I agree that people took many of his performances as a Rocket for granted. Just in terms of Game Score, which is skewed towards high usage players, in prior 3 regular seasons Harden had a better Game Score rating than what he posted against the Suns in 33 out of 218 games. So, just in terms of box score numbers, it would be about 85th percentile for him in relation to prior three seasons. And people also really liked that he's doing it without over-reliance on getting to the free throw line (fair or not, that makes a difference in people's perception of his game). And of course, the game itself was super-dramatic with the come from behind victory and with Harden playing with their two top scorers sidelined. So, there should really be no surprise that there would be extra buzz for Harden after this game. I don't think it has much at all to do with him playing for a New York-based team. Him being a on a new team and in a somewhat different role is, however, part of it.
This is a little disingenuous in my opinion considering you’re relying on game scores to prove your point. The game against the GSW when we won 135-134 and he made the game winner was in my opinion a better game against a much tougher opponent and he had a lower game score. 44 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds against one of the greatest teams of all time. Edit: Maybe disingenuous isn’t the exact word I’m looking for. Just saying I think you’re being a little overly reliant on that one piece of data.
