Real Talk: The Rockets are Held Captive by Harden's Mood Swings

lol they should be the last fan base to comment on Harden when they have Melo.

 

Kevin Martin can put up 30 points too.

 

I feel like I can score on Harden. Just run off screens, he wont even attempt to guard me, that's how bad he is at defense. SMH...

 

Now there is a great defender

 

I've watched plenty of Kevin Martin games and, as bad a defender as he is, I've never seen him play as poorly on defense, or with so little effort, as Harden has in about a half-dozen games over the course of this season. Harden allows scrubs to all of a sudden be superheroes. Martin was bad, but not THAT bad.

 

And he can run an offense and rebound like harden right?

 

Run an offense???

You mean...three ISOs in a row while the other Rockets players just stand around, then, a failed ISO attempt in which Harden dribbles the ball for 15 seconds then passes off to Beverly with 3 seconds left on the shotclock; and then another ISO, and another ISO, and then a lob to Dwight? No, KMart cannot run that kind of offense like Harden can.

Seriously...obviously Harden is a better player than Martin, but he does need to play harder on defense if the Rockets want to go anywhere this postseason.

 

I don't think you know what isolation means.

 

Others on this thread keep saying that so long as Harden scores his 30 points the pros outweigh the cons and that they aren't too concerned about Harden's porous D or things like turnovers.

My answer to that is...KMart can score thirty points too, and did, while he was here in Houston, and yet it seemed at that time that everyone on this board wanted him traded. Why? because he was a below average defender.

 

KMart was a below average defender who couldn't create his own shot and wilted in the 4th.

Harden's creativity, willingness and ability to pass the rock and ability to essentially create points outweighs his matador defense. Yes, he absolutely needs to improve, be it by putting forth greater effort or healing up them bruised dogs of his but as frustrating as he can be right now, there is no one in the league outside of Lebron I'd want in his place.

 

And that's why Houston will not be a contender anytime soon.

 

Not even Durant or George in Indiana.

 

I've read quite a few of your replies and I'm curious. Why are you here? You're clearly not a Houston or Rockets fan. Disgruntled Knicks or Lakers fan?

 

I have League Pass, and in which at least half the games have the non-Rockets commentators. In the past two games (Jazz and Spurs) the commentators explained, pointblank, the gameplan to stopping James Harden: you can't stop him on offense, so, have whomever Harden is guarding run Harden ragged on the defensive end. And this is exactly what the Jazz did--and successfully, as well did the Clippers, and I'm sure many other teams during the course of the season will try to do also. It is a very deliberate gameplan which is meant to run Harden ragged and take advantage of his lethargic defense. This tactic will continue to be employed and continue to be successful (i.e. scrub 2 guards like Burks scoring 25 points) if Harden chooses to be lax on D.

 

Yeah, I like Lin and started to initially to like the Rockets too (you're welcome to go back to actually see my initial posts -- they were very different). Then was put down and called a LOF and subjected to pretty bad treatment by this forum (and no one can deny how this board treats fans that like Lin). By the way, I've been a regular on other NBA forums -- this forum is the most vindictive and least welcoming.

So instead of becoming a fan that starts to like the Rockets, I've truly become a LOF. I'm proud of it now.

 

+... who the hell holds the coaching staff accountable? I doubt that alexander does.

 

This is the smart way to play, not just against Harden, but against all scorers.

The NBA is about offense. The best way to defend against an unstoppable player is to punish them with your own offense, and make THEM be the ones to try and defend.

 

Personally I think you shouldn't let some fans dislike of Lin fans to color your view of the Rockets as a team or organization.

On every forum there are those that can't seem to voice an opinion without vitriol or denigrating those that disagree. They just happen to sometimes be the loudest voices.

If you like the Rockets or what they're doing, then that should be good enough. Otherwise you're doing the same as those who can't separate Lin the player from Lin's fan base.

The solution is very simple. You can either ignore those that can't engage in a mutually respectful discussion, or you can engage in that discussion in a way that is more symbolic of your own approach.

Both are legitimate approaches. Which one works best for you is something that only you will know.

 

Clutchfans reaps what it sows. Should be called Trollfans because most people here hate the Rockets in aggregate, the vast majority of comments here are negative in nature.

 

Because I support James Harden? What?