Yeah I don't know how to respond to this. This is some far reaching deep end accusations, just saying.
very doubtful, i see them communicating every game. plus Howard did just get Harden the only watch that wasnt a rolex. it was the watch thst Harden really wanted. thats not a gesture you make to someone that you dont get along with. they def have different personalities but on the court they know they need each other and seem to be embracing the leadership role together.
Maybe. Then again, Harden's body language has changed significantly compared to before. I think he is finally maturing up and growing into that leader role. As for the Dwight, I am eating crow and it is ****ing delicious. I thought he would come in and destroy our chemistry with locker room drama but I feel like he has been bringing the team together and managing the stress levels for everyone. I think the intangibles that came with Dwight might just be more crucial than the stat upgrade over Asik. Probably, it even relieved some of the stress and responsibility from Harden's shoulders.
There is nothing to respond to. It's not about you. Only reflecting on 2 incidents that I saw. That's why I said "just sayin"... meaning it's just my two cents. Nothing to respond to, just my observation not even an opinion because I don't know, no inside information here, not even about the 2 incidents. Much less anything about Harden's motives. I would say there is no question players on the same team fight and argue with each other all the time. Most of that is just water under the bridge and passes away. I am just responding to what I saw. It is probably nothing but clearly Howard had one of his worst games. DMo played well in his place but not amazingly well. It was a good effort but without Lin and Harden we would have lost. It seems like a lot of praise coming from someone who doesn't give a lot of praise. Maybe he was in the christmas spirit, maybe he has a new leaf on how he lives his life or maybe it's something else. "Just sayin"
Yeah you're probably right but even if you're not. I don't think it's a big thing. Not like the thing that Kobe and Dwight had last year. But there are two sides to every story. And on one side Dwight is coming into a team where he is the head honcho and not a team that he was just another guy under Kobe. And Harden was the head honcho last year for the Rockets. He has to give up a little of his reign to make room for howard. He said all the right things to start the season but saying and doing are two different things. I would expect a little friction as the team adjust to their new roles. It would be weird if there wasn't and surprisingly there hasn't been much. If this is nothing fine. Clearly Howard is happier here. And Harden seems good too but they are definitely both type A personalities. It's not always easy to get those types too merge fortunately Harden is not as strong a TYPE A like Kobe. No one is like Kobe. He is a hater type A. I do not see that here at all. So if there is nothing fine and if there is something to it that's okay too. It's not a biggie IMO one way or the other.
I mean, if that's your opinion, that's fine. But I don't think it's factual at all to claim that Harden doesn't praise his teammates. I just googled' "Harden praises Howard" and this is the first thing that pops up http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=400488882 If you could criticize Harden for praising D-Mo since it was purportedly a slight to Howard, then you could practically criticize Harden for anything.
All of your posts are you making inferences about things you have no idea about. I've seen you put down Harden and even go as far as saying we should trade him because of little things that you read so far into that it reaches the point of delusion.
Agree with you that it's not a biggie. That said, I think you are reaching though. Harden to me is not a go with the flow type. He is more individualistic more introverted in some ways. On some levels he might even be shy or more self aware. He is not selfish in the ball hog way but rather in the take responsibility to get the win way. I thought his praise of DMo was sincere without ulterior moives.
Two turning-points this season: First, the PHX game where he shot 0-10 from 3pt range. The next game was our 1st GSW win where Harden showed a willingness to shoot from midrange and stop forcing his shots. Second, our IND game where George outplayed him. Of course, team rested him the following two games. But when he played next in our Christmas game vs Spurs, he played with a facilitating mindset and just took over in the 4th. I think the coaches have not been remiss in telling him, but it's only recently that he's really bought into two things--that he can trust his teammates more (he's not selfish necessarily, he just wants to help team win) and that we play better when the ball is not sticky. Parsons said the last game that coaches were challenging them to make 25 assists a game--play for each other, help each other score. So those ugly losses helped by forging/cementing the lessons the coaches were trying to tell him--we play best when we play fast and when we move the ball.
You are delusional if you think I judge Harden on anything but his play on the court. I don't ever remember saying any thing about trading Harden. There are only a handful of players I would trade Harden for. I wouldn't trade him for melo, Wade, a healthy Kobe, Parker. I am not making up ****. I watched Harden holler back at Howard. I saw Harden push Howard away from him. I never said Harden never gives compliments, I only infered actually I didn't even infer. I only questioned whether Harden might also have taken a stab at Howard by his compliment to DMo. I will be clear since you are confused. I am not the biggest fan of Harden but I have no confusion on his talent. Do not get that twisted. I am not the one on this board that thinks Parsons is more valuable. You won't ever hear me say Lin is better. And I like both of those guys personalities better. I do think he ISO's too much and sometimes screams at his teammates too much when he's got his on giant effing rock on his shoulder. But I am not twisted like some in thinking Harden is not the second best player on the team and it's a close second behind Howard. As I said in only watching the games I saw 2 incidents of what appeared to be friction between the two. If you need to live in la la land with sugar plumbs and fairy tales by all means go ahead. I'm not saying that it's the end of the world. On the contrary, I am saying it's probably nothing but just because Harden loves Howard one day doesn't mean he can't be mad at him the next. it's the circle of life. People move on and championships have been WON BY TEAMMATES who hated each other. I do not believe that is the case here. LET ME REPEAT I DO NOT BELIEVE HARDEN HATES HOWARD JUST QUESTIONING WHETHER HARDEN MIGHT BE A LITTLE ANNOYED WITH HOWARD. JUST QUESTIONING... I am sorry if I messed up your illusion of this perfect team harmony. Disregard my questioning on go on with your delusional illusion. Just sayin... No argument from me. I really wasn't trying to derail this thread. it was just a question about an observation. I do not pretend to know what on Harden's mind. ANd to put an end to this discussion I concede my question is not relevant and Harden deserves credit for his praise of a fellow teammate. I would also like to add I have been impressed by harden's play these last wo games. It's what he needs to do to help this team most. There is no question when we need Harden most is in the 4th. And if he relegate some of his duties to Lin and Bev than he will have more in the tank for the 4th. I think this team can go further than most project. What impresses me most is how we can come from behind. The fact that we get behind is a little disappointing and a telling sign of preparation but the fact that we can come back is a good indication we have talent. It's also the reason we can win on back to backs. Young talent does that. What we lack is more experience and a little better coaching.
This I think when Harden came back in a facilitator mode that was the turning point for us. Its scary thinking about how good we can be when he plays like this
It's great to hear Harden say that, but I disagree with him. Harden is the reason we won that game. The fact that he can will a team to victory when his shot is not falling by giving full effort and taking it to the basket is a wonderful sign IMO. I think the kid just needed to get healthy.
He does seem to fare well when Lin and Parsons are clicking and doing a good job at creating. He's a great finisher and can drain the catch and shoot if his defender sags off a bit due to others creating. I'm not as impressed with his dribbling out the shot clock and regularly getting the ball stolen. Not sure if the two are apples to apples though; it's not what we typically think of as "off-the-ball". Then again, sometimes his "off-the-ball" is standing in one spot and not spacing out properly or moving, leading to a stagnating and uneffective offense. Separately, he is amazing at getting to the hoop when we there are fast break transition opportunities.
I think the hope is that it's more consistent and that there are signs that he's improving his game (and willing to work on certain weaknesses) and becoming more mature.
I agree. I don't know if he's shy or introverted, but he's doesn't seem like a go with the flow type, sometimes not in the basketball game either. He was instrumental in that DMo jam. DMo made the block, yes. But Harden hustled after the ball, dived, got it to Casspi. Then it was Casspi to Lin, Lin push and pass and DMo running the floor makes a dunk electrifying the crowd and energizing the team. But without Harden's hustle/dive/pass to Casspi, the play is just a block that may have gone back to Memphis.
There is no one guy that is the reason we won the game but it was DMo that made the biggest impact probably followed by Lin. Brooks also played a part before he got injured. Garcia happened to hit a big 3 as well. But Lin's 3s, assisted by Harden, certainly got the Rockets believing they had a chance, DMo fighting with Zach and playing tough D on him was crucial as was Harden getting to the line, assists, D and hustle, in fact, all of the D down the stretch by the whole team won the game for us.
Oh please. In question mostly by morons and Lin fans that felt like Harden was stealing Lin's thunder.
