Harden: "Dwight and I are the cornerstones of the Rockets. The rest of the guys are role players..."

Jordan was mentioned in a previous post. He was a scumbag.

 

I really hope Harden take another step.

 

I hope you have the games on dvr. His defense was very bad.

 

Kobe was garbage defensively for most of his career... even Phil Jackson has called him out on it.

Second, leading the league in steals doesnt equate to being a good defender, Alan Iverson lead the league in steals and he was a garbage defender as well.

Making "All Defensive Teams" means very little to me... Larry Bird was a piss poor defender and it was even joked about when he played... Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan both joke about it all the time. Larry Bird was surrounded by plus defenders from Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Cedric Maxwell, Robert Parrish, Bill Walton and Jerry Schitting.

If you want other examples, Dr. James was nothing special defensively for most of his career... neither was James Worthy, Elvin Hayes and many other champions.

I want Harden to improve defensively, but to act like teams best players and Hall of Famers were all lock down defenders is simply innacurate.

 

That's his opinion. I have a different one. *shrug*

 

Dapper Harden stays dapper while shots are being fired

<a href="http://s293.photobucket.com/user/lcahmed/media/DapperHarden_zps5b682e3a.png.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm61/lcahmed/DapperHarden_zps5b682e3a.png" border="0" alt=" photo DapperHarden_zps5b682e3a.png"/></a>

 

Anyways...

I have a meeting with my subordinate attorneys and employees.... and yes, I will rip them and remind them that they are just pieces.

 

MJ and Kobe were tough on themselves before they were tough on their teammates. Those are true leaders because they would set an example to their teammates, and if their teammates can't give the same level of efforts, they are trashed.

Harden, with his complete meltdown in offense, and continuous lack of effort on D in the playoff series, does not have the right to claim as the cornerstone of this team.

His hot head needs to be cooled down and up his D game before being shipped out of this team for a real cornerstone.

 

Most players seem to see the game from a far more corporate viewpoint than the fans, it's just business. It's really only personal for the guys who are young and dumb.

 

And he's not the only one.

If anyone is really shocked that a player would ever say anything like this about a teammate (in public or private) you haven't paid close attention to the NBA, college basketball or team sports in general.

Jordan punched Steve Kerr in the face in practice over a disagreement. He also told folks not to pass the ball to certain players in crucial situations. There are tons of first hand accounts of him bad mouthing and trash talking his own teammates. You know what happened? Those guys ended up being closer friends and better teammates. It's about earning respect.

Heated words, arguments and fights are part of the bonding process. Siblings go through the same thing. Someone earlier mentioned military service, also a good parallel (on a much different level of course). Kerr didn't back down from MJ in an argument and got socked in the chops for it. But he also earned some respect for not rolling over.

Harden is not and will never be MJ, obviously. But let's not pretend that this type of thing hasn't gone on for as long as I've been watching pro sports.

Bottom line: These are grown men that know damn well what their roles are. The only one who apparently had delusions of grandeur bolted out of town.

 

Congratulations.

 

I'm wondering how many in this discussion actually read the article. In context we didn't really say anything that offensive, or at least offensive to the remaining members of the team.

If anyone should be a bit offended it should be JLin or Parsons because it was referring to their departure as the loss of "pieces".

I'm sure it probably butt hurt Chandler especially but he couldn't feel it cause his Capri's are too tight.

 

The statement by itself, perhaps not. But in the overall context, it contributed to a negative perception of Harden and the team and is not helpful to winning.

People, including NBA players, already perceive Harden as a guy who is a joke on defense and holds the ball too much on offense-- perhaps not the most fun guy to play with even if he is talented. In fact, Chandler Parsons chose to sign elsewhere and says that he thinks he will be able to have a bigger role and do more with a different team (Parsons might be wrong about it, but the fact that he thinks this way is itself significant). People also already perceive the Rockets as a team that treats players like assets.

A statement like this just adds to that impression: material for other teams to whip out when they are recruiting free agents against the Rockets and say "You sure you want to go THERE and play with THAT GUY?"

And it may not even matter whether Harden meant the statement negatively or whether he is correct. When Dwight Howard, back when he played for the Lakers, said that he took a teams of "guys that nobody wanted" to the 2009 NBA Finals, it provoked criticism from Jameer Nelson, JJ Redick and others and added to a negative perception of Dwight as a guy who wouldn't take responsibility. Dwight said he didn't mean it negatively, just that nobody believed in that team. The negativity about Dwight still persists to a degree despite the fact that Dwight was a consummate professional all year in Houston.

Yes, some players are more important than others. Yes, every team trades players. But there is a reason why Pat Riley preached "15 Strong" with the 2006 Miami title team and Doc Rivers talked "ubuntu" with the Celtics. Even if it is totally BS, you still want each member of the team to feel like a stakeholder and not just a piece who can be traded at any time.

 

Sure they are role players, but without good role players, you wont win ****. And if you want to be team-leader you must lead it by example, and being arrogant douche-bag is bad start.

 

haha I see Harden has been hanging out with Morey a bit too much. "Assets and Pieces"

 

Completely different context. Jordan and Kobe are known as fierce competitors who have a win-at-all-costs attitude and demand the strongest work ethic from their teammates. They do not tolerate mediocrity and make it known to their teammates when they're not pulling their weight.

Harden's statements reflect a more I'm-better-than-the-rest attitude which has nothing to do with winning. Frankly, I still remember that post-game interview where all he could talk about was how team defense let them down when everybody in the room was referring to how his offense hasn't showed up. LOL.

That's ok. There's been a lot of great players who do not have stellar characters. Barry Bonds comes to mind. You don't have to like them as a human being... just hope they bring it when the game starts.

 

If he wants to take it upon himself, he could just say that he will shave his beard if the team can't get out of the first round next year. No need to trash your teammates.

 

you think you could go ahead, do us a favor and point that flame gun back at yourself instead of constantly trying to aim it at Harden?

Your loser Love has done nothing to merit your unadultered affection and Harden has done little to deserve your scathing critique. If anything, his play in his short time with the rockets (and short time in the NBA mind you), should warrant appreciation and at least one more season to prove that he can be a two way player.

I get frustration with fake superstars. I absolutely loathed Steve Francis well before most of the board did. Yet with Francis it was founded and apparent that he was a ball hog, killed the offense and played no defense.

Harden is a dynamic player offensively and has been a waste of flesh defensively. His sidekick, look at me I quit playing d but can hit a 3 parsons, didn't help his case last year. I fully expect him to improve to adequate this season with Ariza helping out tremendously. That said, if he mails it in once again, I'll help you warm the coals - but much like in everything else, you're premature, immature and unbearable with your sophomoric humor. And in my humble opinion, completely ****ing off base.

 

don't see the big deal, he answered a question honestly, and I tend to agree with him.

Chandler Parsons signed a deal to be a Maverick

 

I wasn't comparing Harden to Jordan and I stated as much. I was making the point that players have been doing this in every sport for a very long time. People shouldn't be shocked at this.

And your definition of what Harden's statement reflects is just as subjective as everyone else. Just because you took it to mean that doesn't mean that's what Harden meant. I can play that game too.

I think it means that Harden understands that role players and pieces are important, but the team will only go as far as he and Dwight lead them. He's taking ownership, becoming a leader.

See how that works?

IMO there's nothing wrong with James saying that, but it probably is best to have kept it in the family. Maybe he does that regularly, maybe not. These are all just words until people prove it on the court anyway.