Dont exactly agree or disagree with you but, i will agree that all of the rockets need to play with a killer instinct. I have a friend who shares your take except he will call Harden... "Harden The Facilitator"... at times. But also remember, Kobe and LeBron have both been criticized in the same way before. When they are not scoring 40 or 50 points, especially LeBron, he gets criticized for recording an almost triple doubles instead of 40 or 50 points. I would like to think its just quiet confidence. He completely took over in game 3 but, there was little he, Michael Jordan or LeBron James could do in game 4, Dallas was not going to be swept at home. Rick Carlisle does everything he can to get Harden out of a rhythm. Regular Season vs Dallas: 24.7, 6, 5.75 Post-Season vs Dallas: 28.5, 4.3, 7.8 By those numbers he has "uped" his game vs Dallas in the post season. Only time will tell if your critique is true or not.
Ok fair enough. Which of Game 3 or 4 would you consider a "tougher" game for the Rockets to win? In my opinion, game 3 was very pivotal and I am so proud of the Rockets for taking what I considered to be the Mavs' best shot and still winning Game 3 to go up 3-0. I knew game 4 was going to be tough for obvious reasons, but I was thinking game 3 was the "gauntlet" and the Rockets go through it...and all the Rockets had to do was finish the Mavs off in game 4...since the Mavs' will would have been "broken" already. I was clearly wrong about the Mavs.
Along with telling Josh, there's been plays where Dwight has made frustrated fouls and you can see Harden telling him, "we need you, calm down." He leads the talks in the tunnel and you can see him gathering people in huddles. Also, look at Tim Duncan's demeanor before you assume Harden isn't a good leader because of his "personality." You don't know the man.
Great point. So having said that, Carlisle has a pretty good idea on how to "play" Harden now 4 games in. Harden has responded well to everything Carlisle has thrown at Harden thus far (especially games 1, 2 and 3). I still believe and expect the Rockets will close it out tomorrow night. But I don't think it is ridiculous to say Carlisle and the Mavs have somewhat "figured" out a way to beat the Rockets and will be looking to duplicate the same recipe for success from here on out.
that's not even the truth, you made it up based on what you interpret of his "demeanor" on the court you interpretation that "Harden is not engaged" is a totally subjective opinion based on body language and your opinion how basketball should be played from a fan's perspective. it's about as close to the truth as people claiming Dwight Howard is bad because he smiles too much. I didn't see a non-engaged Harden, I saw a patient Harden that was playing with composure and setting up his team mates with good shots while he's struggling. Again, that's just my subjective observation, it's not the truth either and neither is yours, it's more like random speculations
We are going to find out a lot about THIS Rockets team in game 5. How do they respond by being whipped in a playoff game? Can they close out a series at home? Ect.
Where were you in 2013 when the Rockets were down 0-3 and then won games 4 and 5 (on Harden's back, ironically)? I'm not sure why so many assumed they would just roll over. We didn't.
Yes I witnessed the team winning 2 in a row against OKC in 2013. Even with that knowledge, I was thinking the Mavs were way outmatched by a focused Rockets team and that game 3 was the "gauntlet". I was wrong. That said, even though the Rockets won 2 in a row in 2013, the 2015 Rockets need to shut this series down tomorrow night. Losing tomorrow night would be pretty disastrous in my opinion.
This is being REALLY over blown. James Harden is the biggest competitor on the Rockets. He has improved his craft literally every single season in the NBA. He has been extremely effective closing out games this season and has been the best game finisher in the NBA. He has worked hard on his weaknesses. What more do you want? The Rockets won games 1-3, including coming back from behind. The Rockets had a comfortable lead for the first quarter and a half. They lost focus and played poorly in the last 6 minutes of the second quarter and the 4th quarter. Even with all the poor play by the Rockets, it was an 8 point game at one point in the middle of the 4th quarter. The Rockets were in a position to still win game 4. The Rockets will win the series, they are better and execute better. The Mavericks won a single game on their home court. The Mavericks were bound to get hot and the Rockets were bound to have a bad half of basketball. The Clippers laid an egg against the Spurs... the Spurs fell apart in the 4th last game, at home with a chance to go up 3-1. Hell the Bulls lost the close out game to the Bucks. Does anyone think the Bulls will lose that series? The Spurs lost the last game of the year, causing them to slide from the 2 seed to the 6th seed and they just lost a chance to go up 3-1 on the Clippers. Does anyone think the Spurs are chokers? Just relax.... also Harden is playing at a level that the Rockets have not seen in almost 20 years.
It isn't fair or constructive. Do you want him to jump up and down like a moron so he looks hyped for you? Maybe he can go out and punch someone in the back like Chandler so he looks intense for you. Is that what you would prefer to see? It's so strange that you think composure is a bad thing.
You mean relax like Harden? But then OP wouldn't be taken seriously about being a Rockets fan because him showing no emotion would simply mean he doesn't care about the present or future of this team. And we all know in order for people to think you care you must go full kneejerk.
Losing 1 game on the road seems to bring out all the armchair psychologists. When you feel impulsed to make bold statements after a singular aberration you come of looking like a reactionary mental midget. The squad has been nothing but professional and class all season/playoffs and played poorly last night. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. No need to go cliff jumping, or go strutting around like you have the right to tell someone how to conduct their seeming competitiveness on the court. The play all season has defined it, yet one piece of data ends up screaming one singular, radical conclusion? You guys are better than that.
Can someone please tell me what the heck that is? Is it just a longer T-shirt underneath his external T-shirt?
I don't think they necessarily need a killer instinct. I think they just need to keep their intensity throughout the whole game and continue playing to their strengths. Our team relaxes as if the game is over once we establish a lead way too many times this season. A blowout never stays a blowout. The other team makes a comeback and we end up scrambling to stay ahead. That needs to be addressed.
