It isn't evasion, and I've given you the reasons for why this team failed. It doesn't fit in your checkbox A or B. The team ultimately failed because Harden cannot be a one man show. You are oversimplifying the premise.
You forget, that teams that win have more than one superstar. The Cavs have 3, Warriors have 4/5, Spurs have 2, Celtics have 2, Raptors have 2, I mean who else do we want to talk about. We have Harden and 6th Men of the Year candidates Eric Gordon and Lou Williams. Our depth, it isn't fine. Sometimes role players step up for a game or two, but they can't always be counted on. We saw why that is so in this series.
Corey Brewer never quits on his team....but he isn't leading anyone to a title....the question is who is the overall more valuable player and by literally any meaningful metric, that player is James Harden. Who cares if Lillard hits big shots at the end of games if his team doesn't have a competitive series against true title contenders. Lillard can have a monster series and STILL get beat in 5 games - have you learned nothing from the Russell Westbrook season? Some guys are good - even really good, but making the team around you better is a FAR more valuable skill in a team sport. Totally admit Harden straight sucked most of the series, but we are still much closer to a title betting on Harden finally putting it all together than a bunch of guys who put up stats that are ultimately empty.
...you forget it's not just about who you put on the floor - Pop's game plans are GOAT. The Spurs picked out every weakness in every player on this roster and ruthlessly exploited it. We win that series in 4 if Pops is our coach, but he really is the greatest game tactician of all time and that more than makes up for having a slightly better roster on paper.
Trade him for a terrible leader who's about to be a FA in 2018 and is 1 or 2 tiers below Harden as a player? Makes sense... Did u forget that PG choked away a 25 point lead at home in game 3 and then went 5-17 in game 4 as his team got swept?
Blazers 3 years ago. HCA, legit 2nd superstar, better teammates. Got handled by Wes Matthews. Eliminated first round. Clippers 2 years ago. Has trouble with Rivers and gets mocked by him. Puts up the worst series ever and sits on the bench in the 4th while we're about to be eliminated before Sewer, TJones, JSmith and company miraculously bail him out. This Spurs series absolute golden opportunity to lead us to WCF. Worst choke job ever from Q4 of game 5 to game 6. What series has he dominated or carried us to the next round? OKC his first year as a Rocket? No. He tried but KD is superior so it's understandable. Mavs 2 years ago? His final numbers looked good but I don't remember any Harden games. I do remember the Jsmoove game though. Thank god Mavs imploded with Rondo blowing up and Portions going down. WCF that his teammates helped him get to against GSW he came up short and choked at the end with costly turnover. Against OKC this year did he dominate or take over for any extended stretch or carry us to a win? Nah not really. He did just enough and had a lot of help. Even in the 2 wins against the Spurs he played well but it's not like we won cause he carried us. The supporting cast stepped up. The role players did enough to put us in a position to advance overall. 4th quarters, OT's, elimination games... those are times when true Superstars are made and remembered for. Jim Harden was MIA again.
Ok, so you're going with Harden is great, it's not a conditioning issue, no mental or attitude concerns... he just needs more help.... if that's your opinion - so be it... I hope you're right...
I get it, what Harden pulled off last night plus his other shortcomings don't really help Hardens cause at all. However, we have to consider where this team is as of right now and try to build on it. As I stated before, getting players like Harden to Houston is not an easy task, we are not a hot spot destination for free agents, we just aren't. Plus, if we did trade for him, we would not get the assets necessary to build a contender. For now, we need to try and get another star to play with him and see what happens, if this trend continues, then the trade option becomes more realistic. I am in no way trying to defend Harden after what he just pulled off. I have been stating that the heat needs to be applied to Harden more than ever and we need to see how he responds next season.
It's obvious that Harden and the Rockets were instructed to quit. Given Orders while some money for their troubles are deposited into undisclosed accounts. Les sat down with the Spur's owner and agreed to end the series. Look at Gordon, Anderson and Beverly's turnovers and efforts to rebound, grab or turnover the ball. It was an intentional choke job. Any fool can look at the footage and see that. The trade proposal is to satisfy the idiots. I think at the beginning Leslie Alexander was a younger man by 23 yrs or so when he acquired majority ownership of the Rockets. Those were different times with more accountability and honor... He won 2 championships. Now with Harden, it's just a regular season and some playoff game marketing to get the money and when he doesn't feel like watching the team anymore no one can. He instructed them to quit. It's not a mistake it's just the way business and sports entertainment work in today's society. This isn't something I just pulled out of my ass btw. I examined the body language and facial expressions of most the entire Rockets Association before concluding this scenario. It just happens. You want to change the Rockets, change the ownership and foremost.
We just got schooled by a team with one star player on the court, a rookie and a dude that paid $150 to try out for an NBA spot. We beat that same team twice with their two stars and almost three times. Our "MVP candidate" wilted like daisy when it mattered most against lesser talent. He took 11 friggin shots in the entire game and only a couple by half time. He never did what he needed to do to even try to keep the Rockets in this game. I've always said he is a weak minded player and last night was further evidence of that.
Just gotta lower our expectations. We ain't winning anything anyway with cavs and warriors dominating the NBA at present. But the sad reality is Harden is not a winner.
Harden is not the problem. He's not the solution either. The solution is more talent and more defense.
Corey Brewer? Not sure your point. But in a MDA lead offense, Lillard could lead the league in scoring easily. You bring up playoff success but we PLAYED Lillard in the postseason and he was CLEARLY the best player that series. So he's PROVEN he can play big and hit big shots in crucial games, no quit on his team. While Harden's numbers maybe overrall better, I'd trust Lillard any day over Harden in a crucial playoff game. I'd also take Paul George over Harden too. If you think we're closer to a title with proven quitter then your bar must be low as it gets
Who trades a superstar. top 5 mvp getter. Unless you get 2 top 20 players back, and a ffirst rounder. I dont see it.
lmao at anyone who would take Lillard or especially Paul George over Harden Was I the only one who saw PG choke away a 25 point lead at home in game 3 and then go 5-17 in game 4 as he got swept? Isn't PG the one who has never hit a game winning shot in his career? Isn't PG the one who was calling out his teammates left and right not only during the playoffs, but throughout the regular season as well. Isn't PG the one who is desperate to go to a sh*tty Lakers team. He must be obsessed with winning lol. Lmao, thank God these dudes aren't the GM. Holy ****
If you get some guys that are mentally tough and have leadership abilities, it would solve a lot of problems. We really could have used Nene for the veteran presence, toughness and leadership. I would have loved to have had a guy like Michael Beasley, Josh Smith or Ron Artest on this team for some toughness. Add someone like Bob Sura for leadership, and you solve a lot of problems and you won't need to trade anyone.
Trade him to the Lakers. They have a ton of assets and picks and they want to win NOW. Well, Harden will get them to the playoffs every year and choke in the post-season. Also they have an idiot at the reigns who Morey can easily swindle.
