i stopped watching rockets after last post season failure, i believe our window is closed, in the playoffs, where u are supposed to outplay your regular season, u just can't lose to the warriors without KD like that, just can't, Harden is just not gonna make it, maybe he is not mentally tough enough, maybe he is not talented enough, who knows, but he will never be close to kobe, or lebron or any all time greats, his talent is much closer to Tmac although lots of people here seems to hate Tmac
Thats not how that...works, can you name me someone who just declines like that outta nowhere? Like minutes catching up with him? Like I guess that affects your jump shot, but your handles? Your layups? Your passes? Thats not gonna just leave you like that.
The more I watch Harden, the more I appreciate how much better he is than Kobe Bryant. Also, the more I watch recently, the more I wish he would shut it down and get healthy.
Some of the youngin's might not remember this Kobe gem. https://www.complex.com/sports/2014/05/kobe-bryant-awol-game-7-against-suns Then don't forget he followed that up by essentially demanding a trade the next year. As I said in another thread... this happens with stars/superstar. Even MJ. He doesn't get enough heat for up and quitting... twice. That said, I'd still put Harden at this point in time not quite in that Kobe/MJ type of posturing. Plus they had lots more leash because they already had 3 rings each.
You realize Kobe is maybe in the top 4 of all time backcourt defenders... while Harden is bad at defense?
What more did you want from him last year? Dude was a complete monster, while CP3 looked like Chris Duhon.
People quickly forget how bad Kobe looked after his injury. He shot 35% from the floor for his last season. For most players that would earn them a seat at the end of the bench but he was Kobe so he got to have his farewell tour and shoot as many as he liked. Right now Harden is hurt. I would not judge him based on his current performance. He just needs to sit. If he refuses to do so the management/coaches need to force him to do so for he good of the team.
Yes, I realize Kobe had a reputation of being a good defender. I also know that outside of a few seasons, he was terrible and lived off reputation. Top 4 all time backcourt defenders is downright laughable. RIP
All I'm going to say is that if either a prime Kobe or prime tmac had an elite pg like Russ (or cp3) instead of the derek fishers and darrell armstrongs of the world, they would have flourished on BOTH ends. Harden seems to command a compromise of star guards joining him, due to his desire to bring the ball up and run the offense. Kobe, tmac, pierce, carter, etc., were players who COULD playmake but really more those who finished plays with buckets. Harden obviously can finish plays too, but he'd rather do it his way and bring the ball up and get doubled. Hence the age-old debate about bringing him "off-ball" which he still has never really done. If anything, credit should go to Russ for figuring out a way to adjust his game multiple times and be efficient with his strengths during harden's slump. Regardless, more than his terrible shooting, his lack of care for defense is what annoys me. Most times, guys don't even need to make a move to get by harden.
Admittedly, maybe not top 4. But he is second all time in all defense team selections. I get there is some overrating because of him being, well, Kobe, in LA... but he was a very good defender, who most importantly could lock down push come to shove when necessary. He was not terrible or anywhere close to it lol.
Like most great wing defenders, he was great for a while, before they realize the human body simply can't tolerate 100% effort consistently and they have to take a measured approach, which, in the second half of his career, made him a mostly terrible defender who gave little effort.
As much as I love Harden, I cannot wait for this Era to end. I have never been so stressed out and disappointed at any time in sports. Probably took years off my life watching him for 7 years
He made the all defense first team in 2010/11, at the age of 32 in like his 15th year. Made the second team his following year. Again... noted, some media bias... but not to the extent the dude was terrible.
i'm not turning on Harden. whatever is wrong will get worked out. But it's clear that our roster as constructed is fundamentally unbalanced and Morey needs to do his job.
