You act like Washington and LA in consecutive years after his time in Houston didn’t welcome him with open arms thinking he would help them. This should come as no surprise to anyone that many other NBA players don’t recognize that Westbrook actually isn’t a good basketball player. Players across the league are terrible at recognizing and understanding who is good. When Melo was rightfully not finding a job there were no shortage of NBA guys saying he could still play. Young guys this very season we’re still talking about Westbrook and his triple doubles. Lebron still thought he could help. I think it’s clear Morey wanted nothing to do with the trade and TF forcing it was the beginning of the end of Morey working for Houston. I think on Harden’s end the most likely scenario was him being asked “would you be against acquiring Westbrook whether it costs us Paul or not?” And his answer was no. I don’t think any of us can really know for sure the exact mechanics of how it all went down. I think what we do know is TF knew that Harden wasn’t going to be pissed if he decided to make the trade. But I don’t think that also means that Harden demanded the trade be done. If Harden “screwed over” Westbrook so have the very next two teams he played for. But that’s not accurate. Westbrook screwed himself every year of his career since his MVP season, Anyone using Howard, Westbrook or Kyrie as ammo to the idea that Harden can’t get along with his star teammates is willfully denying the realities of those 3 players careers outside of their time with Harden. All 3 headaches that other franchises have been more than happy to move on from ASAP.
Maybe Harden is content with his career. If that's really what he said, then it doesn't sound like he is too worried about winning a championship. Some people are hungry and others are happy with where they are at. I figured the reason to leave Houston was to win a championship, maybe he realizes that this may not happen and has changed his mindset.
Lol, Harden nut squad believes more in Harden than Harden believes in himself... This man already gave up and the playoffs haven't even started yet... This ya'll hero?
It's not likes he's wrong. He made it to the NBA. He won awards. He made it to the top 75 of all time. He's earned millions and millions of dollars. He has set himself and his family up for generations. People hate out of jealousy.
What's Harden's crime? Oh he didn't win a title in Houston. He lost like every other star player in Rockets history not named Olajuwon. Oh okay. Carry on.
Jalen Rose on James Harden: “His stats have to look like his MVP years in Houston where they were supersized. Now they look like concert tour dates”
not only that .. but we got Cleary unlucky several times . 2015 . made it to WCF without DMO and Beverley , who were starters for us. vs GS we had the biggest ref job of all time in 17-18 + CP3 going down and then the year after , we just didn’t play well enough . I’m pretty sure our depth was cooked . CP3 didn’t play particularly well that series either . the bubble ... I mean did we have major expectations ? I actually think for that one too , refs screwed us vs OKC . We were up 2-0 and looked great , WB was resting . Then , watch game 3 And 4 again . Clear OKC bias fo extend the series so we wouldn’t be too well rested for lakers . Not that we woulda been favored regardless . Anyways . It takes luck and it just looks to me like harden has none . He stays healthy here in Houston , but for the most part guys drop like flies around him . Or he gets screwed by refs . then he gets to a powerhouse , but he himself gets hurt pretty bad . He still plays hard and carries them with the other guys out . this year , his teammate took 3/4 of the year off and looks great now while fresh for the playoffs . meanwhile he gets traded , looks a step slow and has a tough first round opponent. Does he perhaps compound the situation ? Does he mentally not have it at times ? Sure .. if only we had kept DMO and he stayed healthy . They were truly perfect partners
I don't hate on him like some, but the way he left was not cool. Still hope he gets a ring at some point in his career
Oh he acted an ass on the way out. For sure, but some folks act like the Rockets have 30 championships and he’s the loser that didn’t get one. When actually, HTown only has two both won by the same star. Harden lost. Every other star that has played here lost save for the two years. It’s just facts.
This is a bad take. When he joined us, he was in his 12th year in the league. At that point, how do you reasonably expect him to change his game to adjust? By becoming a better perimeter shooter? Sorry, he's a career 30% 3pt shooter; that's not happening. By being a better finisher around the rim? Sorry, Father Time says "no". So how could he have made positive adjustments? His effectiveness has always correlated to his athleticism which declines further with every passing year.
Strawman? Why do folks feel that Harden owed them a chip? What Rockets Star led the Rockets to a championship, not named Olajuwon? Ever. I'll wait.....Take all the time you want.
