<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Y6_KYulzT4M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> James Harden is good and he can hit that shot, but he shouldn't be looking for that shot as often as he does. He's shooting 6 3's a game, but about 3 of them were in this manner. That's why his 3 point percentage were 24% instead of his usual 35%+. Once he cuts that out of his game, he'll be much better. I have no problem with him being a play maker, but let him make plays. That shot does not make a play. Also he tries a couple of those from mid range also, once again, not his strong suit.
Instead of trying those shots, I would rather him just dump it off to the post to either Asik or Patterson and let them brick it or if we're lucky get to the line. At least that way theres no transition basket the other way.
Well said. He'll learn though I'm sure. He's only just turned 23, and he's already being thrust into the role of "The Man", so I'll accept these kinds of shots for now at least. Honestly though if he cut his 3 point shots in half, and instead drove to the lane, he'd be much more successful. Dude gets to the rim at will.
The thing too is that when he does that he has his man off balanced and beat. He can just drive past them because if he's one on one he can usually get into the paint with ease. But then there are times he hits those shots too, but those shots are not the reason we are losing games, it sure wasn't the reason we lost this last game at least.
To me, I feel that he is expecting the whistle too often. He has to realize that he plays for the Rockets now, and has to do without the Thunder's benefit of the doubt.
Hurts to say, but I liked how the offense was flowing early in the 4th with him on the bench. He is our best player by far, but the offense stalled when he came back. I blame the coaching staff.
I agree that he's our best player and can be given more slack but the offense definitely became more stagnant when he re-entered. I think it's fine for him to get his isos, but that step back 3 is a tough one to watch him shoot again and again
we dont run plays is biggest problem. coach staff trying to run MIA free flowing offense. Then at end of games people just stand around.
Does anyone (Torocan) have James Harden's iso vs non-iso stats? Not being critical ... if Harden wasn't here, everybody's stats would probably go down due to the attention he draws. But Harden going iso also isn't optimizing the team's offensive possession.
Harden's problems are mostly playcalling, I feel. He's obviously our best player, he just needs somebody to tell him "Hey man, no more ISO ball". He plays much better in the flow of the offense. That doesn't mean the offense can never run through Harden, it just needs to be an actual play call, not just "everybody spread out and let James do his thing". Although I do think letting the offense run through Lin a lot more would change up the looks opposing defenses see and take some of the pressure off of Harden.
Yep. He's a special when he plays within the offense. If Adelman was still here...I drool at the possibility. Harden would be ideal in that offense.
I'm most impressed with the fact that he is beginning to come together. He was up against Batum and Mathews this game, and they are not shabby defenders. Despite all this, today's game was unlucky for us. It took some absolutely atrocious officiating late game and a bunch of 3 point heaves from Batum for the Blazers to barely edge past us in overtime. Harden was not the problem.
He's hogging the ball with too much time on the shot clock. If he's going iso he needs to make a quicker move and not eat so much off the clock...would rather he move the ball, he can always get it back. Also keeps driving with 2 men on him. Needs to pass the moment he sees he's being doubled.
he needs to stop and pop that midrange jumper rather than crashing into the collapsing defense every time
i don't think Harden is a selfish player but if he really wants to be a "Superstar" in the league it would be in his best interest to lobby the coaches to put the ball in Lin's hands. he would be smart to know that Lin is an unselfish player who can find Harden for easy shots all day long.
Our problem is no inside scoring threat. Look at how defenses smother Harden and cover our 3 point shooters. Harden is actually becoming better at driving and then kicking to our 3pt shooters. But if you live by the 3, you ... Be patient. Morey will get a post-up scorer for us. Hopefully he can defend decently cuz I sure want to ship out PPat soon. He's quickly turning into a hopeless case.
I agree that I don't feel Harden is a selfish player. I think he feels like he has to justify his contract. And after seeing how much criticism (completely undeserved, btw) Lebron took last year for passing a game winning shot to a wide open teammate, Harden probably feels the pressure to put it all on his own shoulders.
He did 3 or 4 weak flops on offense, which the refs aren't going to call. That is just wasting a play. If the defense is not at a clear disadvantage, flopping on offense is futile. The refs are too smart to be tricked, but Harden still tries foolishly. He was also showboating after making a 3, and nobody agreed with me when I started a thread about it, but if the Blazers saw that, how do you know it is not why they got hot from the 3 point line?
