So Batum and Matthews were missing wide open looks? Really? Well in the 4th quarter Matthews only attempted one shot in the 4th and it was blocked. The only shot Batum missedd were two long threes at the end of overtime. I never said that Harden even played well let alone that he was Oscar Robertson. If you will go back and look at my first post in the thread you will see that I was responding to the ridiculous statement that Harden had a negative total impact in the 4th and overtime.
I'd say an above average offensive performance in the 4th and OT combined with an atrocious defensive performance in the same time period equals a negative impact. For as much as Harden runs on offense, the guy still finished dead last in the NBA in miles run per 48 minutes. That means he's putting forth minimal effort on D. People said that would change in the playoffs when games "matter", but I haven't noticed anything different. He's still standing in cement on that end.
Dwigh had to force him to use picks down the road.... pathetic. Dude should run with the flow fo the offense. It gives the defense too much time to adjust when you hesitate because you're made you can't play hero ball the entire time.
Is this post sarcasm? It probably is. But just in case it isn't... This post makes no sense. Dwight didn't force him to use those PnR plays Nor could Dwight force him to do that. If somehow Harden was forced to use them, he still didn't have to pass to Dwight. He could have taken the shots himself. Sadly some people are eager to find reasons to bash Harden. That has become more important to them than winning, and enjoying the game for reasons other than trying to Bash Harden. Too bad.
Stephon Marbury averaged 9.3 assists/game in 2003-04 -- way better than Harden's 6.1 this year -- and people were calling him a selfish oaf. What matters is how you pass. Lots of Harden's "assists" come from dumping the ball to teammates with the shot clock nearly over and forcing them to take some terrible shots. That is selfish, no matter how Larsv8 tries to gloss it.
The regular season is irrelevant once the playoffs start. So far, in games 1 to 3, Harden has been shooting 5-13, or 38%, in overtime or with 5 minutes or less in regulation. I don't know how many of those 13 shots were off ISOs, but probably nearly all. Harden's ISOs have not been efficient in the playoffs.
Why give the ball to Harden in the last five minutes of regulation of Game 3 when he couldn't make a shot? (He went 0-4.) In case you have forgotten, by hogging the ball, he pissed away a comfortable lead. That's why Lin went in for the layup that he missed: because he saw that Harden was choking.
The ball should be in your best players hands no doubt but not for straight isolations against respectable defenders such as Matthews or Batum. Run some PnR, Other players should not be standing and watching. Try to get open, cut to the basket, etc.
I am sorry you feel that way. Believing creating a good shot for another player is a selfish play is going to lead to a lot of misplaced contempt.
Being forced to jack up a shot with only 2 seconds left on the clock is nearly always a bad play, no matter how you try to slice it. When Harden does that to a teammate, the victim has no other options left. I remember Delfino screaming at Harden last year for just that reason.
I would agree with you in games 1 or 2. In game three Harden was playing within his rhythm and helping his teammates out despite his poor shooting. I'm fine with him having the ball then. We wouldn't have tied Portland without Harden's clutch shot in OT. Also you have no idea what was going through Lin's mind when he went for that layup. To claim it was because saw Harden was choking has no basis in anything we know.
No the regular season isn't irrelevant once the playoffs start. You don't gel together playing one way for 82 games and then all of a sudden try and institute a brand new way to play for the playoffs. You made it to the playoffs with certain strengths. You need to try and use those once you are in the playoffs. The regular season helps the team know what those strengths are, and helps the team develop a chemistry that hopefully helps the team in the playoffs. Harden wasn't even the same player in the first two games he was so bad. In the third game his FG% was low but he was at least playing more within the natural rhythm and helping his teammates. If the Rockets acted according to your logic, we would have lost game 3. Harden scored on Lillard to tie the game during OT. But according to you because of FG% earlier in the game, Harden shouldn't have had the ball. I'm glad that he had the ball and was able to tie the game.
Lots, eh? Sounds like you're seeing what you want to see. I guess those lobs to DH off the pick and roll don't count either, right? Or the drive and dish passes? The ironic thing is that if he doesn't pass and hits or misses a shot you guys will be bashing him even more. I just don't get it. I won't assume you're anti Harden for any particular reason, but just being so critical and negative of our best player just makes me wonder why you're a fan.
Just wanted to throw out that Harden ISO has been a really effective set in the playoffs at a very high 1.26ppp . That isn't saying there are better things to run historically (Dwight screens/cuts, some spot-up 3's, or even Harden off plays) but it's definitely a highly converting play. I'm personally in the camp that Harden should integrate the team more. Even though he's converting high now, stats say historically the team does better and even Harden does better scoring off plays. So in a way, both sides of the argument are right .
