[538] How James Harden Changed His Game In Brooklyn

durvasa · Mar 4, 2021

heypartner said: ↑

You’re too caught up in one narrative: Has he changed or not? Don’t you see how that frames a discussion, like it’s the only way to talk about Harden now.

why are some media pundits framing that as their only discussion ... bc they want to ,,, for a reason.

that isn’t the only analytical discussion...it’s a limited, casual one that doesn’t consider one system vs another and how we should have known from the McHale to MDA transition that Harden can run different systems, and so it’s not surprising he can tweak what he does instantly to his Nets teammates

then the talk is about one team makeup vs another (the Kobe/Lakers talk), and how and why a high IQ, great passer, maestro of offense floated between the two, when everyone expected a Big 3 would require drastic change to his game...like going off ball.

and “tweak” was the word an interviewer used in a pre-game interview. Tweak is not a big change. And JVG stressed he “hasn’t changed at all” in response to a question about the current talk show takes. JVG is making a point that that discussion is shallow. We can have better discussion around what works with each team.

then we don’t have to imply the dislike of Rockets ball was some type of ego-driven concoction of Harden, as if now he’s bought into something, rather than teaching this team what he wants them to do. Paul also bought into the ISO of the 65 win season. That was a team decision ,,, which again JVG explained.
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So you would rather people talk about all the ways in which Harden is playing similar to how he played as a Rocket, and focus on how many people were wrong in thinking he’d have to do different things than what he’s doing to be successful. Sure, sounds like a good topic worth exploring.

this is a better basketball analysis, but the discussion is an over simplistic “has he changed or not,” which is completely framed that way to allow harden-hating pundits to say “wow, I didn’t know I could like him.”

as for the stats, are you talking about efficiency? That’s just being pickier with his 3pt shot, as part of better teammates. The equally true story there is Harden was asked to shoot more threes here, bc it was still better offense getting off 4 more per game (plus the fouls on 3s), despite higher level of difficulty.
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Efficiency, passing, less reliance on free throws, mixing in the floater more frequently (so, some added field goal diversity), higher percentage of field goals assisted.

D-rock · Mar 4, 2021

It's called consistency.

D-rock · Mar 4, 2021

durvasa said: ↑

So you would rather people talk about all the ways in which Harden is playing similar to how he played as a Rocket, and focus on how many people were wrong in thinking he’d have to do different things than what he’s doing to be successful. Sure, sounds like a good topic worth exploring.

Efficiency, passing, less reliance on free throws, mixing in the floater more frequently (so, some added field goal diversity), higher percentage of field goals assisted.
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Playing the contrarian again?

LOL

Swapshop · Mar 4, 2021

Nobody watched Houston it seems. Nobody knows how wide ass open he got our players for them to brick the shots with no defender around him because his gravity drew them all in. Yes Harden did the 20 second iso and ball movement could have been better but he did pass and he did get players wide ass open.

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[538] How James Harden Changed His Game In Brooklyn

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