I agree. Two MAJOR issues with Harden: 1) He doesn't make enough field goals. He basically begs his way to the line every time and over sells contact to the point its borderline disgusting. Instead of make big shots he'd rather get to the line (and brick them when it counts) 2) He simply HANDS the ball over to the opposing team in crucial situations too much. It's almost like he waits till we're just close enough and purposely throws the game for the other team. (That pass to Garcia he didn't even look at him & that pass to Fisher was gift wrapped w/ a card on it) Last year's finals I thought he did the same thing but didn't pay it any attention because it wasn't the Rockets
This is a horrible knee jerk reaction thread. Harden made his share of mistakes, missed shots, and turned the ball over. That happened and there aren't any excuses for some of that stuff. But looking at both things, this is the first time Harden is in this role in the playoffs. The team was down by more than 25 points, and we came back much of it thanks to James Harden. That shows that he is capable of being the leader and number one option. One of the problems was when Harden was trying to be too unselfish and passed when he should have taken the shot. He turned the ball over as a result. At the same time Kevin Durant made some bad shot selection choices near the end of the game that helped the Rockets come back in it. In the end Durant got the win, and those mistakes will be forgotten by Durant. Sadly some people like the thread starter will keep Harden's mistakes alive far too long for anyone's good.
Really wish we had won this game. It was a close game near the end and we had the lead, and then: 1) KD makes a clutch 3 pointer 2) Harden makes two TO's Season over.
It's pretty rich to have our own fans bagging on Harden for trying to get to the line too much in a series we're playing Kevin Durant. Good lord, people. How many times did KD get to the line by that bull**** sweep motion? It's a part of the game; deal with it. If the officials are inconsistent and decide not to call it down the stretch, that's on them.
I like Harden but he has room to grow as a leader - he hangs his head too much at times. Either way at 23 and already so good, we are lucky to have him. DD
This and the post by the Cat deserve some rep. Durant made one less mistake than Harden, had what many would call a lucky bounce...and won. Had they lost this game Durant would be on a cross right now. "Oh, they really do need Westbrook! Durant isn't that good!" I guess that's just the downside. You know when you are a superstar when you get 100% of the blame for loses and wins I guess.
He is young and will mature but do you even realize that before we were nothing and projected to be the one of the worst teams. He is the biggest reason we got into the playoffs. Im tired of the stupid dwade, kobe, and lbj comparisons. All 3 struggled had a better supporting cast when they won their ring. He has faults no doubt but it must brighten your day to think this guy is only 23, leading this team, nearly giving one of the best team in thr nba a run for their money.
Clutch? I think you mean gets the break of his life after jacking up an off-balance, rushed 3 with a hand in his face. Even KD after the game said "The Lord was with us." Harden's last TO was because he forced things in the name of a 2-for-1, and his teammates weren't on the same page. Durant basically did the same thing in jacking up that ridiculous 3; the only difference was that somehow it dropped in.
It sounds like Rockets fans are perfectly happy with James Harden in a big playoff situation turning the ball over in key situations, shooting 38% or whatever from the floor, 25% from three point land, and 66% from the line, and all in all playing below his usual level of play. Their excuse is that he's "only 23" (yeah--so I guess because he's 23 that automatically means he's suppose to lower his lever of play come playoff time. Guys--don't expect to win many playoff games if James Harden doesn't play at least up to the level he usually plays...because, the players on the other side are come the playoff going to show heart like you have never seen, hit shots like you've never seen, get fired up like you've never seen, dig deep like you've never seen, have a desire to win like you've never seen--and then WIN.
Clutch??? More like lucky.... Espn will be all over kd saying hes clutch but really he was incredibly lucky.
Here's the bottom line... this is Harden's first year as the number 1 option. He's been reall good at it some of the time and woefully bad at it some of the time. The coaching staff has put him in situations (maybe because they felt they HAD to) that weren't exactly playing to his strengths... a couple of players in the league can handle that kind of a load and James isn't one of them... yet. Maybe they were trying to gauge what kind of a load and what positions he could actually handle in order to adapt in the coming years. I don't think so personally. I think Morey and Mchale thought from what they had seen from James that he was ready to be the man and could be the man but until he learns how to play with his back to the basket just a little bit and until he focuses on improving what is a non-existent mid range game I don't think he can be the guy that carries a team to let's say the WCF unless he gets copious amounts of help from another player.
You're hilarious. You're going on and on about how players on the other side (in this case, top-seeded OKC) are going to "do blah blah like you've never seen", and you're comparing Harden's numbers to the regular season, when half his games are against the likes of Sacramento and Phoenix? Kevin Durant shot above 50% from the field this season. He hasn't hit that mark a single time this series. He must suck -- after all, he's not playing up to at least the level he usually plays.
The guys first time as number one option leading the youngest team in thr NBA. Im tired of your knee jerks. KD had his second option all season and in game one and two. Kobe had shaq. Wade had shaq. Lbj had wade. Harden has.....Parsons?? Lin??..
You really think Harden will ever be in the same league as those 3 guys? DWade single-handedly carried that Heat team to a championship in 2006 at the age of 24. When Kobe was Harden's age, he'd just won his third straight title. And LeBron took a while to get his first ring and needed a lot of help, but he also took a mediocre Cavs ballclub to the Finals when he was only 22. Look, Harden's a terrific player. A superstar even. But it's questionable whether or not he can be the #1 superstar on a title contender. At least not right now. Maybe when the dude is 26 or 27, he'll be that kind of player. But if the Rockets have championship aspirations, they're gonna need to find a superstar equal or superior to Harden cuz he's shown this season and in the playoffs that he's not consistent enough to make good decisions down the stretch.
It isn't below what Harden played like against the Thunder in 2 of the 3 math ups with them this season. It's not the best match up for him, but he did a tremendous job carrying the team back to have a shot at winning this game.
