Breakdown: Bickerstaff Was Talking About James Harden

Well larsv8 does.

At first it was just defensively, but now he seems to "conserve" energy on the offensive end as well.

How is he still out of shape?

 

He's still super talented and skilled, no doubt about it. He can turn it around

 

Why should James Harden care what anybody thinks?

He's James f****n Harden. He just signed a $200M deal with Adidas. He's dating a Kardashian which in his circle may be a good thing, but we all know otherwise. After the playoffs, he was known as the runner-up to Steph Curry for MVP. That's pretty high praise.

I say its all gone to his head. He needs a reality check.

I've been a Rockets fan for many years and I was more content watching a team lead by Kevin Martin than I currently am watching Dwight Howard and James Harden run the team. THAT says a lot especially considering we were in the WCF not too long ago..

 

The weird thing is he looks to be in shape and I don't think he's got an undisclosed injury either because he isn't favoring anything. He's so damn slow compared to last year though

 

Also not that he ever was a huge dunker but I very rarely see him get up to dunk it now. Hell he doesn't get up much for layups

 

Eh, he's still putting up great numbers. Terrible start to the season, but the shooting percentages are slowly improving. Still disappointed in the turnovers and defense, and playing 38 minutes a game certainly doesn't help matters, but he's not the unmitigated disaster that many have tried to make him out to be.

 

Yeah the Euro step followed by contact and a strong finish is gone.

That powerful jump after a drive isn't happening. Scrubs are blocking and stripping him.

I thought it was him getting into game shape at first, but it seems to be getting worse

 

Yeah he is. He's supremely talented, so a guy like him can have a dropoff and still put up nice numbers.

But his efficiency and ortg are the worst since his rookie year. Efficiency is his calling card. Turnovers and assists heading the wrong way as well.

 

Yeah. As I said and as we all know, it's been a down year so far. It happens.

The efficiency is a direct product of his minutes, though. I mean...how long have we talked about getting Harden's minutes down to keep him fresh and efficient? 2 or 3 years? Harden's not a physical freak like Lebron or Westbrook. Playing him 38 MPG is going to naturally result in less efficient play. Absolutely need to cut that down, though I doubt it does.

Harden's still a very high quality player though. I don't think anybody would deny that, but he is going through a bit of a rough patch (relative to his standards). Whether he improves or not improves remains to be seen, but I guess I choose to be a little more confident in him compared to most.

 

So why is Harden still getting 38 minutes if Bickerstaff sees a pattern with him worth voicing to the media?

Doesn't make sense.

The other thing that doesn't make sense is: I don't give a F who respects "the game". Tell the players to respect the fans who pay to watch them, who buy their shoes, etc. We're one of the oldest teams in the league playing .500 ball - if this is what we're in for, ship everyone's ass out of here I'd rather watch a young team go .100 than this.

 

Exactly. Record wise, the Rockets are back to the first year of Harden, Lin, Parsons, Asik. That was a young up and coming team, fun to watch.

Even the previous Lowry/Scola/Hayes Rockets were more fun to watch playing .500 ball.

 

The problem with this team is not just ONE person or thing. It's several things. It's easier to blame one person but the truth is it's the entire team and coaching staff. James Harden is not himself from last year but neither is Ty Lawson or Dwight Howard. Corey Sewer plays like he got a lobotomy over the summer. The first page of this thread reads like a bunch of soccer moms reading gossip magazines and believing in every single word. This team was always doomed because we used one person way to much and we expected way to much from that one person. When he doesn't deliver you guys have your pitch forks out. Maybe if he had help? That's on Morey. One thing I do know the ungratefulness on this board is reaching Lakers fans territory. That's a scary thought.

 

Exactly . . . . the coach need a big bag of SITchoASSDown! to hand out to everyone he think is loafing

Rocket River

 

Honestly, what does Bickerstaff have to lose? He needs to get tough, or he will get fired, which might happen anyway.

But at least if he gets tough, he will show other teams that he has the strength of character to deal with prima donnas.

If he just goes down with the ship, it will not look good.

This is his shot, he should go down swinging - regardless of who he hits.

DD

 

If Morey could replace Harden he would but he can't. Without Harden, we'd be nowhere.

 

He needs to start with his friend Corey Sewer.

 

As for the first team - it was expectations that season the Rockets were expected to finish near the bottom of the west. They exceed expectations greatly and ended up with 45 wins and the 8th seed.

They've improved the last two seasons each year and were the #2 seed making the WCF - the expectations this season wasn't just make the playoffs to but seriously contend. A .500 team is not contending for anything. It would be one thing if we were injured, but we are far less injured this year than last season.


As for the Lowry/Scola/Hayes team -- that team just wasn't talented enough in the west. What that team did do is bust their ass night in and night out. The only hope they had to winning was by hustle. Really thats all I can expect for as a fan. I want to see my team out there busting their butts. Shots wont always go in. You may miss an open layup but then make a fading away shot over 4 defenders falling out of bounds. Hustling for 50/50 balls and on defense are things you can control. Those teams won on grit and hustle so they were so endearing to fans - they may not have sold seats to the casual fans, but at least to me I could be proud of that team.


Hard to be proud of this team with how they are playing - the crazy thing is that last year's team basically won through two things 1) hustle and hard work and 2) the greatness of Harden. Both of those things, especially the first have been lacking this year with no real noticeable reason as to why.

 

Really I think OKC had it about right. Harden is talented and now a superstar,..... But is better suited as a 6th man. Instant offense, give the ball to him and let him do his thing. Not someone who can run a structured offense night in and night out. Not one who knows how to play with others, get them involved, know their strengths, give them the ball in their spots and understands the game at a high level.

IMO he still thinks like a 6th man and doesn't see the game as a whole.

 

James Harden: Post Practice Interview 12/28/15
http://www.nba.com/rockets/video/channel/interviews

 

Yes, I do. I watch every play twice and study exactly what is happening, then when I notice things consistently happening, I look to the stats to see if it is true or statistically significant, which is why I actually know what I am talking about, unlike about 95% of the people who post here.

Drtg is a legit complaint, but has nothing to do with what I was responding to you regarding which is the r****ded idea that he looks less explosive.

Well yea, actually you sorta can. This isn't ****ing rocket science. Its not magic. Having a 4% drop in your accuracy is extremely significant. Another factor is that other people on the team spent the first quarter of the season missing open shot after open shot, after open shot. It is all going to matter and it is all going to show up in the statistics.

"Settling" for the most efficient shot in basketball is not settling, its playing the odds. He has plenty of explosiveness and quickness. Again, this is something stupid you just made up.

Oh you missed the 107 times he was blocked last year? (1.32 per game)

But you were able to see the 40 he has been blocked this year? (1.25 per game)

More stupid **** you know nothing about.

You have demonstrated yourself as an ignorant multiple times.

If you don't want to get called out on it, stop saying stupid ****.

Its as simple as that.