Agree w/ @durvasa about the mid-range post up shot. In 14/15 he was one of the most historic clutch players but that was the year after working (with I'm assuming mchale) on his post up/step back mid range game that was so deadly that we don't see anymore. I absolutely agree with our 3 and rim philosophy but as morey has pointed out late in the game up 10 you should slow the pace. IMO that's accurate. Also it's very comparable to a tight game down to the wire to go for the highest probability of a made basket rather than the raw data of points per shot like a 3. I would love if Harden and MDA could re-incorporate the step back king into the offense even if only late in the game.
how is nobody dissecting these stats further? fg% doesn't take into account volume of threes, nor free throws. we need to be looking at TS%
His pull up FT line shot has disappeared and he used to win late with that, I can recall the Phoenix game once - if the lane is clogged step back from 15 is a great move for him. DD
The shift is noticeable -- also agree that the midrange stepback J seemed to be his go-to move in crunch time. Or the elbow post-up when we couldn't get anything else going. I know they're making a concerted effort to avoid these kinds of shots, but I'm not sure I see the reason to eliminate something that works from the arsenal completely.
WGAS? Being clutch in 4q just means your team is not that good and can't put teams like the Suns away prior to the 4Q. Also, all he has to do is make 1 big shot in the playoffs to change all that. That's where it matters.
I've always hated the label that comes with being "Clutch" or not. To me, Clutch doesn't have to be in the last 5 minutes of a game. Take tonight for example. Harden destroys the Spurs for 3 quarters, the bench playing awful, Ariza struggling, Capela in and out of foul trouble, and let's not forget they are the second best team in the NBA record wise. Yet, Hardens entire game seems to be defined in what happened in the last 5 minutes. Its 5-5 for a reason. I hate to look at a line of 39/13 on the road against the second best team and have his performance now labeled as "Not Clutch."
The game changes in the last 5 minutes when it's close. And if you don't have players who can execute in that period, it doesn't bode well for them in the playoffs where games are more tightly contested and the stakes are heightened.
He's been ass this year no doubt, he was awesome a cpl years ago. Then there's people like Kobe, who were historically unclutch but won 5 titles anyway, so i really doubt it matters as much as people like to think it does.
I get that, and understand your point. Mine is the fact that the way Harden played the last 5 minutes of the game seems to have over shadowed EVERYTHING else. The game isn't 5 minutes long. If Harden didn't show up the previous minutes we would have been ran out of the building, but yet here we are discussing how he didn't win us the game? Not directing that at you, more in general.
Harden was -3 overall tonight in plus minus. He had a great offensive game until the end with the missed FT, and then terrible finish.....it is a make or miss league teams only remember whether you won or loss, we lost. DD
There is no doubt he has a problem with shot selection. Either too many 3's, wild attempts at finishes, or that ugly ass floater. It's weird, he never seems too have both the three and mid range going. it's usually either one or the other.
I honestly think being clutch is overrated. He has not had many game winners this year, true...but the Rockets are blowing out a lot of teams. HArden is elite, he's not perfect. Still would rather have him over Derozan...
Didn't Morey was quoted some years ago to say that there is no such thing as clutchness. It's just the randomness of a player's scoring. And clutch time is by nature small sample. I am not saying I agree. I think that's the essence of what Morey said.
trade him plus our next 2 first round picks for derozan, conley, or gordon hayward. we need a real superstar and mike conley should do the trick
OP, you make it sound like he's never been Clutch. This is not true in 2014-15. Rockets were renowned for winning many close games. In 2015, he was the #1 Clutch player in the NBA in 5 minutes left, 3 minutes left, 2 and 1 minute left...when within 5 pts. 2015 -- 5 Minutes within 5 points #1 in league with 138 pts (54 of those came in last minute) #1 48% FG for non-bigs >25 makes (29 players total). Still #5 counting Bigs #2 52% 3Pters with >10 makes. Eric Gordon was #1 (11 players total) #4 eFG% and TS% behind some role players (Korver, Smart and Batum) #4 in assists Not only that but the Rockets were 25-15 with 5 minutes left in a 5pt game. By comparison, SAS was 19-17.
