Great game by Harden, one of his best playoff games in terms of production and narrative (no Embiid). But Butler is clearly a playoff legend now.
In the entire history of the game, have you ever seen a player guarded from behind. That says it all when it comes to Harden. It was unthinkable. And it happened. He changed the game not once ( drawing fouls ) , or even twice ( with the step back ), but in multiple ways. That etches him in the history books as an all time great. Last night was a reminder of the times.
He's been amazing since coming to Miami (2021 notwithstanding), but I'm still not sure he would have done any better in the playoffs in Harden's stead in the late 2010s.
Harden had 15 points in the last 6 minutes of a playoff game in Boston with the best perimeter defensive team in the NBA
This is on point I feel his postseason is overblown even though he has had his shortcomings as a Rocket you would think he avg what LeBron did in that 11' Finals for the 8 years with Rockets the way some on here throw around the choke label Anytime you are mentioned with Jordan/Wilt and do it for years you are on to something, Harden was a Finalist for MVP like I think 4 straight years and was of that caliber day one as a Rocket and outside of Lebron (maybe CP3) he probably had best single player impact and was right behind (with) Bron and KD as best players even though Curry got the rings/glory, Curry couldn't carry a team like Harden or Bron if all lesser talent was equal The only reason why he would be underrated is because of the media being a master of trickery with postseason/rings success narratives which brainwashed certain people to judge a player on 7 game series and omit the 82 game season like it never happened
can someone explain this to me? i still don’t understand why breh was guarded from behind. was this so he wouldn’t step back?
At this rate he needs to work on a consistently mediocre 20 pt game in the Playoffs instead of having 1 great game and then 2 duds. This has been pretty much his M.O. for his career. He has numerous games where he is just straight trash costing them wins.
It's interesting that Harden and Luka's best years in the playoffs have been when they have a mini version of them playing a Robin to their Batman. I don't think they work well playing next to a big man. They need an offense centered around them and need a second fiddle that can essentially run the same offense and stagger it. Letting Brunson go was unbelievably stupid just like CP3.
I admit Harden had me salivating with another incredible clutch playoff performance. He was literally toying with the Celtics. They had no answer against him. I want him to end his career in Houston on a high. I wouldn't give him a 4 year max only because he will be 37 by the time he retires. @ApacheWarrior @BaselineFade
