Yup . If you're going to be the best 2 guard....insert what Kobe, Wade, etc would have done to Reddick last night.
Harden is a fraud that got lucky. He's having the longest Hardensanity ever sustained in the regular season. He's not a Kobe or Wade caliber player.
The issue isn't necessarily what the wing guys are doing. While they're playing smart and disciplined defense, its pretty clear to me that James sees Deandre and Blake (correctly disrespecting whichever "stretch" 4 thats out there) and gets tentative. He's charged over Blake a few times, and I think he's overreacted by not continuing to attack. The coaching staff needs to adjust and just go with Ariza at the four to open up some room for his isos. I do think he needs to add a floater to his game, since apparently he feels like he's not athletic enough to finish around/through guys like DJ. While a post game would be nice, he wouldn't be able to use it when the current starters are in since spacing would be shot with Dwight under the rim and Jones incapable of shooting.
Stephen A Smith just said on his radio show that he is hearing Harden still can't get over not winning MVP and he has been pouting ever since.
James Harden: “Dwight (Howard) and I are the cornerstones of the Rockets,” said Harden. “The rest of the guys are role players or pieces that complete our team." Rockets report: Harden seeks to be 'a beast' in Game 4
I'm not sure if you don't watch games and just make assumptions or if you are purposely misstating things to try and backup your point. Either way you are completely off base. First of all, Harden isn't guarding Reddick or Rivers. He's primarily guarding Barnes. In fact, he's guarded Griffin more than he has Rivers or Reddick. Here's the breakdown by game with video that shows every field goal made by Reddick and Rivers. Game 1 Reddick - 6 baskets - Harden defended 1 (Fastbreak) http://on.nba.com/1Jn71Qq Rivers - 5 baskets - Harden defended 0 http://on.nba.com/1Jn6G0m Game 2 Reddick - 3 baskets - Harden defended 0 http://on.nba.com/1JalgtX Rivers - 4 baskets - Harden defended 1 http://on.nba.com/1JalvoZ Game 3 Reddick - 11 baskets - Harden defended 1 http://on.nba.com/1H8cld8 Rivers - 10 baskets - Harden defended 4 http://on.nba.com/1H8cjSC Game 4 Reddick - 5 baskets - Harden defended 0 http://on.nba.com/1ARmd3E Rivers - 5 baskets - Harden defended 1 http://on.nba.com/1IvAhGh Harden is shooting 45.8% FG%, 41.4% 3pt% for 26.7pts/game and 8.3 ast/game in this years playoffs. Even in the Clipper series he's averaging 44.8 FG%, 44.4 3pt%, 24.5 pts/game and 9.0 ast per game. If that's your definition of disappearing or getting shutdown then you have some pretty unrealistic expectations. Also, if you believe that Reddick or Rivers are shutting down Harden then you're either not watching or you don't have any understanding of what's actually happening on the court. As for the statement about the other great 2 guards always showing up, I'll assume that you were either unaware or just didn't want to acknowledge the playoff histories of the guys that you mentioned. Drexler 38.6 FG% in '88 playoffs 41.7 FG% in '93 playoffs 41.5 FG% in '96 playoffs 43.6 FG% in '97 playoffs 30.9 FG% in '98 playoffs Miller 42.6 FG% in '98 playoffs 39.7 FG% in '99 playoffs 28.3 FG% in '03 playoffs 40.2 FG% in '04 playoffs Carter Career 41.2% FG% in playoffs 30% FG% in 2000 playoffs 36.5 FG% in '05 playoffs 39.6 FG% in '07 playoffs 40.2 FG% in '10 playoffs 29.3 FG% in '12 playoffs McGrady Career 42.6 FG% in playoffs 38.6 FG% in 2000 playoffs 41.5 FG% in '02 playoffs 39.4 FG% in '07 playoffs 42.5 FG% in '08 playoffs Iverson Career 40.1 FG% in playoffs 38.4 FG% in 2000 playoffs 38.9 FG% in '01 playoffs 38.1 FG% in '02 playoffs 41.6 FG% in '03 playoffs 36.8 FG% in '07 playoffs Ray Allen 42.8 FG% in '08 playoffs 40.3 FG% in '09 playoffs 43.0 FG% in '13 playoffs 41.3 FG% in '14 playoffs I'll give you the benefit of the doubt when you mentioned Matthews and assume that you are only talking about the defensive side as Matthews was bad offensively against us in last year's playoffs.
You are a champion of Clutchfans, sir. This narrative that Harden is somehow choking away this series is utter nonsense. Give Clippers some ****ing respect. They are playing like an offensive juggernaut.
Harden is getting doubled and he also has a shot blocker sitting in the lane most of the time. Under those circumstances, what would you like him to do? The proper play is to get the ball to an open player which is what he's been doing most of the time. If you don't consider that the correct play then exactly what do you think is the proper play? Do you want him to force shots against double and triple teams? That's what he did the last two seasons against OKC and Portland and it wasn't effective. I've seen suggestions above about midrange shots, floaters and postups but those won't be any more effective against 2 or 3 defenders. No shot is a good shot against multiple defenders. The Clippers are going to continue to send 2 or 3 players at Harden so what do you think he should do instead of passing? Honest question.
If not true that's some serious defamation. Harden should sue and donate the proceeds to charity if not true.
I'm hearing Stephen A Smith still can't get over being an irritating figure on sports television and radio, and he has been announcing his ignorance with authority ever since.
So that reminds me of what Mark Cuban said, if you take away Harden, you take away their entire offense
Harden's numbers in last three losses: 20, 25, 21 points. Tmac playoff in 2005: 30.7 points, 2007: 27 points. Harden is just under performance right now.
*yawn* This is an attempt to use stats to mask what everyone's eyes are seeing. He has done a LOT in garbage time to prop up his final stats. 9 points after being down 30 in game 3 and 9 more after going down 22 in game 4. If you watch the games and don't just wait for the stat sheet to spit out the numbers, you can tell that he has simply not been very good for a #1 or #2 guy on a team. He just simply hasn't. When the game has mattered, Har_en hasn't played at nearly the level the Rockets need him to in order to be competitive. Are there other faults on the team? You bet your ass there are. Har_en is the head of the snake, though, and he isn't doing much to propel them in the right direction.
Wait a minute. You can watch games? All this time I thought there was a simulation that spit out a stat sheet when it was completed.
