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Is James Harden the laziest player in the NBA when he doesn't have a ball in his hand?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by fchowd0311, Oct 25, 2019.

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  1. fchowd0311

    fchowd0311 Contributing Member

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    At least I can understand a 7 fter being gassed running up and down the court. Yao had similar issues occasionally but I can understand that.

    I can understand a 6'5" guard struggling so hard to get up the court in time and be involved in half court offensive sets when the ball isn't in his hands.
     
    #21 fchowd0311, Oct 25, 2019
  2. JW86

    JW86 Member

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    The problem I have is when he just throws the ball to Gordon, Rivers or Westbrook and just stays behind. Taking himself out of the play, exactly what bothered CP3 when he was here.
     
    #22 JW86, Oct 25, 2019
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  3. fchowd0311

    fchowd0311 Contributing Member

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    I think he's a great shooter. He just takes absurd contested 3s at a high rate. It even out to an efficient offensive production when the ball is in his hands.

    He's just atrocious without the ball.
     
    #23 fchowd0311, Oct 25, 2019
  4. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Contributing Member

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    To be fair, while this thread is pointless because "it is what it is".... saying "it is what it is" doesn't really answer the question and in a sense makes it ok.

    The answer is yes, Harden is supremely lazy off ball and maybe the laziest in the NBA.

    /end
     
    #24 JayZ750, Oct 25, 2019
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  5. malakas

    malakas Member

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    Kyrie Irving. Devin Booker.

    There are too many players who are as much or more "disengaged" as Harden is when the ball isn't in their hands.

    OJ Mayo and JR were not ONE off. They just did one each some very epic bloopers that should go down in history. But the whole season they had been basically playing stoned.
    I mentioned them because THEY were probably the worst involved players I have watched in my life.
     
    #25 malakas, Oct 25, 2019
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  6. YOLO

    YOLO Member

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    I think my thoughts on this were well understood by op. this topic has also been brought up numerous times
     
    #26 YOLO, Oct 25, 2019
  7. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Contributing Member

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    ?? Who said they weren't, lol.
     
    #27 JayZ750, Oct 25, 2019
  8. YOLO

    YOLO Member

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    i didn't take your post as more general. my mistake then
     
    #28 YOLO, Oct 25, 2019
  9. Mr. Clutch

    Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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    Well he's never shot above 37.5% on the rockets and that was in 2015.

    The amount of 3s he shoots doesn't make sense for the level of shooter he is, especially when he's a much better driver and passer, plus his 3pt% always tanks in the playoffs
     
    #29 Mr. Clutch, Oct 25, 2019
  10. fchowd0311

    fchowd0311 Contributing Member

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    None of those players are close to Harden level of bad. None of those players routinely are still walking up the half court line while their team is in the middle of a half court offensive set.

    Remember the Mcgrady Toronto game where people states that Mcgrady gave up on the team by standing near the half court line during Rocket offensive possessions? That is what Harden does on a daily basis when he doesn't have the ball.

    You give one off examples of JR Smith. I'm telling you that JR Smith would not be in the NBA if he was routinely walking up the half court line while his team was in the middle of running half court sets. What coach would tolerate that from a player who is like their 6th best player on the roster?
     
    #30 fchowd0311, Oct 25, 2019
  11. Asian Sensation

    Asian Sensation Member

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    The only 2 guys that held him somewhat accountable are long gone. Bzdelik and CP3 you guys will be missed.
     
    #31 Asian Sensation, Oct 25, 2019
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  12. malakas

    malakas Member

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    Kyrie in last years' playoffs was far worse than Harden was yesterday. He almost looked like Mcgrady's Toronto game.
    And the whole season, he was equally uninvolved..that with Brad Stevens, a coach that demanded ball movement and off ball cuts and screens.


    Harden is bad..however unless your title is rhetorical then it is clearly hyperbolic to really think he is the worst player in the league.
    The list of players who lose interest or even pout and perhaps actively tank when they dont get involved,don't get the touches they want or get frozen out, is too long.
     
    #32 malakas, Oct 25, 2019
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  13. mdoggnic

    mdoggnic Contributing Member

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    I 100% agree with your post. I really believe the whole season comes down to this as well. In order for the the Harden/Westbrook tandem to work he has to at the very least keep his defender honest when Brodie has the ball. Ideally he would give Westbrook a pass option as a cutter or even for a spot up 3 when he penetrates but I’ll settle for just keeping his defender from doubling and the Rockets playing 4 v 5.

     
    #33 mdoggnic, Oct 25, 2019
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  14. Asian Sensation

    Asian Sensation Member

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    What does Kyrie have to do with this? Was he a reigning MVP heading into the season and a front runner for MVP again? No. Do fans on this board view Kyrie on the same level as Harden? Not even close.
     
    #34 Asian Sensation, Oct 25, 2019
  15. fchowd0311

    fchowd0311 Contributing Member

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    Also I've seen Kyrie play plenty. It's a flat out lie to say he is as disinterested and lollygags as much as Harden without the ball.
     
    #35 fchowd0311, Oct 25, 2019
  16. malakas

    malakas Member

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    No offence..but do you even read the title of the thread before you respond?

    Here is the title :
    Is James Harden the laziest player in the NBA when he doesn't have a ball in his hand?
     
    #36 malakas, Oct 25, 2019
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  17. malakas

    malakas Member

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    Plenty when? I don't believe you watched him last year. I watched at least 30 Celtics games in RS and all of theirs in the POs. And the common complain by their fans was the same..Kyrie lost interest when the ball wasn't in his hands and wasn't playing team ball.
     
    #37 malakas, Oct 25, 2019
  18. fchowd0311

    fchowd0311 Contributing Member

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    You can pretend that I have never seen Kyrie play. I've never seen a NBA guard this lazy without the ball. Never.

    Kyrie isn't close to Harden's level of lollygaging without the ball. I don't see Kyrie still walking up the court when his team is in the middle of running a half court set on a routine basis.
     
    #38 fchowd0311, Oct 25, 2019
  19. malakas

    malakas Member

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    If you don't believe me,it's very easy to settle this.
    Check out the Celtics games from last year or just go to the celtics reddit or realgm forum and ask.

    https://nbahdreplay.com/east-semifinals-game-5-boston-celtics-vs-milwaukee-bucks-08-may-2019/
     
    #39 malakas, Oct 25, 2019
  20. B-Bob

    B-Bob "94-year-old self-described dreamer"

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    Maybe @malakas is having fun on a basketball message board. The Shaqtin-a-fool clip was my clue that this could be the case.

    Anyway, on topic:
    • agree that it is awful
    • agree Pop would not tolerate
    • agree with those saying it will never change
    • a double-bad part, to my eyes, is that it allows one of the opposing players to just rest for a while.
     
    #40 B-Bob, Oct 25, 2019
    kjayp, malakas and fchowd0311 like this.
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