He didn't look good on the court from the early going and he was grimacing in pain after one play - which after he seemed to move gingerly. He looked like he was in playing through pain. It was clear he wasn't getting much elevation or acceleration on his jumps and drives. I'm not so much worried about his performance as his health
In Game 1 against the Thunder, Harden missed so many shots, so badly, that I was convinced his wrist was still a mess and we were going to lose the series. Then he started hitting, and everything was fine. I don't know what to make of the coughing. But I know that my powers of armchair diagnosis from a quarter or a game of bad shooting suck.
As someone who has sprained and tweaked an ankle recently and plays basketball once or twice a week, that is definitely what it looks like to me. Running straight forward isnt an issue, so when the announcers see him explode to the hoop they say "clearly his ankle isn't bothering him" they don't know what they are talking about. It's the side to side, quick reaction movements that are impeded. Of course he doesn't want to admit injury to the media because then opposing teams would take full advantage. I feel for the guy, it sucks to play with a nagging injury especially in big games, and not use it as an excuse (though it legitamitely is one). I just hope he is getting top rate treatment and can avoid reaggravating it any more. As long as he doesn't reaggravate it it should get better and better.
Yup, I second this.. it took me a week to feel slightly better with my ankle but then I reaggrevated it again 2 days later which ended up sucking for me. Even with a wrap, I still feel the pain and can't make explosive drives to finish a layup.
I guess he always has some sort of sprain every playoffs as a Rocket thenbecause HE NEVER SHOOTS WELL IN THE PLAYOFFS. This is a systemic issue and only naive fanboys think otherwise. There were legitimate 6 minute stretches with YOUR BEST PLAYER ON THE FLOOR pulling a Toronto Mcgrady game. So many possession where Harden just stares as his teammates run all the motions on half court sets. So many times Harden is in the way of a teammates on offense because he walks around on half court sets when he doesn't have the ball in his hands. It's pathetic. If his ankle IS THAT BAD, why is he being selfish and not sitting himself out? It's obvious as night and day that his presence on the court was HURTING the team. Rocket fans need to call him out or he's just going to assume he's playing the right way because he's surrounded by yes men. And can I get some logic behind dismissing the etire career of Mcgrady as a Rocket based on one game(the Toronto game) for many posters here when what Mcgrady did that game is what Harden does almost every game when the ball isn't in his hands in a half court offense? How many times a game when someone else is bringing the ball up the court we see Harden catching up to the half court offensive set a literal 5 seconds after his entire team already there? How can people excuse this type of bullshit?
he gets a pass over here....ever have your ankle turned and then the body goes haywire.....or any physical aliment often shows up as a weakened immune system...probably go off like a Rockets ! tonight...pretty sure..a little rest and relax helps..I know I've needed some this week..
James Harden shooting percentages year by year in the playoffs as a Rocket. 2013 - 39.1% 2014 - 37.6% 2015 - 43.9% 2016 - 41% 2017 - 38.7% One game huh. The dude is a 6' 5" shooting guard that can out muscle almost anyone at his position who also is considered a great shooter. He's not 5' 10" like AI. There is no excuse for those numbers. They are horrendously pathetic.
It's a large determinant. Can you name me a time where a player had a great playoff series averaging less than 40% shooting?
Ah...yes...I forgot that fchowd0311 only goes off of raw shooting percentage to determine quality of play.
Shooting below 40% for a high volume scorer for the playoffs will never merit a "he played well' from a rational individual. I'm sorry that you are insane in this regard.
Awesome, the Rockets beat another team who also relies on a superstar who shoots like **** in the playoffs in the first round. Pats on the back.
