Harden has been too good and for too long for there to be just a sudden drop off to mediocrity. He’s not a guy who is overly reliant on athleticism. His skill and intelligence should keep him at an elite level well into his 30s, IMO, assuming he is healthy.
I wouldn't say mediocrity but your body is not the same beyond 30 as it was when you are in your twenties. And he was blessed with good health here and this was not going to sustain till he was 40, that is just natural. Of course he is spectacularly good but it's still a team sport and too good for too long ain't cutting it for the future. This individual is aging and coming down to earth, very slowly but surely.
"He has been too good for too long" exactly, its about time he showed he is human after all. I disagree with him not being reliant on athleticism, just because he is fat does not make him not reliant on athleticism. His step back 3 for example takes ton of skill and athleticism just to even get it off. Do that 12-14 times a game just that move at the highest lvl is goin to drain him. He is healthy, I don't buy it for one minute he is not...
The only player that I like on that Nets team is Joe Harris. Can’t wait to see all of them crash and burn, all the way from the top with that Joe Tsai guy. They stacked the team with all that talents and still don’t know how to win. Pathetic
So you did not actually believe what you were saying in defense of Harden, you just did it because he was on your team. Why should anybody ever take your opinion seriously? Nobody that speaks up for Harden thinks they owe him something.
I think that's his cheapest move but that's a foul for me. Duarte's reaching all over him and into his space.
Haha. You're funny. Thanks for the laugh. So let me get this straight. Harden sucks because he couldn't beat the Warriors. But you don't judge the rest of the league - the majority of them who didn't even try but waived a white flag during the dynasty - to the same standard? Says more about you than Harden hahaha.
What I was defending him on were crazy exaggerations like that he travels every time he scores or that all his points come from the free throw line. I believed that he flopped occasionally back then which is why when I defended him I never said he doesn't flop. Rather, I said he doesn't flop or travel nearly as much as people think he does. He's not great on defense, but he's not as bad as he's made out to be. I was honest about his shortcomings but pointed out that the narratives around his game are blown out of proportion. As for my opinion, it's nothing special. Just an opinion of a spectator. If somebody doesn't want to believe it that's fine. Everybody can believe whatever they want. But it's always nice to have a discussion.
That was like how the warriors were allowed to defend him. Guy made no effort to play defense, just hacked knowing he’ll get away with it
