James, Take a Deep Breath: You Got This and You Are Not Alone

The issue has more to do with how the playoff game played, and be referred. In the regular season, Harden lives at FT lines, and he scored a lot on the fast break. That has changed in the playoff, it's more of a slow-down half court game, and the ref won't give him those calls to put him to the FT.

 

Harden needs to take it to the rack strong like we know he can. Settling for too many dribble pull-ups. Get some confidence going to the paint and create space to hit your jumpers.

 

I think this one goes well for Harden. :grin:

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Another positive thing is even if his shot isn't falling, as long as he tries to get his teammates involved and running PNR - that is a good thing.

 

Am i the only when who's hearing that Michael Jackson song in my head?????? You are not alone I am here with you blah blah blah blah blah....

 

Oh nvm LMAO....i guess i'm not the only one

 

Could Harden settling for jumpers simply be due to fatigue? He has at least been trying to play better defense (for the 1st 2 games at least), is that draining his energy on offense?

 

I believe in the Beard

 

nice thread. paragraphs would make it much easier on eyes.

 

Great post.

 

Harden is due for a few highly efficient games and i hope it is sooner rather than later.

 

Derozan lived at FT line during the regular season (averaged 1 less FT attempt a game) and he's still getting the same calls in the playoffs.

 

Honestly, this is why I'm kind of optimistic for this series. Harden has yet to have the James Harden game. A James Harden game is those games where he drops 35 on like 15 shots. It's got to happen sometime in this series, he's just too good to be shooting this awfully.

 

I don't like the ref'ing disparity between the teams (0 FT for G1H1?!?) and between shooters and plays in the paint, but you have to give the TB some credit for finessing their defence against Harden; for the most part, they are careful about backing off on Harden during his drives, while staying close enough to be a bother.

If you check the Blazers boards and listen to their coach, you will notice that they have strict orders not to touch Harden at all, for fear of drawing the foul.

It's time for Harden to step up and focus on making the shot rather than drawing the foul.

I saw some clear signs in Game 3 of Harden doing just that (a wet step-back mid-jumper and that great 3 off of a sloppy Lin pass) - quick releases - don't pound the rock and give them a chance to set up.

Out of the next 3-4 games, if we can just get 1-2 games from the REAL HARDEN, then we'll be in a fine place...

 

No hate on Harden. All hate on McHale. He put all his bet all year long on Parsons being the 2nd playmaker next to Harden, and destroyed Lin's confidence by ranking him below Parsons and Beverly in that role. Yet, all this failed him as expected in the PO. The offense is simply too predictable to be effective in PO, as to winning games the same way as in regular season.

 

Amen brutha!!

Down 2-0?

37/9/6/1 TO
Superstar mode: On

 

Great post OP. Unfortunately, Harden has had shooting % troubles for most of his playoff career. Here's hoping he can turn that around.