Everything is fine. When they win they all get an A. When they lose everyone gets an F. Right now there is a lot more A.
James Harden vs Opponent with Top 10 Defense 25.2 ppg 37.4 FG% 27.0 3PT% http://basketball.realgm.com/player/James-Harden/NBA/1598/2017/By_Season/Per_Game/Regular_Season this is exactly what I'm talking about no wonder Harden doesn't show up in a lot of statement games, the big games usually involve elite defense.
Curry, Durrant and Clay played subpar against the Clippers Top Defense and Golden State still whipped them via team chemistry but no one complains but yea maybe we should sit Harden these games and see what happens let alone IF he wins the MVP then what can be said
Stephen Curry vs Opponent with Top 10 Defense 22.6 ppg 43.1 FG% 25.7 3PT% http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Stephen-Curry/NBA/1600/2017 This is your MVP? And he has the advantage of not having to play against GSW (a Top 10 defense)
Curry killed top 10 defenses during his two MVP seasons. http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Stephen-Curry/NBA/1600/2015/By_Season/Per_Game/Regular_Season http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Stephen-Curry/NBA/1600/2016/By_Season/Per_Game/Regular_Season sorry, you gotta show up against elite teams to make an impression on people; the problem with Harden is that he can be shut down way too easily against good defenders. not a good sign, especially for our playoffs success odds
Interesting that you bring that up Curry in the last two seasons where he actually won back-to-back MVPs http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Stephen-Curry/NBA/1600/2015/By_Season/Per_Game/Regular_Season http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Stephen-Curry/NBA/1600/2016/By_Season/Per_Game/Regular_Season and no, he's not winning it this year, so your argument is irrlevant
So, you think Curry will stay shooting that poorly .... or will it even out over the course of the season? So, why not Harden? whatever dude.
Harden has history of struggling against good defensive teams. It's true, look it up. I really want Harden to succeed, but he needs to change his style of play, otherwise it's going to be difficult especially in the playoffs.
Wrong Harden in 2015 vs Top 10 Defenses 27.6 ppg 46.1 FG% 37.4 3PT% http://basketball.realgm.com/player/James-Harden/NBA/1598/2015/By_Season/Per_Game/Regular_Season Those stats are nearly identical to his whole season. So, you think both Curry and Harden in 2017 suck against Top 10 Defenses vs the Numbers will return to the mean. You can't use stats as a way to be a Harden hata...But, it's a bold strategy Cotton
Shame we can't get rid of EVERY obnoxious Dwert. Don't you have a player option you want to decline so you can move to the Hawks' forum instead?
He had 12 assists and shot 8 FTs. The shooting was off, but the rest of team didn't shoot well either. He drove and dish plenty if you go back watch the game. Yes, he could have done better with the ball, but a lot of his passes were through traffic so in that regard his TO is bit better than Russ TO in terms of basketball value. His performance was good and bad, but we won certainly not despite him. Expectations are too high for him.
Dude dwert, the point of having a superstar is so that he will garner the majority attention of the enemy's elite defense. This is when you need good role players to finish and make the points while the enemy's defense is distracted. (which our bench is doing well) Harden's role against very good team is to distract, getting some points is bonus extra. Without Harden, the elite defense will make it so hard for our players to score. Sure he does careless turnovers, but without his presence we aint scoring sht. Of course everyone will want a player that can dominate anything regardless of enemy's defense, but even if we had that type of player, still hard to win the ring b/c this is a TEAM SPORT. Honestly if u want to sht on a player from Rockets, do it on KJ, Anderson, Sewer and D-mo (soon), they not doing as hot.
If Harden shows up big in statement games, he will win the MVP. If not, he will lose. It's that simple. Only playing well against the Sixers or Mavericks doesn't impress anyone.
I'm not saying he should change his game, not by a long shot. Harden is a BALLER! Just take better care of the ball in the 4th quarter, by not throwing behind the back passes and don't wait until the end of the shot clock to look for your shot or to pass the ball, thus resulting into a turnover.
Seriously lol, Harden is the stat king. Stick to things like "lazy" or "fat" or "selfish" or "uninterested" or other hard to prove things.
And he gets the added benefit of playing with 3 other top 15 players (one of them top 5) to take the pressure off of him during the game. Team's entire defensive plans are to stop Harden, and he doesn't have a legit 2nd option to give the ball to. Yes there are nights like last night when a fantastic defensive team with a great individual defender like Roberson make Harden look human, but the fact of the matter is even when he's off like last night, he has to do what he does even less efficiently for the Rockets/MDA's system to work. And this might be one of those eye test vs stats statements, but I swear he's improved ALOT in his weak areas this season as far as forced turnovers, and defensive let downs. Even at this stage of his career with all he's accomplished he's actually GETTING BETTER... that's just incredible, and we are lucky to have him.... warts and all.
