We both see the same problem but draw different conclusions. I see him moving well without the ball as a remedy to those nights when the shot isn't falling now that we have Lawson.
I agree. I think that kind of transition is going to take time. He's spent 3 years here being extremely ball dominant. Those results are going to come, I think, but it will be a process.
Evolution of Harden: - fully committing to defense - staying in shape - move, cut, set screens and do everything he can for the team - score without relying on the whistle - not let his shooting dictate his effort
James didn't develop a new move for this season, and worse, his treys are not going in. too much partying and drinking?
imagine if Harden lost some of his fat and regained it in muscle, he'd be truly unstoppable driving into the paint.
What makes you think that just because he can take hard contested shots doesn't mean he doesn't shoot wide open shots even better? Also allowing him to not have to be 100% of the offense when he's in allows him to play better D.
He could be a Rip Hamilton type of player that moves a lot without the ball, but that would require him to get serious about getting fit and in shape. He needs to ask Kyle Lowry what the hell he did this offseason.
I'm not sure what could possibly go wrong with all of these brilliant plans to turn the reigning MVP into Kevin Martin.
Of course he knows (or knew) how to play off the ball but he is a different player with a different team than in OKC. He has a taste of being the man, the (almost) MVP and the guy who initiates everything offensively. It really comes down to whether or not McHale forces him to buy into PLAYING off the ball again instead of just standing there when the ball isn't in his hands. "play off the ball harder, James"
the next evolutionary step for james harden? take 10-15 threes a game, that way he'll always make one. so when some salty fan says "haha your boy flopped his way to 30pts last night" just tell him "haha at least he made a three b****. who's your guy, davis? does he even know how to shoot a three?"
I'm kinda skeptical of Harden's off the ball experience from his time at OKC. I'm not going to go back and do a deep dive into the numbers, but my recollection is that he'd come off the bench and get the ball in his hands a lot and basically do what he does here but in small spurts. Yeah, he got a lot more catch and shoot situations, which make sense because he's a good shooter, but it's not like he was coming around screens and making cuts to the basket like Jimmy Butler. He's a good enough 3 point shooter that it's worthwhile to have him shoot some standstill threes, or work as a decoy sometimes so he doesn't have to expend as much energy every play, but I'm not sure I can see him turning into Reggie Miller or something. I'm not going to speculate on whether Harden is eating burgers all offseason or is a gymrat, but whether he works hard or not, his offseason regimen has to change. He ALWAYS starts slow (although usually not this slow). That needs to get fixed.
Exaggeration is what went wrong with your post. Obviously Harden shouldn't completely morph into Rip/Martin, but an element of their games would behoove Beard and the Rockets.
So, you are asking a MVP runner up, the corner stone of your franchise, and probably the best hope for your franchise in the next 7-8 years to chase a championship to perform up to a standard that, every normal NBA players basically should perform? Interesting.
This has been said every year. And have you seen Harden in person? He's not exactly lacking any muscle.
