Not defending him because he deserves criticism. But the dude is also playing 40+mins every game. #1 in minutes played in the league if I heard correctly last night. He normally sits the beginning of the 4th but he's been needing to come in early lately due to our suck azz bench. 42minutes played last night....while sick. And knock on wood, he's been healthy.
Jeff Van Gundy has one of the best sayings I've heard about this "caring or not caring about winning" narrative. I think he says something like this "Look.. every player in the league cares about winning. But what most players want it to win ON THEIR TERMS. What separates the good from the truly great are those players that will give up and truly sacrifice for the greater good of the team". (if anyone can find the accurate quote, please let me know) Nothing can be truer IMO than this opinion as it relates to Harden. Of course he wants to win. Of course he wants to be great. Of course he wants to be known as a leader. Of course he wants to be loved by his teamates. But the issue really is... does he ONLY want that under his own terms?
Yeah, JB should consider reducing his minutes. I mean, Lebron is the only top tier player above 36 mpg, but he's still playing 3 minutes less that Harden at 36.6. Durant's at 35.2 Westbrook is at 34.5 Paul is at 31.3 And I'm not even counting Curry and Leonard because they have a lot of blowouts.
Bill Worrell last game when Harden blocked a layup 'don't tell me James blocked a shot???' Meanwhile in the real world Harden has almost a block per game.
EXCUSES EXCUSES EXCUSES Jordan is his early years was a ball hog but that didn't not stop him for playing top tier defense. He also played heavy minutes. Dream didn't trust his teammates so he demanded the ball and took a lot of shots. He also played a lot of minutes and that didn't affect his defensive dominance. LeBron plays a lot of minutes and exert a lot of energy on offense but that doesn't stop him for playing heavy minutes. Now have these players taken plays off, heck ya, everyone of them does. But man they don't take as many as Harden and they most definitely doesn't give up on as many plays as Harden does. I remember people on here kill Tracy for not getting back on one play against Toronto. Started calling the man a quitter and everything. But since Harden has been deeper in the playoff's, they come up with excuses for his lackluster effort on defense.
Problem is, Harden is too pampered. It's ridiculous that somebody not so proven has this type of approach to basketball. He feels way too entitled.
I wish Bickerstaff would bench Harden and Howard for the first and second quarter. Send a message. We're not winning the series, he's not keeling his job, but my god, neither one of our "stars" look interested in playing basketball right now.
I was told there was a media conspiracy to cherry pick one bad defensive play by Haren a night. But all I see is bad defense after bad defense. And in the playoffs where you're supposed to turn up the intensity.
Blind homers. These are the guys who drink the koolaid that Morey spins on Twitter/interviews. About how the Rockets are a good team, coaching doesn't matter, Morey-ball is a successful offensive strategy. These are the guys who make excuses for Harden's TOs, or the lack of diversity in his game, or how his stats go down significantly in the Playoffs.
