[OFFICIAL POLL] Top 2017 James Harden Game 6 conspiracy theory explanations

Other: Harden found out before Game 5 OT Ted Cruz is a Rockets fan

 

i think this is exactly right. Harden doesn't know when to take control and when to try to get his teammates involved.

The bottom line - when Harden says he didn't feel in rhythm, he is really saying he didn't feel confidence.

He was a bit shaken and was second guessing himself, and that's why he made so many mistakes. It's a mental game, and at that level, when you lose confidence, things can go south quickly.

Players of his caliber depend on making decisions in split seconds and making the right decisions. If your confidence is not there, and you over think it, you make bad plays like throwing the ball out of bounds

 

Nice job putting this together by you and Roxtxia! I considered doing this myself over the last few days, but figured with my obvious disdain it would just come across as bashing... I didn't need a bunch of "Christ, give the guy a break he just had a bad game" retorts - lol!
I'm glad the possibilities are out there for discussion and possible insights!

 

I went with the period option...

I view the drug thing as a real possibility... in some capacity... either he has a problem, or he was slipped something or he took something thinking it was something else... some drug related deal... he just looked too toasted...

but my initial thoughts, and still the best possibility imo, is that he got pissed after criticism of how game 5 ended and figured "Screw y'all then - I aint even gonna shoot at all and see what happens.." I call it 'the diva theory'.... It's also been speculated that he may have gotten into it with another player - which would again, be the diva response...

I just want to understand what happened... I cant believe someone as good as he is could just fall apart like that - and we're talking to BEGIN a game - not 3 or 4 quarters in with fatigue...

 

Harden has playoffs choke period. It was the time.

 

Other: Lil B curse resurrected

 

First of all, thank you guys for making a multiple-selection poll. And a good one at that. I was expecting the typical radio button list of attempts at humor, but this is comprehensive, and there's definitely overlap in theories that makes check boxes a great idea. Kudos!

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As for my own theories, I dunno, man. What struck me, personally, as I watched the entire game was that his attitude just fit perfectly with someone who just did NOT want to be there and wanted those 48 minutes to go by as fast as possible. An analogy that comes to mind is someone who really doesn't want to go to another meeting at work. They sit in the corner, say as little as possible so as not to provoke any additional discussion, check the time a lot, and look for every opportunity to just get out of the conference room. They just want it over with. That's what I saw in his attitude. His behavior just seemed so consciously muted to me.

Now, I can think of easy reasons why none of the Rockets would actually want to win that game. They know they're either going to lose the next game in another city or potentially win and get destroyed for four more games by Golden State. However, even if you do fantasize about just getting out the season right there, you can't actually indulge in making that desire a reality. That would be insane, and, yet, that's exactly what it looks like he did, to me. That's just how it came across.

I really want to know what happened, because it was unreal to watch.

 

Shea Serrano said that part of it may have been a "f*ck you" from him for all the bashing he got from game 5. I think he started cold and was just completely out of it after that.

 

This was what I saw in that game.
I think the team had huge discussions after game 5, with a lot of players accusing Harden of not sharing the ball and losing them the game.

Harden didn't like that shiet and basically responded with a "here's the ball brehs, now do better than me. ya wanted it this way so deal with it".

Would also explain why D'Antoni looked distraught the whole game, he knew he couldn't do anything when the team had such a bad fallout.

 

Maybe President Donald J. is fond of the city of Houston too.

 

I am down with this theory but I think they are buddies even when things go wrong.

Nowadays players do care more about camaraderie than winning.

They probably said to Harden in a softe(ner) way: Let's circle the ball, and we shoot it. Let's get some stops.

Now nobody would know this outcome, Trevor Ariza scored 20 pts and that was the team high points.

MDA always looks distraught when things do not go his way..... I have seen this lifeless, priceless face expression hundred of times when he was a Lakers and Knicks coach!

 

i noticed even early on in game 6, pringles was sitting in his chair listless, while pop was off the bench pushing his team. difference between a killer and a choker w/ his eyes caught in the headlights

 

Gotta wait for the MDA or Harden biography in a couple of years, really want to know what happened.

 

i figured it out! it is a concussion, but not a normal one. it was the ron artest elbow. after several years harden has finally lost his mind after getting elbowed hard int he head by ron. some concussions do take time to show.

 

Bottom line is he quit.

 

Spoiler

 

I get the feeling it was a reaction to all the hate he received for being a ballhogg at the end of game 5. He basically said. Ok I shoot too often??? I will show you all what happens when I do not shoot. Just to get back at all the backlash.

Kobe did something similar....

I hope that was not the case....

 

Unfortunately, I believe that was the case. He sulked.
Fortunately, that is preventable as he "matured".