Remember: Harden is only good when he gets criticized

Harden Under Pressure.

 

I think you're trying to find a pattern out of nothing. No disrespect. I like the optimism though.

With Harden you really don't know what you're going to get. I mean more than half the time you're obviously going to get the top 10 player who can play like he is the best on the world, but it seems like James operates at a different level than other superstars. We expect a lot out of James, but I think we need to step back for a second and actually stop expecting a lot a lot a lot from him.

 

The pattern is every other year

 

2017 playoffs game 5 semi-finals: criticized for terrible 4th quarter and OT

2017 playoffs game 6 semi-finals: comes back and plays the worst playoff game in Rockets history

 

Those who love to hate on JH have put blinders on the concussion side of the story. I'm not justifying JH's play, or his previous struggles, or am saying that JH was definitely concussed. But anyone who has consistently watched JH knows that clearly something was off after he took Gasol's elbow to his head in G5. He literally stopped driving, started looking dazed, not all there, and quite frankly like nothing was going on in his head. I don't buy the media story that JH is overwhelmed or afraid of the spotlight or anything of that nature. He's played in big games before. He's a professional athlete who has thrived in big games. Failure due to "spotlight" or gravity is just a narrative pushed by people who want James to fail, and its a common narrative in professional sports. I don't buy his lackluster performance is due to that. HE FLAT OUT LOOKED CONCUSSED.

That said, the bar/club pictures don't help the concussion theory, but he was fundamentally a different mental player in G5 overtime and G6, and I think he was very clearly playing through something.

 

I actually would like to see Harden link up with Lebron this offseason...he can see just how much work Lebron has to put in in order to be in peak physical condition, and Lebron obviously has a lot of knowledge, wisdom, and experience...he can even tell Harden what he did to overcome his game 5 against Boston and his pathetic showing in the 2011 finals

 

It's actually the opposite. Harden is that type of player who needs a positive momentum to perform well, and when the game (or the officiating) does not go in his favor, he sulks and folds. What OP is describing is not the evidence of Harden's resilience per se, but just a regular improvement curve that most NBA players go through. Harden is only 27 so of course he's gotten better over the past few years; nothing surprising there. But in terms of mental fortitude, Harden just doesn't have it and is very susceptible to falling into negative spiral.

 

So.....what you're saying is that he's only good in odd years?


We're on to something.....

 

I don't believe in the concussion thing one bit...

But him going to the bar/club doesn't dispell that at all. Dudes play football and still box with concussions. That's part of the reason why so many of these sports have concussion protocol now that even the tiniest sign of it an athlete sits out.

 

Actually Harden performs his worst when he's criticized. He was killed for that game 5 OT and in game 6 he didn't even show up to the arena.

 

Wrong; he kept driving to the basket the rest of regulation (Edit); AND in OT, had several drive and kick outs for 3's in OT, so still driving.

 

No wonder he's good every year

Clutchfans wants him roasted over a low flame every single offseason!

 

lolol.

People have the funniest ideas on internet forums.

 

What's so funny about Harden linking up with Lebron?

 

Yeah, just like you were trying to roast Kobe and Lebron. How about you answer to my below post in the other thread? You made some pretty bold statements that I easily rebuked, and then poof, disappearing act.

 

That Lebron is going to mentor Harden and teach him what he learned after the game 5, and show him what work ethic really is, and Harden will sit there with a notebook taking it all in while being completely free of ego.

The reality is that guys will get together and play some one-on-one in between weightlifting sessions. If they want to put in work, there are a lot of real coaches who would do better for them than another player.

 

Lmao

You didn't refute anything. Those are infamous games. Kobe refused to shoot in the 2nd half. Lebron infamously quit. If you weren't around for them or want to gloss over them to help bash Harden, then by all means. I'm just enjoying the double standard.

 

I see nothing wrong with meeting up with a champion like Lebron for 1 or 2 days in the offseason

 

The only standard is the one we discussed. Tell me one game where an all-time great did not even show up to the arena with effort from the opening tip.

Amnesia on the conversation? Plenty of people mail it in after they are down by 30 points in the 4th quarter, but saying that the all-time greats just don't show up with effort is laughable.