Sources: Some issues between Harden and Howard (don't hang out anymore)

If by "pressure" you mean double and triple teams, then I agree.

Harden played extremely well in some 'pressure' games so far (game 5 and game 7 against the Clippers), and not as well in others (game 6 against the Clippers and Friday). Some variation in performance is normal. Per-game averages do not mean that a player achieves those numbers every single game.

I would also argue that ALL playoff games are high-pressure games. The fact that Harden has maintained his MVP-runner-up numbers from the regular season in the playoffs is a good indication that this criticism is false.

 

So, they should be "hanging out" during the playoffs??

And "Harden hangs with the team, Howard not as much" basically means "Howard is not hanging out with the team as much."

What, Harden and Howard are buying fewer snow cones together, less one-on-one quality time? Give me a break.

This is useless crap.

 

A little silly. Down 0-3, this is what happens. They will be fine.

Who said they have to like eachother?

 

Thank you for verifying this. The posters who complained about Dwight smiling in the game thread are trolls that also showed up for the V-Live thread. A smirk out of frustration when he was dissing the refs is to be expected.

I think cyberx got this take about Dwight laughing on the bench from Lakers fans. He was actually engaged throughout the game. He implored the crowd to get in the game on several occasions. Him calling out the team and the fans would make no sense if he was just diddling around on the bench.

 

I was being sarcastic bro

 

I really appreciate the information from cyberx, and I'm not doubting him, but damn this is ill timed. The Rockets are one game away from either making a statement that they aren't going to role over, that they aren't going to lay down, that they have enough pride to win at home before their fans before it's all over in this series, or ending the season submerged in the humiliation of knowing they couldn't even win one game against these chumps, not even on their own court. That's paramount to me, not some melodrama between two frustrated superstars.

 

Yes 3:45 in the third just checked. Too overblown he wasn't laughing he was smiling and talking to Capella. Maybe joking.

 

It's okay man I lost my cool earlier I know it must be bad if you are telling us what's up as it comes. I just really.want this team.to.represent.tonight. Hopefully Harden redirects his frustration as you say towards the Warriors tonight.

The timing just seemed very peculiar to me.
Thx for the info as always.

 

I don't think you have been watching the playoffs. Harden has played well and basically had one off game every series.

Why do you think we were even in games 1 and 2 at the end? That's what i'm referring to. when you can do things like that, teammates cut you some slack and don't b**** about a bad shot in the 2nd quarter or waiving them off in the 3rd, etc. When you can't do that and are laughing in a game like that, it's going to eat at people more and they're going to bring up all the little stuff.

Howard hasn't really done that and can't, really. People will bring up Portland, but Portland's bigs shouldn't be able to stop an athletic big who tries really hard.

 

Someone said it earlier but all of our guys need to look in the mirror instead of at the end of their finger. Hopefully we patch it up and get back on th e winning side of things.

 

We've got to get Elie on our staff...If there's room for Dwight's friends, y no room for Clutch City friends?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/MartyMacsWorld">@MartyMacsWorld</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DDDGURU">@DDDGURU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/bill_94710">@bill_94710</a> This time of yr everybody knows what everyone is running.It's about NUTS and HEART this time of yr.</p>&mdash; mario elie (@marioelie1) <a href="https://twitter.com/marioelie1/status/602920913026228224">May 25, 2015</a></blockquote>
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NUTS & HEART!

 

Nuts and heart.

 

deez nutz + <3

 

you talk like someone that just started watching the Rockets in the playoffs

Harden is Harden, he will never be like Lebron or Jordan or even Durant because he's not as tall or strong or fast or athletic as the elites. He will never dominate consistently because he just doesn't have the ability to score consistently with his arsenal. he's streaky shooter at best, can't get above the rim unless there's an open lane, is not fast enough to just straight up beat someone off the dribble. He can't just bulldoze into the lane like Lebron and everyone just GTFO out of the way.


The way he plays the game is very much dependent on him exploiting the offense and use his court vision to set up others. A lot of his shots are not high percentage shots like the step back, but he usually plays really smart and finds ways to contribute. Harden will never consistently have 40 point games unless he is really on with his step back and the refs call all the fouls. His success is dependent on his team mate to make the open shots and open layups he creates for them.

He has played very well in the playoffs except for a 2-3 games. You don't see it because you only have this unrealistic expectations of him dropping 5-6 step back jumpers in a row like in game 1-2. That's never going to happen on a consistent basis ever. Harden played within the rhythm of the game and set up his team mates and made the right passes to his teammates throughout the playoffs and that's playing great in my opinion.

him playing bad is where he doesn't realize his limitations and plays like a frustrated idiot like the Portland series where he was jacking up bad shots because Wesley Matthews got into his head.

 

Thanks for the info Cyberx. Not good to hear but always appreciate your incite and knowledge.

At least the Rockets have one more year to see if Dwight and James can become teammates on the same page. If not then hopefully Capela will have turned into a legit NBA 5 or some other option at the 5 will be there for us. It's also quite possible that Dwight's knees will prevent him from being a good option for the Rockets moving forward after 2016.

 

Some things are just better left unsaid.

 

Rockets will be alright. Harden is living the star studded life. He is only recently gotten real famous. Howard might be settling down some.

Makes sense they wont be hanging out as much if at all outside of basketball.

But Harden keeps feeding those ally oops to Howard, and they look sweet.

This year might be almost over with Golden State ridding so high. But Morey will make some moves, and the Rockets should be even better next year.

 

Wtf are you saying? You would rather have a 30 year old bad knees Dwight over a 25 year old scoring machine Harden?

 

I think your wrong here the notion that harden isn't a physical beast is one of the biggest myths in the league right now. Jordan and kobe were never this big from a muscle standpoint and harden first step is actually faster than wades. (Check the combine) now if you want to say he doesn't use his athletic gifts as much as those guys that's your opinion not mine.

Harden absolutely can play like lebron he's big and strong eneough has the IQ, he needs to add a post game and all these scoring droughts we see from him will go away. As soon as he can make defenders punish for over playing him with post ups his game will really take off like lebros did his 2nd year in Miami. Both playrw are great and I'm not saying harden is lebron but they approach the game the same. Hardens not a high volume scorer and neither is lebron they take what's given and make the right play. Lebrons effiency really took off his second year in Miami and I think harden can have a similar scenario when he realizes he's the biggest strongest sg possible ever to play in the NBA. He needs to use it because it will prolong his career in the long run and help him from ever being neutralized.