Superstars like Kawhi, Curry, LeBron, Durant even Giannis can take over and dominate good teams in the playoffs while Harden struggles because... They are all high FG% shooters. Harden is a low FG% shooter. People argue Ft's and 3's make up for it, make up narratives... but it goes to show that doesn't translate in the playoffs, where he shoots even worse from the field. Same goes with Westbrook. High efficiency players outdo the high volume ones. something for mopey to think about.
Let’s not go overboard now. Kawhi put up almost 40 shots that game. If he misses and Philly wins - the narrative changes.
Maybe, but harden's efg% is pretty high. Could just be more that fewer fouls are called, and that his step back 3 is tougher to make in the playoffs. Something for mopey to think about.
Not really. Because Kawhi was consistently good ALL series. Plus he took control of the game when it counted. When KD went out, Harden took one shot the last 7 minutes of that game. If Kawhi does that the Raptors lose. Yet Harden gets a pass from y'all? Disgusting
What? Kawhi shot 50% during the season, 56% during the playoffs. 52% and 50% in the playoffs the years before. A game winning shot does not change that. Harden shot 44% during the season, 41% during the playoffs. 41% and 41% in the playoffs the years before that. These are astronomical differences. A very clear trend that fanboys try to look over with FT's and advanced stats, but the simplest stat of all shows Harden, although a great volume scorer, his complete lack of efficiency gets exposed in the playoffs.
His FG% wasn’t good enough but more importantly his bigger issue is ball protection. He lead the playoffs in turnovers..... again.....By a large margin. You can’t expect to go far averaging 4.6 turnovers per game. Especially when you’re only averaging 6.6 assists per game.
Harden is more efficient and durable than Kawhi, bur KL is stronger mentally, by a large margin. KD can shoot over anyone.
james just hasnt reached the point where he will go all out in these games. the pure desperation isnt there. hopefully this is what finally does it. people criticized lebron the same way after he lost to the celtics, before going to miami, and after losing the mavs. he just isnt to the point where he doesnt care about missing shots late and what people might say if he does.
As “hot take” and “narrative” as this sounds...this is correct. Other stars seize the moment, or at least want to. Harden does not.
You can argue that MDA and Harden should've worked out a way to get the ball back to harden, but when you get trapped repeatedly the correct play is to pass it to your open teammates. Rockets offense in the fourth ended up being pretty solid, but they couldn't stop Curry in Games 5 and 6 and that's what did them in. Also, if the Raptors played like the way they did today against GS they would be crushed, you can't beat the Warriors with one dude scoring 41 pts on 39 shots. Curry, Klay, and KD would've found a way to punish the Raptors, especially their role players for their unwillingness to shoot. Philly is an inferior team, that's why Kawhi had the opportunity to win the game despite his own mediocre play. EDIT: If you want to blame individual players it would be CP3 in game 5 and Capela throughout the series. If you want to blame late game 4th quarter offensive execution in Games 3,4, and 6 you can go after D'antoni and to a lesser degree Harden (Harden's turnovers late in Game 6 were inexcusable). If you want to blame lack of talent blame Morey and Tillman. I have been a Harden critic through many of his postseason runs but he did not deserve most of the blame this time around.
I even wonder if he understands whats going on. When the game is turning. Rockets were down 5 points with 50 something seconds left and Harden still walked the ball up.. Harden has no awareness it's really frustrating and maddening to watch.
Lmao! Durant was a choker until he joined the Warriors, LeBron was the same until he joined a super team, Giannis has never been deep in the playoffs except this year. Gtfoh Harden wasn’t the issue this year.
You guys need to shut the hell up about this "right play" garbage. The right play is to play faster so they don't have the opportunity to trap you or pass out of the double team then run toward the ball and get it back. Harden literally walks the ball up into the double team. He lets every team double him when he knows he is going to get doubled. It so freaking stupid. Then Harden acts like he has never been doubled in his life and starts throwing the ball away shoving the defenders.
Believe me guys I would much rather not be on that side and I think you guys know that. But as bad as it sounds, at this point we can't go against what has transpired all these years. As good as he is, and we know he is just an absolute beast in the regular season its just what is missing during this time of year Will he ever be able to figure that part out as we get to 30 and beyond? I can't say I believe so
exactly. look what has happened today. you think guys like kawhi and cj are like lets make the right play. no they said give me the ball and get the hell out of the way and let me make a play.
