[The Ringer] Kevin O'Connor Mad At Harden, Thinks MDA Sucks At His Job

They were wrong, Vogel was right.

 

Mmk, the bigger reasons for those traps working is because Westbrook kills the spacing that makes it easer to shrink the court and makes it easier to trap. If I was wrong the Harden only lineups wouldnt be our best lineups. And they are by far our best lineupss

He did that all of game 3 and was easily our best player. Yea he had some turnovers but Russ was WAY WAY worse in that second half. We lost all our momentum when Harden was on the bench.

No Im questioning your analysis of solely blaming Harden like he's the biggest reason we are losiing.

The switch the pick. Russ can fill the Draymond roll on this team and can't effectively pass out like Draymond can, nor can he finish at the rim cause he is too small.

 

I never said Westbrook wasn't awful. It doesn't matter what anyone says, your harden Homerism is elite.

It's not as if the rockets killed the traps with WB off the floor either, so your logic falls well short. WB does kill spacing, though.

 

Bro you get caught up in this blame Harden for everything when if you just look at the series stats, than you will see that HE IS PERFORMING OH MY GOD.

But they did? Harden only lineups are elite, he's been getting doubled for the last 3 games now? He doesnt need to "kill traps" because guy's can just find the open shooter, with Westbrook on they can take that away. Harden hasnt been great in the clutch he hasnt but he also has the worst second option playing right next to him. Go check Westbrook's numbers and get back to me...or dont whatever.

You guys ask for superstar production against a more talented team, he gives it to you and but the second guy cant perform and then you ask for more...sheesh man.

 

WB isn't terrible, he just is a bad fit next to Harden.

It only worked in OKC back in an era where teams didn't jack up 3s and they had KD.

If we had a prime KD on this team, we'd be up in the series too. Harden wouldn't be doubled and if he did, just toss it to KD and it's an automatic bucket.

 

https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202009050LAC.html

These are Kawhi's numbers from game 2 of this series. Just so ya'll know, and this is against the Nuggets soft defense. Note his TS% as well.

 

This thread is about the point O'Brien made. Of course we are talking about it. Doesn't mean that's the ONLY problem we have.

I am just pointing out how Harden fans quickly jump to his defense whenever criticism is directed toward him. Harden is a great player. But he is not without flaws. The discussion is about how he can be used in a way that makes the team better. But he has to be willing to do what it takes.

 

MDA playoffs record
Career 54-55
This year 5-6

6 Playoffs years with Suns 4 stars
1 Playoffs year with Lakers 2 stars
4 playoffs years with Rockets 2 stars

 

Harden might be the LAST of our problems here(well he needs to stop being so sloppy with the ball).



If he was having an ass series and is the reason we are losing I would be on him, but the fact is he's played great when his number 2 player has been way WAY worse from a fit standpoint.

Scroll up and look at the game Kawhi had against the nuggets in game 2, its WORSE than Harden's game agains the Lakers. Harden is beating Lebron in offensive impact metrics this series. And yet.....here we are blaming the guy whos the only one keeping us competitive.

Russ deserves blame, and so does Mike for not adjusting to this double teams but being mad at Harden for having one dud game isnt fair at all.

 

Even Dort is going to be a stud once he figures how to shoot over 33%.

 

Tough luck for Harden, facing a team in round 2 that has the only two players that are above him on this list.

LeBron James is amazing. Age 36, and still flying up and down the court like a man who is 10 years younger.

 

And I would argue those numbers for Davis and for James are inflated because they played Portland in the first round and their defense is terrible. Both of them have the luxury of relying on each other and they fit in their lineups together. Our Superstars do not.

 

KOC is absolutely fair to harden and rockets so i take what he says seriously. Harden has turned into a robot because of Morey and Dantoni.

 

Harden is doing WB zero favors playing the way he plays. You Harden apologist have a twitter stat for everything......

 

Its the other way around bro...Im sorry stats make you uncomfortable. The facts are the facts.

 

Harden has been the constant variable...... its just math bro.

 

Context is everything...you can blame Harden for getting Westbrook here,I do. As for math... you might want to go back to school.

 

Did Harden help CP3’s game with off ball action.

Nope. Context bro.

 

Harden didnt do that Cp's first year and we had an amazing team. Cp3 had one of the worst year's of his career in the playoffs the next year. He then changed his diet and came back stronger.

There is your actual context...bro.

 

So then no....