James Harden

[intlzncster]

. Plus they’ve got their coach saying things to the effect that he’s had to assuage some bitterness from teammates as Harden gets his. Maybe bitterness is too strong a word, and I can’t find the quote at the moment, but it was somewhat telling.

It's probably not too strong a word man. Think about being a teammate of that. I mean, if you're 11-0, you can stomach it, but the dude took 38 or their 90 shots last night. Almost 50% of the shots! And they squeak by the Knicks.

 

[husky429]

Really strange player in that he’s not very athletic, a little overweight, doesn’t have the best shooting mechanics. I think he just has really good hand eye coordination. He also takes a crap load of shots like 21 a game this year, and goes to the line a lot where he’s an 87% free throw shooter for his career.

Look up PJF performance stuff on james harden. It's insane to think he's not athletic.

And his shooting form is solid. Quite high relative to how fast he gets it off. (@whaler11 I believe you do a shot now)

 

[intlzncster]

Look up PJF performance stuff on james harden. It's insane to think he's not athletic.

And his shooting form is solid. Quite high relative to how fast he gets it off. (@whaler11 I believe you do a shot now)

Really, in today's NBA, with the spacing, how quick you get it off is so much more important than the height of launch. Especially with how quick defenders are these days.

 

[superjohn]

Harden is obviously an elite offensive talent but it's an entire league and system that's geared perfectly for him. If D'Antoni got Nash back to back MVP's, why not Harden too?

 

[intlzncster]

Harden is obviously an elite offensive talent but it's an entire league and system that's geared perfectly for him. If D'Antoni got Nash back to back MVP's, why not Harden too?

It's not fun watching Harden shoot a billion free throws a game. But that's just imo.

I do miss a lot of the 90s NBA. I get why the league went the opposite way, and their popularity seems to have grown as a result, but still.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Harden is obviously an elite offensive talent but it's an entire league and system that's geared perfectly for him. If D'Antoni got Nash back to back MVP's, why not Harden too?

Well at least one of Nash’s was undeserved. You could argue Harden should be going for 4 MVPs in 5 seasons right now.

 

[Walker11]

Look up PJF performance stuff on james harden. It's insane to think he's not athletic.

And his shooting form is solid. Quite high relative to how fast he gets it off. (@whaler11 I believe you do a shot now)

Wrong w___er11

 

[Robertelamin]

Wrong w___er11

C_nfirmed.

 

[Letsgohuskies11]

Only took 20 3 pointers last night.

 

[gtcam]

He can score yes but so can a lot of guys at that level if they shoot the ball 40 times a game
The guy plays absolutely zero defense - watch him - he wanders to the side of the court where there is no action and once in a while swipes at the opposing ballhandler if that person invades his space and when he slaps the arm he throws a tantrum at being called for a foul. He also loves to mock and mimic anyone who is guarding him.
Had to laugh when they played the 76ers the other night and TJ McConnel would not back down against him and then he tried to intimidate the wily vet Corey Brewer and what does Brewer do? get in Hardens ear every chance he could and that really got to Harden.
I used to respect the guy for his offensive skills and am still impressed with that aspect of his game
However, he is far from a complete player - but then again maybe that's just fine with the Rockets

 

[CardiacAndre7]

He can score yes but so can a lot of guys at that level if they shoot the ball 40 times a game
The guy plays absolutely zero defense - watch him - he wanders to the side of the court where there is no action and once in a while swipes at the opposing ballhandler if that person invades his space and when he slaps the arm he throws a tantrum at being called for a foul. He also loves to mock and mimic anyone who is guarding him.
Had to laugh when they played the 76ers the other night and TJ McConnel would not back down against him and then he tried to intimidate the wily vet Corey Brewer and what does Brewer do? get in Hardens ear every chance he could and that really got to Harden.
I used to respect the guy for his offensive skills and am still impressed with that aspect of his game
However, he is far from a complete player - but then again maybe that's just fine with the Rockets

The defense argument is old and somewhat lazy at this point. While it’s true he isn’t a great perimeter defender, it has been shown that he is actually an elite low post defender.

 

[superjohn]

Well at least one of Nash’s was undeserved. You could argue Harden should be going for 4 MVPs in 5 seasons right now.

And yet I've never really considered him a top 5 player. If you want to play that game of being able to argue an MVP you could have probably argued Jordan and Lebron should have won the MVP every single year.

 

[superjohn]

It's not fun watching Harden shoot a billion free throws a game. But that's just imo.

I do miss a lot of the 90s NBA. I get why the league went the opposite way, and their popularity seems to have grown as a result, but still.

80's were even better, I was really young but could still tell.

 

[Lefty2one]

Harden was 1/12 from three in the second half. I watched the whole game and don't think I've ever been less impressed with a 50+ point game outside of Kobe's final game. 25 FTA. 5/20 from deep. His current game is not entertaining to watch.

The epitome of today's NBA and how much it favors offensive players: Harden is being denied the ball, with both hands he blatantly shoves the defender in his chest to break free, begins his drive, travels, jumps sideways/perpendicular to the hoop and into a help defender's chest (who is in legal guarding position) and a foul is called on the defender. I paused the game for a second, rolled my eyes and had to take a deep breath. I can't believe the NBA has let this go on as long as it has.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

And yet I've never really considered him a top 5 player. If you want to play that game of being able to argue an MVP you could have probably argued Jordan and Lebron should have won the MVP every single year.

I don’t disagree at all with the LeBron/MJ sentiment, although i’m not old enough to have seen prime MJ. I think it’s fair to say that LeBron could/should be like an 8 time MVP, but as we know, people hate continuity. But I do have Harden firmly in my top 5, more specifically #3, and loudly knocking on the door of #2.

 

[superjohn]

I don’t disagree at all with the LeBron/MJ sentiment, although i’m not old enough to have seen prime MJ. I think it’s fair to say that LeBron could/should be like an 8 time MVP, but as we know, people hate continuity. But I do have Harden firmly in my top 5, more specifically #3, and loudly knocking on the door of #2.

Think in no
particular order I've got Lebron, Curry, AD, Durant, Giannis and Kawhi ahead of him.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Think in no
particular order I've got Lebron, Curry, AD, Durant, Giannis and Kawhi ahead of him.

I think that’s fair because I think 2-7 are really close.

 

[superjohn]

I think that’s fair because I think 2-7 are really close.

Yep, he's right there with all of them and I can see people putting him ahead of basically everyone but Lebron. It's basically splitting hairs. There are more truly elite players and more parity with contenders dispersed throughout the league than in a long time. I think the Warriors still have to he fairly big favorites but there are a lot of really good teams and finally some of them are in the East.

 

[husky429]

Harden is top 5 in pure skill and production. But he's like westbrook--a team with him isn't a championship contender bc of play style.

Have to put Lebron, Curry, Durant, Kawhi ahead of him bc of that IMO. Jury is still out on Giannis and Davis.

 

[Mano]

Would love to see Curry take 38 shots including 20 3’s and 25 FT’s and see where he ends up.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

Harden is top 5 in pure skill and production. But he's like westbrook--a team with him isn't a championship contender bc of play style.

Have to put Lebron, Curry, Durant, Kawhi ahead of him bc of that IMO. Jury is still out on Giannis and Davis.

They would’ve won the title last year if CP3 didn’t get injured.

 

[Mr. French]

Think in no
particular order I've got Lebron, Curry, AD, Durant, Giannis and Kawhi ahead of him.

I just said tonight that I think curry is getting underrated at this point.

 

[Lefty2one]

They would’ve won the title last year if CP3 didn’t get injured.

Well, that is one enormous leap and assumption.

 

[superjohn]

I just said tonight that I think curry is getting underrated at this point.

It does seem like he isn't being talked about quite as much, he's been awesome this season.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I'm a few years too young for a real person comparison but seems like he is modern day Pistol Pete. You have zero percent chance of winning playing team ball, you will win some if you put the ball in his hands every play and let him score or dish to the open defender.

 

[MuchoDogYears]

James Harden is the poster child for why I can’t tolerate watching the NBA.

Not his fault. The NBA years ago decided to change how to market itself. And they decided that the best way to attract fans in this age of social media is to create stars and promote them instead of teams. Simpler. Easier. Get rid of defense, ignore travels, call fouls only when/if a star needs points.

And it’s worked. And now we have a league where fans come out to see the star who’s come to town, not their own team.

One tiny step above the WWE, for now.

 

[traitor71]

Well, that is one enormous leap and assumption.

You never know what would have happened, but they were at least even money to win one of two games against Golden State with Chris Paul in the lineup. They certainly would have run rings around Cleveland in the finals. I sometimes don't think people really realize what Harden is doing right now. There is no team in the league that has been hit by injury as Houston has been, and Harden is carrying them. If they go into the playoffs with a healthy group of Harden, Paul, Capela and Eric Gordon, they will have as good of a lineup as anyone other than the Warriors.