James Harden 2014 Playoffs

[S13M]

We're witnessing history.

[BoutPractice]

It's not the percentage, it's that his overall play (the whole package: shooting, playmaking, defense, leadership etc.) is largely responsible for his team being on the path to elimination after losing the first two games at home.

[mr.big35]

James Harden exposed not even a star

[Zodiak]

His beard is affecting is balance and equilibrium...

[BlackVVaves]

It's not the percentage, it's that his overall play (the whole package: shooting, playmaking, defense, leadership etc.) is largely responsible for his team being on the path to elimination after losing the first two games at home.

Man, sooooo this.

Dude was turning the ball over at inopportune times, and just displaying bad leadership as he often pouted after a miss and didn't run back on defense.

The play that is MOST telling of Harden's performance so far? Down 4, under a minute yet. Dwight just cut into the lead after hitting 2 free-throws. Blazers inbound the ball, Harden is just standing around on defense aimlessly, not even aware that his man (Mathews) is advancing up the court. Lillard throws the ball up-court to a WIDE open Mathews for a lay-up, which essentially ended the Rockets comeback campaign.

Guy just doesn't have an eye for defense. Shit's embarrassing

[Basketbolero]

We're witnessing history.

Joe Fulks: 7/29, 0.2 assists per game, NO FVCKS GIVEN

[UK2K]

Through 2 Games: 22.5 PPG on 29.8% FG (14-47)

Game 1: 8-28
Game 2: 6-19


His "Game" (3's and FT's) is getting exposed in the Playoffs.

And as we all know, he's one of the worst defenders in the NBA.

So without him doing something on Offense, he has no Impact. In fact, I take that back, he has 100% NEGATIVE Impact.
Defense: Opponents routinely score on him
Offense: Inefficient shotbricking


Is James Harden, come playoff time, a Star?

Regular Season Star - Playoff Average


BTW: Howard you picked the wrong team... Should have gone to Dallas. Same for you, Paul.

The rest of the Blazers have played pretty poorly to average outside of LMA and Lillard in Game 1 after BeverD picked up his 4th foul in the 3rd and checked out, which, until that point, he had 11 points halfway through the 3rd quarter.

This is the one instance when I will say defensively, its not Harden's fault. It's not anybody's fault really when LMA is just hitting from everywhere.

But Aldridge played the best back to back games in playoff history for a PF, the Rockets have looked like complete ass, and Portland has still only one two games by 9 total points.

[KungFuJoe]

U2K2,

You gotta watch Harden play D next game. Just take like ten minutes and just focus on the way he rotates, swings over, helps, etc.

He is the laziest guy I've ever seen. Watch how often Rockets have to switch with him on even the most basic of screens because he refuses to fight through. Watch how he will just stare at the ball while his man moves all over the floor unchecked. Watch how, when the shot goes up, he doesn't box out a man. Watch his close outs. He literally runs right up to the guy with the ball...so much so that he gets blown by.

Even though he's not getting scored on, he disrupts the TEAM defense so much by always being out of position so others have to help even MORE. McHale hides him on D anyways...putting him on the weakest player on the floor...but that also means mismatches for other players. Like when Parsons has to guard a PG because Harden is incapable. There are times when Harden is actually placed on the FOUR (not against Portland, of course) because of how bad he is.

[ArbitraryWater]

Joe Fulks: 7/29, 0.2 assists per game, NO FVCKS GIVEN

Dude was the league's first star besides Mikan also

[pnyozzzoo]

James Harden is a mental midget, who the *** taking 80 mil as the man of the team hides in the Locker room do not go on the podium TWO times, to own it up in THE fuking PLAYOFF.

LOOK at him he is DRESSed UP fashionably for it. but after another chocking stunning performance this time he can not even say its my bad. at least he did that after game one in the LOCKER room. Now he is just in Denial. Blame team defense, rofl, look at the gif on matthew's leak out, Ames Haren was back paddling like a kid in Kindergarten orientation morning warm up routine. It's so disgusting.

He is just not meant to be a franchise player, gliding everything no effort, not responsible for shhit, only care about his stats and big booty. in A half court Defense after 1 screen he would rather leave his man open and stand under the basket to get a rebounding stat than playing defense.

Advance metrics have him as one of the laziest player on court traveling one of the least distance among all players (as a guard!) during a game. the only handful players comparable to him are centers who sometimes do not even participate on fast breaks. All due to his laziness, cherry picking style of play.

I am glad playoff expose his laziness on D and no more cherrypicking, no touching tictac he is shell shocked.

And Macfail is a moron sohuld be fired. Dude is clueless and sound like broken record for years all these key words are the only things can spill out of his mouth. ( ball sticky, side to side, body movement, going to be fine. hold the ball)....

And Parsons, why the f you talk that shit after down 0-1. your defense has gone down the drain, and lots dude can put up numbers if they has the green light its the NBA ffs. Good luck to that fat pay check you want this summer.

[jlip]

29% while attempting 23.5 Shots per Game? Looks pretty rare to me... In fact, I doubt it ever happened to one Player for an entire Series. (Not that we're there yet)

At the risk of feeding trolls, take a look at Lebron's first four games against the Celtics in the '08 ECSF. They were very "Harden-esque" in terms of scoring.

Gm 1... 2-18 12pts
Gm 2... 6-24 21pts
Gm 3... 5-16 21pts
Gm 4... 7-20 21pts

Avg. over four games 18.8ppg 25.6fg% 20-78 shooting

http://www.basketball-reference.com/...basic_playoffs

[BlackVVaves]

U2K2,

You gotta watch Harden play D next game. Just take like ten minutes and just focus on the way he rotates, swings over, helps, etc.

He is the laziest guy I've ever seen. Watch how often Rockets have to switch with him on even the most basic of screens because he refuses to fight through. Watch how he will just stare at the ball while his man moves all over the floor unchecked. Watch how, when the shot goes up, he doesn't box out a man. Watch his close outs. He literally runs right up to the guy with the ball...so much so that he gets blown by.

Even though he's not getting scored on, he disrupts the TEAM defense so much by always being out of position so others have to help even MORE. McHale hides him on D anyways...putting him on the weakest player on the floor...but that also means mismatches for other players. Like when Parsons has to guard a PG because Harden is incapable. There are times when Harden is actually placed on the FOUR (not against Portland, of course) because of how bad he is.

And this is precisely how being a bad defender affects your team. You put your team at a disadvantage when your coach has to routinely create mismatches that benefit the other team because you are incapable of staying with your man, and are undisciplined in your help defense assignments.

[JordanL]

Regular Season Star - Playoff Average

So far Harden has had a PER of 7. A PER of 15 is supposed to be an average NBA player. A PER of 20 is a star level player, a PER of 25 is a superstar level player, and a PER over 30 is Lebron/Jordan/Durant/Bird/Wilt/Shaw/etc. territory.

So far Aldridge has had a PER of 40.

[Jailblazers7]

U2K2,

You gotta watch Harden play D next game. Just take like ten minutes and just focus on the way he rotates, swings over, helps, etc.

He is the laziest guy I've ever seen. Watch how often Rockets have to switch with him on even the most basic of screens because he refuses to fight through. Watch how he will just stare at the ball while his man moves all over the floor unchecked. Watch how, when the shot goes up, he doesn't box out a man. Watch his close outs. He literally runs right up to the guy with the ball...so much so that he gets blown by.

Even though he's not getting scored on, he disrupts the TEAM defense so much by always being out of position so others have to help even MORE. McHale hides him on D anyways...putting him on the weakest player on the floor...but that also means mismatches for other players. Like when Parsons has to guard a PG because Harden is incapable. There are times when Harden is actually placed on the FOUR (not against Portland, of course) because of how bad he is.

I serious don't understand how the Houston locker room isn't a war zone because of the content of this post. Harden is probably the worst defender in the league and it is purely based on effort. It is baffling to me that his teammates aren't furious about it. It is especially surprising because Dwight is in that locker room and he isn't exactly shy about disrupting harmony when he is unhappy.

[imdaman99]

What did bran average vs the Celtics first 2 games in 08?