Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 24
  1. #1
    ... iamgine's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    18,108

    Default Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    It's only been 2 playoffs since James Harden took over as the main offensive weapon in Houston. The most glaring problem is, among other things, his excellent regular season 60+ TS% dropped by 5.2% in '12-'13 playoff and a whopping 9.9% in '13-'14 playoff.

    It's not like they're playing against all time great defense like '08 Boston or the Spurs. In fact, '13-'14 was against Portland whose defense were just average. A slight drop off is to be expected in the playoff but it's too much.

    ISH analysts, what is wrong with James Harden? Is his game just not built for the playoff? Was it just a fluke considering the low amount of playoff games played? Was it Houston's coach/system fault for not putting him in position of playoff success? What?

  2. #2
    Banned
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    9,230

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    Same reason Duref's efficiency went down in the playoffs the last 2 years

    Its harder to get ft's in slow paced playoff games

    So its not really that they're missing shots, its that they dont get calls, so the shots they normally chuck to get ft's, are now not called so it counts as a missed shot instead of 2 ft's

    The more you rely on ft's the more you will choke in the playoffs

  3. #3
    big time kobe stan JT123's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Kobeville
    Posts
    7,004

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    Quote Originally Posted by dubeta
    Same reason Duref's efficiency went down in the playoffs the last 2 years

    Its harder to get ft's in slow paced playoff games

    So its not really that they're missing shots, its that they dont get calls, so the shots they normally chuck to get ft's, are now not called so it counts as a missed shot instead of 2 ft's

    The more you rely on ft's the more you will choke in the playoffs
    Durant can't even maintain his regular season free throw percentages. This has now happened 2 years in a row, meaning it's a trend not a blip. Players like Durant and Harden simply can't handle the pressure of playoff basketball. Mental midgets.

  4. #4
    Banned
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Posts
    9,230

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    Quote Originally Posted by JT123
    Durant can't even maintain his regular season free throw percentages. This has now happened 2 years in a row, meaning it's a trend not a blip. Players like Durant and Harden simply can't handle the pressure of playoff basketball. Mental midgets.



    The only highlights I remember of Durant in these playoffs were him falling down





  5. #5
    Local High School Star
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Posts
    1,110

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    Quote Originally Posted by dubeta
    Same reason Duref's efficiency went down in the playoffs the last 2 years

    Its harder to get ft's in slow paced playoff games

    So its not really that they're missing shots, its that they dont get calls, so the shots they normally chuck to get ft's, are now not called so it counts as a missed shot instead of 2 ft's

    The more you rely on ft's the more you will choke in the playoffs
    Thats the right answer. he is very good in initiating contact and trying to finish then. but with better and more set defenses in the playoffs he gets less calls and his numbers will drop.

  6. #6
    Game. Set. Match. bdreason's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    HB, CA
    Posts
    24,893

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    Refs swallow their whistles come playoff time.

  7. #7
    Buck Dynasty Milbuck's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Freak City
    Posts
    15,880

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?


  8. #8
    #Dre Day in Sac Town andremiller07's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    6,760

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    I've said this before it's the ref's that have actually hurt James Harden, he's so use to getting calls which only he and Durrant get during the regular season (no one else gets) that he begins to forget how to actually play basketball once they stop. He literally got to the point where he was trying to draw a foul rather than score cause of what was occurring.

    There's a big difference between getting favoured and not and he's living proof if there ever was any.

  9. #9
    ruckus for president swagga's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    EU rotating, NYK
    Posts
    2,913

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    teams actually gameplan for him. When they take away the 3pt and bring help in the lane his limited skillset is exposed.

    He got about the same amount of FT per possession in the PO and in FIBA so ref swalling whistles is a myth. Dude just doesn't know what to do when out of his comfort zone so he either gets rid of the ball or chucks it. Getting constantly skull****ed on defense doesn't help his case either.

  10. #10
    NBA Legend UK2K's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Indianapolis
    Posts
    18,174

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    Quote Originally Posted by andremiller07
    I've said this before it's the ref's that have actually hurt James Harden, he's so use to getting calls which only he and Durrant get during the regular season (no one else gets) that he begins to forget how to actually play basketball once they stop. He literally got to the point where he was trying to draw a foul rather than score cause of what was occurring.

    There's a big difference between getting favoured and not and he's living proof if there ever was any.
    Call it a flop or whatever, but very rarely do you see him fgo to the free throw line and NOT get fouled.

    You may jot ljmYfgNa

  11. #11
    Good High School Starter SmackOrH.A.K's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    864

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    The Rockets team half court offense choked in the playoffs

  12. #12
    Local High School Star Akhenaten's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    1,188

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    Teams guard the 3pt line tighter and refs don't bail him out like in the regular season. He's a perfect example of why "true" shooting percentage is a bullcrap stat.

  13. #13
    National High School Star
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    2,241

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    It is the same reason that kobe's fg percentage doesnt.change much, or improves, in the playoffs. Playoffs are a lot about being able to make more difficult shots. Teams take away ur 1st and 2nd best option by gameplanning and the star often has to go it alone. Stars that can make true difficult shots, such as the dribble pullup, succeed. Getting from the three point line to the rim is much harder in the halfcourt in the playoffs. He needs to learn to operate out of the midpost like kobe, jordan, bron, wade etc...or learn to move without the ball ala ginobili. Same reason durant has trouble at the end of some games. The defender pushes him so far away from where he needs the ball + westbrook never gets it to him in time.

  14. #14
    2nd Greatest Player Lebron23's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Land of 6 NBA titles
    Posts
    61,891

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    The playoffs are a different ball game. And as much as a I like Harden. The referees made him look great in the regular season. The refs also tightened their officiating in the post season. If I a James Harden I just polish my offensive moves instead of becoming Magette 2.0

  15. #15
    Davis Bandwagon Demitri98's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Middle of nowhere
    Posts
    1,102

    Default Re: Why do James Harden's efficiency decline so hard in the playoff?

    The refs let them play basketball and teams plan their defenses around him. His 2 moves are random 3 pointer and uncontrolled crazy drive into the lane. Once those are shut down, his weakness is exposed.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •