32 replies to this topic

[DenverRocket]

Narrative: a story or account of events, experiences, or the like, whether true or fictitious.

 

This report REALLY has me scratching my head. I mean WTF? As an avid Red94 reader, I’ve read the various thoughts on changing the “narrative” concerning Harden and his defensive shortcomings, but to be honest I took it all with a pinch of salt until I read this. After all, the only person who can change the narrative is Harden himself, I foolishly thought.

 

Firstly let me preface this diatribe by saying that it is still very early days, and nothing gets proven or awarded in the first week of the season. Nonetheless!

 

What are these hacks paid for? Certainly not to watch basketball if these comments are any indication! I honestly don’t believe any of them has watched a single Rockets game so far, yet they all have the temerity to dismiss Hardens MVP claims based on spurious assertions.

 

I think you’d be hard pushed to find a single Rockets fan that hasn’t been impressed by the steps Harden has made on the defensive end so far this season. We’ve seen him enthusiastically running down opponents, blocking and rebounding as if his life depended on it and generally being defensively more engaged. FIBA really has done him the world of good.

 

I’m not saying he’s MVP worthy yet, but the lazy, ignorant journalism exemplified in this article shows what he is really up against if he even wants to be considered. Screw the “narrative” and make your own mind up. The good news for Rockets fans, of course, is that we get to enjoy the show as he attempts to prove his critics wrong.

[timetodienow1234567]

I still think Howard is our MVP. I can't give it to Harden yet. He can prove me wrong by continuing putting forth effort and improving. He's looked much better this year so far.

[Losthief]

I still think Howard is our MVP. I can't give it to Harden yet. He can prove me wrong by continuing putting forth effort and improving. He's looked much better this year so far.

 

my real question is, wasn't lebron a negative on defense last year and came in 2nd?

[Steven]

my real question is, wasn't lebron a negative on defense last year and came in 2nd?

Yes. But he is the LeBron.

[Willk]

Harden has a defensive rating of 95. That is incredible. As long as he stays healthy, he will be an average defender at worst.

[thejohnnygold]

Narrative: a story or account of events, experiences, or the like, whether true or fictitious.

 

This report REALLY has me scratching my head. I mean WTF? As an avid Red94 reader, I’ve read the various thoughts on changing the “narrative” concerning Harden and his defensive shortcomings, but to be honest I took it all with a pinch of salt until I read this. After all, the only person who can change the narrative is Harden himself, I foolishly thought.

 

Firstly let me preface this diatribe by saying that it is still very early days, and nothing gets proven or awarded in the first week of the season. Nonetheless!

 

What are these hacks paid for? Certainly not to watch basketball if these comments are any indication! I honestly don’t believe any of them has watched a single Rockets game so far, yet they all have the temerity to dismiss Hardens MVP claims based on spurious assertions.

 

I think you’d be hard pushed to find a single Rockets fan that hasn’t been impressed by the steps Harden has made on the defensive end so far this season. We’ve seen him enthusiastically running down opponents, blocking and rebounding as if his life depended on it and generally being defensively more engaged. FIBA really has done him the world of good.

 

I’m not saying he’s MVP worthy yet, but the lazy, ignorant journalism exemplified in this article shows what he is really up against if he even wants to be considered. Screw the “narrative” and make your own mind up. The good news for Rockets fans, of course, is that we get to enjoy the show as he attempts to prove his critics wrong.

 

Welcome to the forum, DenverRocket.  I see you share my disdain for the national media.  It is a capitalist endeavor and has become useless except to spoon feed the small-minded with their own idealogical excrement.  (is that too graphic?)  

 

So many writers these days are just wordsmiths who crank out story quotas and contractual obligations from the local Starbucks while trying to flirt with every girl in yoga pants that is unfortunate enough to catch their eye.  Why do research when you can maximize your popularity by regurgitating the popular opinions found on the internet right back to the internet?  It's easy money.  Ugh, I'm getting twitchy just thinking about it.  

 

I try to ignore it, but curiosity gets the best of me and then I remember why I try to ignore it.    

 

Well, hope to see you around.  All things considered, this is a pretty good place to talk Rockets and B-Ball in general. 

[marbony81110]

I still think Howard is our MVP. I can't give it to Harden yet. He can prove me wrong by continuing putting forth effort and improving. He's looked much better this year so far.

If anyone is the MVP of the team it is Harden so far this year and it isn't even close in my opinion. He is the reason the offense is clicking. Howard is always going to be the defensive anchor, but as we saw last year he can't do it himself. Harden has been the perfect conductor for the symphony that is the Rockets offense. His defense has been very good, especially in transition. He still needs to play this way consistently, but as of 7 November 2014 Harden is the clear MVP of this Rockets squad.

[txtdo1411]

It's silly that they're even asking this question. Is the guy who finished 5th last year in MVP voting an MVP candidate? Uhhhhhh duh. Unless he somehow regressed significantly the answer, by default, is yes. I love the guy that puts ridiculous stipulations for Harden to win the MVP, and then proceeds to say he still can't win it because he doesn't play D. Gotta love modern day "journalism" (if you can even call it that anymore). 

[thejohnnygold]

For your viewing pleasure...

 

[thejohnnygold]

The internet is fun and amazing.  This should be used for Harden's MVP campaign.

 

[Steven]

@JG tell us how you really feel about the national media.

[thejohnnygold]

@JG tell us how you really feel about the national media.

 

If I did that I would single-handedly drag the entirety of this website, forum, and all its' members down to a level so low we'd all burn for it.  In the aftermath, all anyone would see is Dennis Leary standing over our flaming carcasses grinning, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, nodding approvingly.

 

[Sir Thursday]

As I said before when Rahat brought up the possibility of Harden for MVP - reputations do not change overnight. Defence is not something you can see from the box score, so a lot of people, even experienced NBA watchers, lean heavily on pre-existing perceptions when evaluating a player on that end of the court. Even if he deserves it, there is next to no chance Harden is getting the MVP this year. There's simply too much inertia behind the idea that he's a poor defender for it to be shifted in the minds of enough people with a ballot before the end of the season.

 

The only scenario in which I could see it happening would be if the Rockets posted a ridiculous win total in the regular season - say 60+ games and top seed in the West. That's the sort of thing that forces writers to watch Rockets games and figure out why they're doing so well, and that's the point where there'll start to be enough positive press about Harden to give him a shot. But I'm not quite at the stage where I think that's in play.

 

ST

[Red94]

I think, as with anything, there's a considerable lag between conventional wisdom and reality.  Defensive reputation moreso than other things, as Sir Thursday said, because it can't be seen in the box score.  The narrative won't completely shift until he does it in the postseason because that's when everyone is watching.  Right now, national writers are just regurgitating the same talking points they've had from a year ago because of efficiency - they don't have the capacity to watch Rockets games.

[Losthief]

he's second on the nba.com mvp watch this week behind anthony davis...so there's that.

[thejohnnygold]

He is also currently sitting at #1 on ESPN's fantasy player rater...whatever that is worth 

[Red94]

New post: James Harden MVP Watch
By: Rahat Huq

NBA.com's Blogtable last week tossed around the idea of James Harden for MVP, a bandwagon I have been at the head of for the past two weeks.  But as I've mentioned for some time, as with most things, there is something of a lag between the time when conventional wisdom has caught up with truth and reality.  Take a look at one of the responses, for instance:

Quote:

Seriously? Just because a guy looks into a camera and says something preposterous we don’t have to legitimize it here. He could win the scoring title this season and that still won’t make him the MVP, not on my ballot. My MVP has to impact the game in more than just on facet. He’s an offensive juggernaut, an absolute scoring machine. I’m a huge fan of that part of his game. But he’s deficient on the other end to the point that it takes away from his overall value. The MVP of the league has to be a more complete player than Harden is right now.

Harden, of course, as those of us who have been watching him night in and night out, has stepped it up considerably on defense, this season, a big reason why the team is off to such a stellar start.  But it won't matter unless the Rockets win enough games for people to actually...watch their games.

I don't think an MVP bid is out of the question.  He finished fifth last year amidst all of the negativity surrounding his play.  If he continues scoring at his current rate, and the Rockets finish at the top of the standings, I'd give him as good a shot as anyone.

[thenit]

Harden probably will lose some votes to Dwight.

Also the pelicans has the best 3 man rotation for a frontcourt. The brow is already the best Big in the game and might be the MVP this year. 

5th in scoring 1st in rebound and block. Tops the PER with 35+  and elite rim protector. 

[Buckko]

AD won't be the MVP, because his team will have a massive challenge of just making the playoffs.

[thenit]

He will be a contender if they make the playoffs and I don't think it's a massive challenge with injuries to OKC.
I also don't think Pho is better than NO. Only thing that will be against them is that they are I. The toughest div in basketball. I can see all five team finish above 500 this season which is scary.

Edited by thenit, 12 November 2014 - 05:24 AM.