23 replies to this topic

[adonneus]

Like I said before those comments only concerned me due to the fact that the following night he defered the pressure by not taking the last shot or attempting to even make a play. I have to admit that I also have last yrs playoffs in my mind as well, where I witnessed as did the rest of us witness James harden not show up when the pressure grew. People can argue that Portland had a great scheme to defend him, but with the eye test he didn't even look like he wanted to fight at times.

 

Concerning this, I think that the bad last play against Toronto was just a poorly-drawn-up play. Everything went wrong in that play. And I don't think we can have James take the shot in 100% of those situations. Maybe 70%, but once in a while, it needs to be someone else or else defending it will be too easy. And last year's playoffs were a LONG time ago, and before Team USA. I think it's safe to say that Harden is a much different person and a much better leader than he was then. I don't have any reason to believe Harden will suddenly lose all of the obvious and immense leadership growth he has made in the past year.

[thejohnnygold]

@johnnygold


"It all relies on him"-James harden


Let me say this James Harden has been terrific this season. He has provided everything the rockets have needed, and he has easily been the best player in the league. I have only not watched two games this year and I haven't seen James Harden not accept the pressure when the time came. I have extreme bias towards him, and I have never made any negative comments towards him on any public forum, but I have to call a spade a spade. I personally believe he has grown tremendously in the leadership department, but I still think he is one step away from that next level. I personally have never heard a successful leader use phrases like "it all relies on him" and not be speaking about himself. I'm not saying he should put all the pressure on himself, but that phrase should not be coming from the teams best player and leader. What concerns me the most is the fact that it was said naturally and without hesitation.

Like I said before those comments only concerned me due to the fact that the following night he defered the pressure by not taking the last shot or attempting to even make a play. I have to admit that I also have last yrs playoffs in my mind as well, where I witnessed as did the rest of us witness James harden not show up when the pressure grew. People can argue that Portland had a great scheme to defend him, but with the eye test he didn't even look like he wanted to fight at times. I hate to use this word so many times, but during that series he defered to Dwight. I believe this team can win it all no matter who we face, but WE WILL NOT WIN IF JAMES HARDEN ONCE AGAIN "DEFERS". He has to go for the kill!!! He has to want to kill!!! He has to know that he is our killer!!! Lol

 

At this point continuing this is somewhat pointless as you have clearly made up your mind.  I can't tell if there is a cultural disconnect or what is steering your perception the direction it is going, but I just don't see anything akin to what you are taking from this.

 

James Harden knows what his job is.  He also knows that this team needs Dwight Howard on both ends of the court to be at its best and if anyone around here doesn't know that then I am not sure what they've been watching the last two seasons.  Trying to build up a team mate is not weak--it's called leadership.  As Adonneus discussed in his post (good post by the way), James wasn't shirking responsibility or backing away from anything.  He was leading.

 

You pluck that one phrase out of James' interview while discarding the context of the questions he was being asked and everything else he said with it--including that, "yeah, me too" at the end in regards to who was going to carry the team.

 

I just don't think I can say much more without sounding like a bit of a jerk.  We don't agree on any of this and the sad part is if things don't go exactly as you believe they should in the playoffs it will only serve to bolster this perception you have foisted upon James which has little reality to support it.  I question which "successful leaders" you are listening to if you have never heard one build up their team/supporters above themselves.

 

Let's talk about something better.  Dwight Howard, even at whatever percent of 2011 Dwight that we have (will he ever shed that monkey off his back?  Certainly no one thought he would play like that forever, right?), is still one of the best defensive centers in this league, creates space for James on offense, is a release valve on the pick n roll (yes, they do run it people), and can create for himself if need be.  I can count the number of centers in this league who fit that description on one hand.

 

The point is this: it does all rely on him.  Anyone who thinks we are getting to the finals without Dwight is truly an optimist (read: delusional).

 

We aren't getting to the promised land by simply out-gunning the elite of the West.  We will get there by out-scoring them and that will be because of our strong defense and not because James Harden straps some "trucknutz" to his sneakers and calls for a clear out every time down the court.  So much swag, baby!  

 

Step off, role players, James needs to do his thang.

 

[Jatman20]

Fair enough Johnnygold.....you wrote in your last post---we may have to rely the defense of rookie (Johnson and McDaniels)? Did you mean rookie Johnson and Jason Terry?

I haven't looked up Johnsons numbers from 3 point-land yet.....but I did look up Brewer (about 19% with previous team....29% as a Rocket.............
Josh Smith was about 24% as a Piston....34% as a Rocket. Per BasketballReference.com. Both about a 10% increase since joining the Rockets).

McDaniels was shooting about 29% as a 76er from 3.......I wish he could jump 10% points; but not likely. But could he shoot 6% higher.....Bev was shooting about 35% for the season at the 3 point line? My belief is Portland wanted to keep close to Parsons in the playoff series and asked the rest of the Rockets beat them......consistently over a series of games. Troy Daniels was inserted and flew under the Blazers radar; until he hit the 3 consistently. The Blazers then started guarding him closer. This year teams will do the same.....can Brewer, or JSmoove, or The Jet, or D-Mo, or TJ do it over a period of games. Harden learned last year how points in the paint are taken away.....Harden was mugged on every play by Mathews, Mo William, and Batum. Harden has developed the step back jumper (mid-range shot) as a result. Harden can hit the 3 and mid-range.....can the others? They will be open. Troy Daniels shot 40% from three with the RGV Vipers during the season last year.....he shot thru the roof vs the Blazers in a couple of games. Teams in the D-league had a scouting report on Troy. Don't leave him open. Daniels was like the main guy to stop with the Vipers. The question Is can Johnson or McDaniels shine in the spotlight? Harden and D12 (D-Mo/TJ/JSmoove) will get a lot of attention inside.....Johnson,McDaniels,Papanikolaou will get their shots.

Edited by Jatman20, 02 April 2015 - 10:49 PM.

[Jatman20]

Playoffs have become who shoots the three best in a series moves on......inside- out game reigns supreme. Norman Dale of the movie Hoosiers made his players 4 times before shooting the ball. However the Spurs start.....PnR, Weave, double screens up high. It turns into Parker or Ginobli driving the lane where Duncan is lurking. Kicking out to three point shooters. They can all shoot the 3 now (Danny Green/Leonard/Diaw/Patti Mills
/Ginobli/Parker, ect)! Houston Drives the lane with Harden with D12/TJ/D-Mo-JSmoove are lurking. Kick out to a three point shooter (Ariza/Jet/D-Mo/
Harden//Brewer/JSmoove//TJ). Are the Spurs 3 point shooters better? .....maybe. But on any given series? It's all the same S&@t; different cow!!
The end result remains the same. Who makes their 3's? Tony Parker was tearing up the Heat in the finals two years ago.....then LeBron started guarding Parker.
Parker would get past LeBron; but LeBron would catch up to the ball on the way up.......slapped it into the backboard, as LeBron would block the PG's shot. Heat won the championship. Sometimes it takes thinking outside the box to win a series also. Not saying KJ is LeBron......just saying KJ is athletic. Ultimately it's who makes their 3's now-a-days.....but small adjustments can make a difference also.

Edited by Jatman20, 02 April 2015 - 11:53 PM.