Harden really needs a stand out performance in this year's playoffs..No excuse

Yup, agreed! He did good during the 2015 post-season, but not great. It's time to elevate his game, lock in defensively and indeed tone down the sloppiness and drop the laziness.

 

Lol it's like you guys only remember bad games. Do you not remember game 1 and 2 vs gsw in 15 for instance?

Lol people are laughable. He's had plenty of playoff performances. More than he's had duds.

 

Did I or OP say bad? He specifically states Harden does not elevate his game, so it's the same as in the regular season. You could argue less than his usual performance. I think we can all agree it's pretty much the same as the regular season. Wouldn't say it's worse, except for a few games here and there but that's expected.

 

Man, in 2015 against the Warriors, for 4 of those games, he was about as dominant as a player can possibly be. He DESTROYED Klay.

I think for the Rockets to be successful he actually needs to take a step back and just move the ball. We need guys like Ryno, Gordon, Lou and Nene to step up big. Let our depth do what it does.

 

its very easy to elevate your game if your not double triple quadruple teamed all the time and his teammates are playing either the same or worse than the reg season

rockets don't have multiple double teamed stars like gsw, spus, cavs, and celts

 

Good luck imposing your will on Golden State this year. What ends up happening is a Kobe-esque 7-34 from the field. To beat a team like that we need Harden to take a step back from controlling the action, IMO. Gotta let guys like Gordon and Lou create to give the offense diversity, similar to how Steph is heavily decoyed to open up Klay, Durant, Draymond. Reminds me of those Kobe vs Phoenix games. Kobe realized that he could not take over and impose his will, because those Suns team would run up the score. You have to play a total team game to beat them.

 

So act and yell and scream like Westbrook? Got it

OP with referencing sloppy play. He has elevated his play. Mixed in with average games. And a few bad games.

 

Dude that game winner against mavs game 3 also! Or his triple double in game 5 vs clippers

Some on this board are worse than the media when it comes to harden stereotypes

 

Oh there is plenty of games I just cited 2 because that's what popped into my memory first.

And your right about the board, but you have to remember this board is the reason the media has the Harden stereotype. This board created the low-light video. This board doesn't appreciate him.

And by board I don't mean all of us, just referencing this community, where a lot of his hate has gathered.

 

people can act like harden's playoff resume is fine, and they will (referencing the GSW games) but he still needs to be better in the playoffs as a whole. It's undeniable. Since you all cherry picked a few games, i'll cherry pick one that sticks out in my memory. Game 6, LAC.

 

i still remember how harden got shut down by Wesley in the portland series...... and how LA destroyed terrance jones.....

 

I think Ryno, Gordon and Lou are our combined second option.

Capela, Nene, Ariza and Bev being our 3rd option

If they suck then James Harden's gaudy stats won't matter. Ryno and Gordon have not been to the Playoffs for some time.

 

Game 6 against boston in 2010 lebron james.

Game 4-6 against warriors westbrook

Game 7 vs cleveland steph curry


All star players have good and bad games in the playoffs. As a whole hardens playoff averages are good and worthy of star player status.

Why is it more logical to cherry pick bad games rather then cherry picking good games?

So many of your posts only talk about glass half empty view points of the rockets. Good games and good performances have existed too...

 

Most NBA fans cherry pick...and that's why Westbrook and Curry too are treated as playoff chokers as well with their performances last year and will continue to do so unless they have an elite clutch playoff performance this year. Same goes for Harden, to get respect from the average fan, can't have another Lebron 2010 Game 6 vs Boston-esque moment but a Lebron 2012 Game 6 vs Boston moment to really elevate his status

 

It's great when Harden gets pumped up.

 

I understand it wont change unless he wins a chip. Kinda like dirks reputation didnt change till 2011

I just wish that clutchfans gave him the benefit of the doubt. No matter what happens Harden has proven he can ball. We have a generational talent. Enjoy the moment and appreciate him while hes in his prime balling for us

 

Harden already gets the respect that he deserves. He's already being considered for MVP. That's a lot of respect.

If Harden played better defense, and didn't focus so much on getting the cheap fouls, then he would get even more respect. The two complaints I hear over and over again about Harden Is lack of effort on defense, and he's always looking for the cheap foul.

 

What's with you and whining about the way people post?

Here I'll fix it for you.

Harden will dominate this series. 4-0 sweep. He's the best. He doesn't need to do any better than he has done previously in the playoffs.

LETS GO ROCKETS! WOOOOOO