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

[iamgine]

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?

[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

[JT123]

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. :facepalm 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.

[dubeta]

Durant can't even maintain his regular season free throw percentages. :facepalm 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.

:applause:


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


https://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/851934542.gif

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view7/20140601/5045575/lance-stephenson-blowing-on-kevin-durant-o.gif

[L.A. Jazz]

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.

[bdreason]

Refs swallow their whistles come playoff time.

[Milbuck]

:oldlol:

[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.

[swagga]

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.

[UK2K]

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

[SmackOrH.A.K]

The Rockets team half court offense choked in the playoffs

[Akhenaten]

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.

[sundizz]

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.

[Lebron23]

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

[Demitri98]

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.

[KungFuJoe]

I don't know about refs swallowing their whistles. He seemed to get the same amount of calls on drives as during the regular season.

Teams game planning for him? You think they DON'T gameplan for him during the RS?

I think he just chokes. Come playoff time, he takes a dump. Pressure gets to him and he can't handle it.

He was plain TIMID against Portland. Wes Matthews got in his head and mind****ed him. I know Matthews is a respectable defender but Harden barely was even able to drive on him. His midrange and 3 were shit and he was rendered useless. Someone needs to put up that gif of him with the ball with the clock running down and he has no plan or anywhere to go.

That was pretty much him in a nutshell for the series overall. Choked, shot wasn't falling and he had no plan B.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Playoff Basketball:

- Refs swallow their whistles, more physicality
- More prepared, executed defensive gameplans
- No wide open, uncontested 3 pointers
- No easy baskets at the rim
- Slower pace, more half court play
- Mid Range becomes valuable
- Post Game becomes valuable

All of this is KRYPTONITE to Harden. As well as playoff series spending multiple nights in states with quality strip clubs. Like Miami.

[brantonli]

Game slows down, the Trailblazers game planned to give Harden decent looks at the midrange, which he isn't used to taking, so he continues to focus on driving into the lane when the big man is already expecting it.

[mehyaM24]

All of this is KRYPTONITE to Harden. As well as playoff series spending multiple nights in states with quality strip clubs. Like Miami.

i wasnt aware you actually knew james harden personally? do you guys chat it up regularly?

[UK2K]

Playoff Basketball:

- Refs swallow their whistles, more physicality
- More prepared, executed defensive gameplans
- No wide open, uncontested 3 pointers
- No easy baskets at the rim
- Slower pace, more half court play
- Mid Range becomes valuable
- Post Game becomes valuable

All of this is KRYPTONITE to Harden. As well as playoff series spending multiple nights in states with quality strip clubs. Like Miami.
Harden shot 40% from 3-10 feet and 46% from 10-16ft.

If anything the mid range shot is one of his best.

[Akhenaten]

Harden shot 40% from 3-10 feet and 46% from 10-16ft.

If anything the mid range shot is one of his best.

How many attempts and what percentage of his total FGA were from those ranges?

[imdaman99]

I saw Harden shooting too many 3s in the playoffs. He needs to cut that out, and take more midrange shots. I know he had a decent % too from midrange, but no more 3-11 on 3s in the playoffs. Frankly I got tired of seeing that.

Now that the whole world hates Harden, I catch myself rooting for him more and more. And I didn't much like him because of his defense.

[iamgine]

I notice LA Clippers has always been able to shut down Harden. Not just limit but plain shut him down. To consistently shut down a star is definitely not easy. What do they do right?

[Haymaker]

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.

This.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2kOuBQHUrY

What is frustrating is that we all know he's a great passer and above average playmaker. He could be averaging like 20/5/9 if he wanted to. But instead he chooses to chuck away the game.