why is harden the only guy putting up multiple 50+ games in this weak, no defense era

[bison]

Athletic freaks like giannis and lebron should be averaging 40 ppg in this era. Steph and kd should be dropping 35 a night. 7ft point guards like embiid should be averaging a triple double.

We should have at least 10 dudes averaging more than 30 points a game in this rigged era. Yet...only James harden the only dude averaging more than 30? 05-06 had 3 guys above 30 ppg in the supposedly

[keep-itreal]

http://66.media.tumblr.com/1b956257cca0e13a63974809e40626c3/tumblr_mii92usqzM1rqz0e5o1_400.gif

[Patrick Chewing]

Why can't Lebron do this??

[bison]

Why can't Lebron do this??

Good question.

[LoneyROY7]

Biggest PPG gap between #1 and #2 since 1989 and f*cking MJ.

This ain't about any no defense era. It's about Harden being that damn good.

[warriorfan]

Hate it or love it Harden has figured out how to exploit the modern NBA like no one else can. He deserves credit.

[Mr.GOAT2408]

Most guys aren't in a situation where they could average these numbers, even Harden is mostly doing this because of the situation he was in earlier in the season. There's literally no reason for Curry/KD and George/Westbrook to go off like this, although Westbrook has definitely tried to in the past :roll:

Giannis dominates too much on both ends which means his teams often blows the other team out but he could easily average this if his team needed him too while also contributing in all facets of the game

LeBron is done, way past his prime albeit still a top 10-15 NBA player. At his best he could definitely average 35+ on this team, hell he basically did that in last year's playoffs, but now? Well, we just saw "playoff mode" activated and he's just not that guy anymore :lol

[hold this L]

[QUOTE=bison]Athletic freaks like giannis and lebron should be averaging 40 ppg in this era. Steph and kd should be dropping 35 a night. 7ft point guards like embiid should be averaging a triple double.

We should have at least 10 dudes averaging more than 30 points a game in this rigged era. Yet...only James harden the only dude averaging more than 30? 05-06 had 3 guys above 30 ppg in the supposedly

[Manny98]

Biggest PPG gap between #1 and #2 since 1989 and f*cking MJ.

This ain't about any no defense era. It's about Harden being that damn good.
Harden is the only player that goes 110% in the regular season

That playoff dropoff going to look bad this year

[Manny98]

Why can't Lebron do this??
:rolleyes:

[Elosha]

Nobody scores at the level of Harden in any era of the NBA without consummate offensive skill. Credit where it is due, Harden has developed into one of the most explosive scorers in NBA history, on top of still providing massive amounts of assists and strong rebounding from SG position. :cheers:

Context matters here. His numbers would probably still be spectacular, but reduced in practically any other era of the NBA. His game is tailor-made and adapted for this era - whatever one may think of the rules, defensive effort, etc. of today's era.

Regardless of the era, one can't cheat or take short cuts in spectacular three point shooting, great handles and strong finishing ability (helped out of course by little resistance at the rim in today's era).

The REAL question is whether Harden can do anything noteworthy in the playoffs, where in the past his great numbers diminish. This is a legit knock on him, he's never demonstrated a consistent ability to play at an ATG level in the playoffs, where it really counts. Will this season be different? Houston may end up being the Warriors' greatest challenge this season, as I don't think whoever comes of the the East will have the experience to take down GS. But it will depend on whether Harden can play great in the playoffs or falls off.

[RoseCity07]

Because most players that score 30-40 points through three quarters sit during the 4th. Harden statpads in the 4th or needs to score a lot because his team is losing.

[beastee]

Because AAU does not teach true fundamentals and bad habits stay with players. 3-6 players really should average over 35 ppg if they had true offensive skillsets. Stepbacks and pull up chucking leads to high volume attempts but low IQ ball.

[Elosha]

Because AAU does not teach true fundamentals and bad habits stay with players. 3-6 players really should average over 35 ppg if they had true offensive skillsets. Stepbacks and pull up chucking leads to high volume attempts but low IQ ball.

I agree with you that Harden's offensive repertoire has critical gaps in it. He's not all that comfortable in pull up's, post ups. However, he does have a very good floater, excellent finisher, crossover's, eurosteps, etc. In general, he's a great shooter, both from threes and at the FT line (and we all know what he does to draw fouls). What he does, he does extremely well.

The question is whether he's too much of a specialist. The truly greatest perimeter scorers really had no glaring weaknesses, meaning they were either great, or at least solid at every phase of scoring. Harden has shown in past playoffs that if you pressure him hard on the perimeter and contest his shots vigorously at the rim, (and one can't also overlook the mental stress iin the playoffs, which Harden has also not handled all that well), his numbers can be contained and his efficiency dramatically drops, while turnovers skyrocket. Will this year be different? :confusedshrug: We'll know soon enough.

[egokiller]

Nobody scores at the level of Harden in any era of the NBA without consummate offensive skill. Credit where it is due, Harden has developed into one of the most explosive scorers in NBA history, on top of still providing massive amounts of assists and strong rebounding from SG position. :cheers:

Context matters here. His numbers would probably still be spectacular, but reduced in practically any other era of the NBA. His game is tailor-made and adapted for this era - whatever one may think of the rules, defensive effort, etc. of today's era.

Regardless of the era, one can't cheat or take short cuts in spectacular three point shooting, great handles and strong finishing ability (helped out of course by little resistance at the rim in today's era).

The REAL question is whether Harden can do anything noteworthy in the playoffs, where in the past his great numbers diminish. This is a legit knock on him, he's never demonstrated a consistent ability to play at an ATG level in the playoffs, where it really counts. Will this season be different? Houston may end up being the Warriors' greatest challenge this season, as I don't think whoever comes of the the East will have the experience to take down GS. But it will depend on whether Harden can play great in the playoffs or falls off.

Solid post but one can look at what Harden does, combine it with MJ's willingness to win at all costs, and easily conclude that if MJ played in today's game he'd drop 50 a night.

[sd3035]

More free throws than anyone and 5 more field goal attempts per game than the next closest guy


He's just taking more shots but it seems to be working for the Rockets

[hold this L]

I agree with you that Harden's offensive repertoire has critical gaps in it. He's not all that comfortable in pull up's, post ups. However, he does have a very good floater, excellent finisher, crossover's, eurosteps, etc. In general, he's a great shooter, both from threes and at the FT line (and we all know what he does to draw fouls). What he does, he does extremely well.

The question is whether he's too much of a specialist. The truly greatest perimeter scorers really had no glaring weaknesses, meaning they were either great, or at least solid at every phase of scoring. Harden has shown in past playoffs that if you pressure him hard on the perimeter and contest his shots vigorously at the rim, (and one can't also overlook the mental stress iin the playoffs, which Harden has also not handled all that well), his numbers can be contained and his efficiency dramatically drops, while turnovers skyrocket. Will this year be different? :confusedshrug: We'll know soon enough.
Harden is not a great 3 point shooter, he's just a high volume 3 point shooter. There's a massive distinction.

He's averaging 36.3% from 3 this year.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hardeja01.html

The average from the entire league is 35.5%
https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats_per_game.html

He can't even shoot a full 1% higher than league average.

[broy_mvp]

uh he is chucking more than anybody else, of course he is going to score more.

[PeroAntic]

uh he is chucking more than anybody else, of course he is going to score more.
People are trying to make complicated explanations for something that is just this simple.

Harden holds the ball for 99% of the time. Everybody else are bystanders, there to set picks and camp at the 3 point line to give him space. When defenders give you space because they know if they get closer you will draw the nonexistent foul like the flopping piece of shit you are, its easy to score. Add that to the fact that he is just coasting on defense to preserve energy and there is nothing impressive about what Harden is doing.

[Rudeboy3]

People are trying to make complicated explanations for something that is just this simple.

Harden holds the ball for 99% of the time. Everybody else are bystanders, there to set picks and camp at the 3 point line to give him space. When defenders give you space because they know if they get closer you will draw the nonexistent foul like the flopping piece of shit you are, its easy to score. Add that to the fact that he is just coasting on defense to preserve energy and there is nothing impressive about what Harden is doing.
elite post :applause:

[LoneyROY7]

elite post :applause:

Your level of shook right-now? All-time high. :oldlol:

[Locked_Up_Tonight]

Leads the league in free throw attempts. Leads the league in field goal attempts. Leads the league in 3 point attempts. It aint rocket surgery.

[LoneyROY7]

Leads the league in free throw attempts. Leads the league in field goal attempts. Leads the league in 3 point attempts. It aint rocket surgery.

It definitely ain't rocket surgery. Because I don't know what the f*ck that is.

:oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

[Locked_Up_Tonight]

It definitely ain't rocket surgery. Because I don't know what the f*ck that is.

:oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

Houston: We have a problem.

(Of at least understanding a joke.)

[LoneyROY7]

Houston: We have a problem.

(Of at least understanding a joke.)

Great joke. :oldlol: :oldlol:

[warriorfan]

Harden is not a great 3 point shooter, he's just a high volume 3 point shooter. There's a massive distinction.

He's averaging 36.3% from 3 this year.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hardeja01.html

The average from the entire league is 35.5%
https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats_per_game.html

He can't even shoot a full 1% higher than league average.

One thing I would keep in mind about this is that Harden attempts a lot of more difficult off the dribble 3

[Rudeboy3]

Your level of shook right-now? All-time high. :oldlol:
stanning a chucker, flopper and playoff chucker. I bet you're Chinese, Yao wouldn't be happy about this

[Spurs m8]

Selfish chucker and free throw raper.

I want to know how a player has so many points and no highlight reel

[LoneyROY7]

stanning a chucker, flopper and playoff chucker. I bet you're Chinese, Yao wouldn't be happy about this

Chinese? That's really what you came up with? :oldlol:

Your hopes and dreams of Giannis hoisting up the MVP crumbling right before your eyes. :( :(

[Poetry]

Hate it or love it Harden has figured out how to exploit the modern NBA like no one else can. He deserves credit.

He's a great player, but in the past you wouldn't be able to get away with this move.

https://i.giphy.com/media/eexyt55mi2onEOF2rW/source.gif

[LoneyROY7]

He's a great player, but in the past you wouldn't be able to get away with this move.

https://i.giphy.com/media/eexyt55mi2onEOF2rW/source.gif

You wouldn't be able to get away with breaking someone's ankles and then shooting a 3? :lol :lol

[Rudeboy3]

Chinese? That's really what you came up with? :oldlol:

Your hopes and dreams of Giannis hoisting up the MVP crumbling right before your eyes. :( :(
Giannis is going to be the MVP i'm not worried. A high volume chucker who's team is going to lose at least 12 more games than last year is not going to win the MVP

[LoneyROY7]

Giannis is going to be the MVP i'm not worried. A high volume chucker who's team is going to lose at least 12 more games than last year is not going to win the MVP

Geez. Reality's gonna smack you HARD in the face.

[Poetry]

You wouldn't be able to get away with breaking someone's ankles and then shooting a 3? :lol :lol

The moonwalk to the 3 point line.

[LoneyROY7]

The moonwalk to the 3 point line.

Uhhh, learn the NBA rulebook champ.

[Poetry]

Uhhh, learn the NBA rulebook champ.

Maybe it's different now, but in the past, once you came to a full stop, you had to establish your pivot and you could only jump up. Walking was not allowed.

[LoneyROY7]

Maybe it's different now, but in the past, once you came to a full stop, you had to establish your pivot and you could only jump up. Walking was not allowed.

You're lost, man. He uses a gather step with the in-between the legs dribble and then does a step-back.

Completely legal move.

[PeroAntic]

That trademark Haren travel:oldlol:

[LoneyROY7]

Zach Zarba, current and 15-year NBA ref, on James Harden's step-back:

"I would ask people to look at when the ball is gathered. Okay, if you look at when the ball is gathered, that pivot foot is not the first step. That is the zero step. So, after that pivot foot, when they step back into a 1, 2, that in the NBA is a legal two-step."

[Rudeboy3]

Geez. Reality's gonna smack you HARD in the face.
the playoffs are going to smack harden hard in the face :lol :lol

[LoneyROY7]

the playoffs are going to smack harden hard in the face :lol :lol

How many playoff series has Giannis won? Because I had heard he had played like 19 games or something.

I'm sure he's won at least a couple, right?

[Poetry]

Zach Zarba, current and 15-year NBA ref, on James Harden's step-back:

"Current" is the important word here.

I've been watching basketball for 30+ years. I'm just saying that in the past that would have been called a travel.

Today it seems to be legal.

[Rudeboy3]

How many playoff series has Giannis won? Because I had heard he had played like 19 games or something.

I'm sure he's won at least a couple, right?
how many rings does harden have? I've heard he's won a couple of playoff series and has even played in the finals, so he should have a couple of rings to his name right?

[LoneyROY7]

"Current" is the important word here.

I've been watching basketball for 30+ years. I'm just saying that in the past that would have been called a travel.

Today it seems to be legal.

As far as I know, that rule has always been in place...it's just no one has attempted the move quite like Harden has. He just happens to be the innovator.

[LoneyROY7]

how many rings does harden have? I've heard he's won a couple of playoff series and has even played in the finals, so he should have a couple of rings to his name right?

19 playoffs games and not a SINGLE series win???

:wtf: :wtf:

[And1AllDay]

Honestly its a good question becos he does exploit free throws but at the same time the guy can ball out. Trouble is we know how he does in the playoffs and I hope this year he is finally over the hump and beats the Warriors azz and makes a Finals appearance for once , yes you can coutn OKC in 2012 I guess :oldlol: but you get what I mean

[And1AllDay]

You wouldn't be able to get away with breaking someone's ankles and then shooting a 3? :lol :lol
Yeah what did he mean by that that was a good play by Harden he has a good combo of strength and speed and handles and dribbles and fakes and passing he does a lot of thing pretty fuggin good not to mention euros and 3-step back step backs :oldlol:

[3ball]

According to kblaze, anyone can do it if they decide to..

having the actual skill to accomplish historic feats has nothing to do with it.. It's just about deciding to do it, and apparently harden was the only guy smart enough to decide to do it

This is all according to kblaze of course

[TheCorporation]

According to kblaze, anyone can do it if they decide to..

having the actual skill to accomplish historic feats has nothing to do with it.. It's just about deciding to do it, and apparently harden was the only guy smart enough to decide to do it

This is all according to kblaze of course

You were missing the context of what he was saying, as you often do behind your MJ rose-colored shades so allow me to help you out in a moment of need.

What KBlaze was saying is that MJ cared about scoring more than others so that's why he did it.

Does LeBron "Care" about a scoring title? And, if LeBron "wanted to" get the scoring title do you think he could?