Post#156 » by TrueLAfan » Wed Aug 16, 2023 2:57 pm
I’ll give my opinion—which, in this case, may actually be the team opinion here. I don’t think we hear or heard much from the Clippers or Sixers about offers for Harden because … I don’t think we want him that much.
I get it that having Harden would be helpful because he is, in fact, still a very good player. But he isn’t a great player any more. His decline on offense has been obvious and continual. He simply lacks the speed and quicks to get by defenders-speed that he had at 27 and 30, but doesn’t have now. It makes his already questionable defense more of a problem—to be fair, Harden was never as bad as his detractors have said on that end, but he’s lacking the speed that he would (occasionally) utilize on occasion on that end now. His playoff play has almost always dropped relative to his regular season play, and the decline in the RS has also occurred in the playoffs. He started from a high point, but that point has been dropping. So … still a very good player, but not great. Still very skilled, but the skills and ability are both declining.
That’s the on-court stuff. Off court, his conditioning is questionable. His commitment does not always seem to be 100%. He’s not a team leader type. His effort is spottier now. Yes, he absolutely had two games where he carried Philly in the Boston series last year…but he had four games in that series where he was bad to abysmal—and, more to the point, where it looked like he kinda gave up. Game 6 and game 7—especially the second halfs of those games—were embarrassing. Again. I get it that the Sixers as a whole looked bad—but you’re James Harden. You’re a team leader. I get some people see Harden as a difference maker. but I think you need to look at all the stuff I just noted. He doesn’t move the needle nearly as much now, especially in the postseason.
I think Morey dealt Harden dirty in their contract talks. I don’t blame Harden for being pissed. I just don’t want him for our team. If PG and Kawhi are healthy, I think we need role players to step up or get traded for to make us title competitive. If either or both of PG and Kawhi are out, I don’t see Harden as enough of a difference maker to help a whole lot. I don’t think we want him that much.
