Welcome James Harden!

[Suwanee]

It's not like the Bucks are world beaters, even with Giannis for years.

[Ferry Avenue]

Nobody is saying you can't predict what's going to happen. Will Harden influence the culture in a bad way over time? Not impossible. But to say that he's already done that in two days, on the sideline no less, is ludicrous at best.

What I'm saying is that the performance last night is entirely consistent with that eventuality.

Again, like Ben said, you've already drawn your conclusion (the eventuality), then you just use any incident that fits your narrative to affirm it.

The problem is that the performance last night does fit it, and to the tune of something so far outside this team's norm that it begs an explanation centering on Harden's arrival and presence.

[zaz102]

What I'm saying is that the performance last night is entirely consistent with that eventuality. If the team would've obtained Giannis for example and he was sitting there on the sideline watching as part of the team for the first time, you can bet the performance would've been vastly different.

What? Why? It could definitely turn sour? But why did they play bad last night just because Harden was there? How would Giannis sitting on the sidelines make a difference?

A low-character guy who jumps from team to team while constantly making noise about being dissatisfied with his surroundings hardly inspires an effort consistent with "showing off" what the team has for him and celebrating his arrival, with a palpable sense of exuberance about what's to come with him as part of the team. That entire dynamic is markedly different with a high-character guy who plays at the same level.

Guess you're still salty that Hield trade you wanted didn't happen, huh

[Ferry Avenue]

What? Why? It could definitely turn sour? But why did they play bad last night just because Harden was there? How would Giannis sitting on the sidelines make a difference?

A low-character guy who jumps from team to team while constantly making noise about being dissatisfied with his surroundings hardly inspires an effort consistent with "showing off" what the team has for him and celebrating his arrival, with a palpable sense of exuberance about what's to come with him as part of the team. That entire dynamic is markedly different with a high-character guy who plays at the same level.

Guess you're still salty that Hield trade you wanted didn't happen, huh

I'm not a fan of Harden. His kind of character doesn't promote a team culture needed to win NBA championships.

I wasn't a fan of Ben Simmons either. His kind of character is similarly inconsistent with such a team culture. Harden will certainly improve upon where Simmons was lacking physically, but the team still won't possess the culture needed to beat the Phoenix Suns for example in the NBA finals.

[zaz102]

A low-character guy who jumps from team to team while constantly making noise about being dissatisfied with his surroundings hardly inspires an effort consistent with "showing off" what the team has for him and celebrating his arrival, with a palpable sense of exuberance about what's to come with him as part of the team. That entire dynamic is markedly different with a high-character guy who plays at the same level.

Guess you're still salty that Hield trade you wanted didn't happen, huh

I'm not a fan of Harden. His kind of character doesn't promote a team culture needed to win NBA championships.

I wasn't a fan of Ben Simmons either. His kind of character is similarly inconsistent with such a team culture. Harden will certainly improve upon where Simmons was lacking physically, but the team still won't possess the culture needed to beat the Phoenix Suns for example in the NBA finals.

Ok, some counterpoints though.

#1: winning a championship is not easy even with great players.

#2: we lost some depth with the trade.

#3: Top players with the top attitudes don't grow on trees.

#4: The fact that we were able to get Harden for Simmons over what some people (i.e. you) thought we would get (i.e. Hield) is a huge step up.

#5: I'll let other people make up their mind, but thinking Giannis over Harden on the bench would had this team play totally different is absolutely ridiculous to me. I think either way they were excited. Ironically, people similar things about the Suns top players you mentioned btw

Is the team or Harden perfect? No? Do most people here think we will win the championship this year? Probably not. But at least they're in the hunt and I think it's extra weird how critical you are when you thought trading Simmons for Hield would make them a lot better.

[DHM]

They must not look at the standings in Boston? Sure, it was a disappointing loss but one thing to keep in mind is Philadelphia has the best player in the NBA, and another top 10 player in the NBA. Talent wins in the playoffs. Boston does not even have a top 10 player on its roster lol we have 2. Lol Guess who’s going to win if they meet in the playoffs.

These trolls that go on others teams boards to brag about a February “big win” should be banned from that teams forum. Really rather pathetic.

[Stanford]

They must not look at the standings in Boston? Sure, it was a disappointing loss but one thing to keep in mind is Philadelphia has the best player in the NBA, and another top 10 player in the NBA. Talent wins in the playoffs. Boston does not even have a top 10 player on its roster lol we have 2. Lol Guess who’s going to win if they meet in the playoffs.

These trolls that go on others teams boards to brag about a February “big win” should be banned from that teams forum. Really rather pathetic.

Regular season doesn't mean ****. Who cares. They would beat us in the playoffs because obviously they would.

[mjkvol]

The nature and timing of the loss last night doesn't augur well for this team's success with Harden. You have to wonder how a team that finally unburdened itself of the Simmons drama and acquired one of the best players in the league could go out and be so thoroughly dominated with that player watching on the sidelines as part of the team for the first time. I think that speaks to the fact that Harden isn't really a winner and doesn't contribute to creating a winning culture on the teams he plays for. Consequently it's easy to go out and lay an egg with Harden watching -- playing in that way isn't inconsistent with the team culture Harden helps create. They'll likely have no better character with him on the floor either. They'll certainly play better, but they won't have a winning culture or a winning edge against the best teams in the league, teams that do have that culture and that edge.

Very well done, but not very imaginative. This has to be right out of Trolling 101.

I don't troll. I have better things to do. Go back and look through my post history. I predicted about mid-season last year that this team would lose in the playoffs because of Ben Simmons, that his lackluster effort would undermine the team and that opposing teams would foul him on purpose and put him on the FT line where he would lose games. Some folks thought I was "trolling" then as well -- not so of course.

That doesn't mean I'm always right about everything. But I'll bet I have my finger on this team's pulse far better than the average person.

Okay, you're not a troll, just self important
and in this case delusional. To draw a conclusion based on one game is nothing short of asinine.

Could you be "right" in the long term? Sure, anything is possible with all the egos involved in pro sports, but to suggest such a silly thing based on one game with Harden not even in the lineup and claim to somehow have "your finger on the pulse of the team"?

Maybe not a troll, but certainly delusional.

[DHM]

They must not look at the standings in Boston? Sure, it was a disappointing loss but one thing to keep in mind is Philadelphia has the best player in the NBA, and another top 10 player in the NBA. Talent wins in the playoffs. Boston does not even have a top 10 player on its roster lol we have 2. Lol Guess who’s going to win if they meet in the playoffs.

These trolls that go on others teams boards to brag about a February “big win” should be banned from that teams forum. Really rather pathetic.

Regular season doesn't mean ****. Who cares. They would beat us in the playoffs because obviously they would.

I don’t think so We have the best player in the NBA and another at the top 10 player Boston does not even have a top 15 player in the NBA.

[Sixerscan]

Blaming Harden going to a few practices and sitting on the bench for whatever the heck happened last night is letting the rest of the guys off the hook. Maybe they got distracted by the spectacle of the trade or whatever but that's not on Harden.

[DHM]

Blaming Harden going to a few practices and sitting on the bench for whatever the heck happened last night is letting the rest of the guys off the hook. Maybe they got distracted by the spectacle of the trade or whatever but that's not on Harden.

Just not in the right frame of mind with everything going on

[Sixerscan]

Also if you want to say Harden hasn't won a ring and it has a lot to do with him, fair enough, but this was a regular season game last night and his record during the regular season over the past decade is about a strong as anyone over that period. Projecting.

[DHM]

Also if you want to say Harden hasn't won a ring and it has a lot to do with him, fair enough, but this was a regular season game last night and his record during the regular season over the past decade is about a strong as anyone over that period. Projecting.

If Chris Paul hadn’t blown a hammy in that one GS series Houston wins the title

[DHM]

I think we are likely in championship mode next year. Morey will do his usual genius tweaking this summer and this team will be around the 55 to 60 win totals.

[Ferry Avenue]

Very well done, but not very imaginative. This has to be right out of Trolling 101.

I don't troll. I have better things to do. Go back and look through my post history. I predicted about mid-season last year that this team would lose in the playoffs because of Ben Simmons, that his lackluster effort would undermine the team and that opposing teams would foul him on purpose and put him on the FT line where he would lose games. Some folks thought I was "trolling" then as well -- not so of course.

That doesn't mean I'm always right about everything. But I'll bet I have my finger on this team's pulse far better than the average person.

Okay, you're not a troll, just self important
and in this case delusional. To draw a conclusion based on one game is nothing short of asinine.

Could you be "right" in the long term? Sure, anything is possible with all the egos involved in pro sports, but to suggest such a silly thing based on one game with Harden not even in the lineup and claim to somehow have "your finger on the pulse of the team"?

Maybe not a troll, but certainly delusional.

There is nothing delusional whatsoever about it. Harden is low-character, the team will likely have a culture insufficient for a championship with him as one of its centerpieces, and the game last night was highly consistent with that notion, as it featured a performance about 5 standard deviations below the team's norm with his being a part of it for the first time.

[DHM]

I don't troll. I have better things to do. Go back and look through my post history. I predicted about mid-season last year that this team would lose in the playoffs because of Ben Simmons, that his lackluster effort would undermine the team and that opposing teams would foul him on purpose and put him on the FT line where he would lose games. Some folks thought I was "trolling" then as well -- not so of course.

That doesn't mean I'm always right about everything. But I'll bet I have my finger on this team's pulse far better than the average person.

Okay, you're not a troll, just self important
and in this case delusional. To draw a conclusion based on one game is nothing short of asinine.

Could you be "right" in the long term? Sure, anything is possible with all the egos involved in pro sports, but to suggest such a silly thing based on one game with Harden not even in the lineup and claim to somehow have "your finger on the pulse of the team"?

Maybe not a troll, but certainly delusional.

There is nothing delusional whatsoever about it. Harden is low-character, the team will likely have a culture insufficient for a championship with him as one of its centerpieces, and the game last night was highly consistent with that notion, as it featured a performance about 5 standard deviations below the team's norm with his being a part of it for the first time.

Got it all figured out after one game huh? Lol

Do you know what a fool you are making out of yourself?

Get back to work if you have a job. Lll

[Ferry Avenue]

Okay, you're not a troll, just self important
and in this case delusional. To draw a conclusion based on one game is nothing short of asinine.

Could you be "right" in the long term? Sure, anything is possible with all the egos involved in pro sports, but to suggest such a silly thing based on one game with Harden not even in the lineup and claim to somehow have "your finger on the pulse of the team"?

Maybe not a troll, but certainly delusional.

There is nothing delusional whatsoever about it. Harden is low-character, the team will likely have a culture insufficient for a championship with him as one of its centerpieces, and the game last night was highly consistent with that notion, as it featured a performance about 5 standard deviations below the team's norm with his being a part of it for the first time.

Got it all figured out after one game huh? Lol

Do you know what a fool you are making out of yourself?

Get back to work if you have a job. Lll

I know I'm talking to people who desperately want to see this team turn a corner toward a championship with Harden's arrival. That I know.

[zaz102]

There is nothing delusional whatsoever about it. Harden is low-character, the team will likely have a culture insufficient for a championship with him as one of its centerpieces, and the game last night was highly consistent with that notion, as it featured a performance about 5 standard deviations below the team's norm with his being a part of it for the first time.

Got it all figured out after one game huh? Lol

Do you know what a fool you are making out of yourself?

Get back to work if you have a job. Lll

I know I'm talking to people who desperately want to see this team turn a corner toward a championship with Harden's arrival. That I know.

No crap, but what you're saying is still delusional. Look at the record of Hardens Rockets team if you want evidence against your theory.

Nobody is saying it can't go bad or their guaranteed a championship, but your comments are ridiculous.

[HardenGoat]

The only thing it showed was they need a player like James Harden on the court and not on the sideline. Also showed they need to build with him moving forward and win games together. I have seen Harden haters and this one takes the cake.

[HardenGoat]

I don't troll. I have better things to do. Go back and look through my post history. I predicted about mid-season last year that this team would lose in the playoffs because of Ben Simmons, that his lackluster effort would undermine the team and that opposing teams would foul him on purpose and put him on the FT line where he would lose games. Some folks thought I was "trolling" then as well -- not so of course.

That doesn't mean I'm always right about everything. But I'll bet I have my finger on this team's pulse far better than the average person.

Okay, you're not a troll, just self important
and in this case delusional. To draw a conclusion based on one game is nothing short of asinine.

Could you be "right" in the long term? Sure, anything is possible with all the egos involved in pro sports, but to suggest such a silly thing based on one game with Harden not even in the lineup and claim to somehow have "your finger on the pulse of the team"?

Maybe not a troll, but certainly delusional.

There is nothing delusional whatsoever about it. Harden is low-character, the team will likely have a culture insufficient for a championship with him as one of its centerpieces, and the game last night was highly consistent with that notion, as it featured a performance about 5 standard deviations below the team's norm with his being a part of it for the first time.

What you are doing is blowing shade to the entire organization including the coaches and GM. You are blaming Harden for past failures and not giving him any credit for past successes. That is the definition of a hater. One player is not responsible for these things. Can we at least agree on a couple points though. Was Morey not responsible for building a 65 win team that became the only legitimate threat against the dynastic Warriors? Did Harden win MVP that year? Did Tillman Fertitta have any influence in the dismantling of that? If so why try to blame Harden or not give him any credit due. You are predicting that Harden will have a negative affect on this club at least at the championship level. Why would a GM like Morey sacrifice and wait so long to get him? Morey has the exact opposite view you do. I beg the question to everyone reading this, who would you trust here?