Anyone else annoyed by the media-wide character assassination of Harden that's going on?

Heej · Post #1 » by **Heej** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 8:57 pm

Feels like it's so clear from all the stories and the talking heads coming out that the media in general has taken it upon themselves to try and trash his reputation. Can't tell you how many podcasts I've listened to where whoever's talking starts off with the qualifier, "I consider myself a pro-player but.." and then proceeds to absolutely nuke James Harden. He hasn't exactly been carrying himself the way you would want a superstar to act but seriously every article and segment on the dude just has to be some kind of hit piece? Every media member is out there trying to get their digs in too. It's definitely not out of the ordinary for the same talking points to be repeated but this time it just feels so concerted and kinda corny tbh

Marrrcuss · Post #2 » by **Marrrcuss** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:01 pm

I was annoyed with it before the most recent stuff.

As is my track record, i think he compares favorably to Steph in many ways, but people used to bring up his defense as if Steph actually played defense than a random high schooler. I think the media has always been highly critical of him.

The difference is, now he appears to be earning every bit of the criticism.

Edrees · Post #3 » by **Edrees** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:02 pm

They have nothing to talk about right now and it's the only story with a buzz. It's pre season. It'll probably go away once the season starts. I find this whole thing to be a non story.

And I don't even like harden on the court. But off the court, which is what these articles are attacking, his actually personality I don't have any problem with him. I wish the media would focus more on his flopping and "play to draw fouls" playstyle instead and write a bunch of hit pieces about that stuff instead. As a non Rockets fan, I don't care about the stuff they are talking about and have no idea if any of it's true.

JimmyPlopper · Post #4 » by **JimmyPlopper** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:02 pm

I expect it and I ignore it. Slides right off.

skones · Post #5 » by **skones** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:05 pm

Houston wants to keep him, he's being a sad sack after being doted on, they're trying to scare teams off. To be honest, with Wall and Cousins in the fold, he might be looking at one of his more well rounded squads. Nothing annoys me more than a player demanding moves be made and then bitching out when the move that guy wanted didn't work out.

Jabroni Lames · Post #6 » by **Jabroni Lames** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:09 pm

It could be that opposing GMs (e.g. Morey & Marks) are trying to drive the price down.

Or perhaps... hanging out in strip joints while your teammates are practicing isn't a good look?

Post #7 » by **Texas Chuck** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:15 pm

Heej wrote:Feels like it's so clear from all the stories and the talking heads coming out that the media in general has taken it upon themselves to try and trash his reputation. Can't tell you how many podcasts I've listened to where whoever's talking starts off with the qualifier, "I consider myself a pro-player but.." and then proceeds to absolutely nuke James Harden. He hasn't exactly been carrying himself the way you would want a superstar to act but seriously every article and segment on the dude just has to be some kind of hit piece? Every media member is out there trying to get their digs in too. It's definitely not out of the ordinary for the same talking points to be repeated but this time it just feels so concerted and kinda corny tbh

First, not every media member is doing this. At all.

Secondly, they need content. We've moved away from journalism to content. So you need likes and listens and hits. Hot takes sell. This isn't a Harden issue, it's an us issue. Look at this board--interesting quality threads get very little traffic, but post some How come nobody is talking about? thread and it goes on for 30 pages because people thrive on outrage now. Look at all the Lakers fans trying to engineer a narrative that the Lakers are disrespected. It's just nonsense.

Third, he does deserve some legit criticism in how he's handled this, how he's conducted himself for years. We've heard these stories here and there for years. He's always isolated himself from his teammates, he's always expected everything to be catered to him and his preferences both on and off the court. And he's been good enough for Houston to justify it.

We do at times see real hit pieces that aren't fair. Probably a few of those have happened in the past week or two with Harden. But most of the ones I've read or heard on a pod don't cross that line with me.

DoctorX · Post #8 » by **DoctorX** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:16 pm

I don't feel bad for him. He brought all this on himself. I remember reading several years ago of how him and Dwight when they were teammates would refuse to acknowledge their other teammates when eating lunch at the team cafeteria. Supposedly Dwight and Harden would sit at the same table together and wouldn't allow any other teammates to sit with him. Also the way he treated Jeremy Lin rubbed me the wrong way. So I have always thought of him as POS person.

levon · Post #9 » by **levon** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:18 pm

Yes. Tim Macmahon needs to chill out

NZB2323 · Post #10 » by **NZB2323** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:24 pm

Shouldn't a player be criticized for going to strip clubs during a pandemic instead of showing up to training camp on day 1?

Does being pro player mean you can never criticize a player?

Post #11 » by **Texas Chuck** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:24 pm

levon wrote:Yes. Tim Macmahon needs to chill out

Tim Macmahon and his constant IDAF who I tick off is the best thing we have going in NBA media right now and its not even close. You listen to the SW division pressers and its all these real generic, ass-kissing questions and then its Timmy asking legit questions and pressing players/coaches with real follow ups.

He is an absolute treasure.

thebigbird · Post #12 » by **thebigbird** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:33 pm

I don’t like James Harden because I think his style of playing is atrocious, so I don’t mind seeing this at all. But if I’m being unbiased it does seem excessive.

dautjazz · Post #13 » by **dautjazz** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:36 pm

Karate Diop · Post #14 » by **Karate Diop** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:37 pm

We're going to year up for James but people have been assassinating Kyrie and Durant for years despite them both being good guys off the court, and that's okay? Come on brah.

Sublime187 · Post #15 » by **Sublime187** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:41 pm

Well, when you are naive enough to believe that a great athlete equals a great character you are bound to trash them. These are not holy men. We should judge them as basketball players.

And also, people are pissed that he is having a jolly old time and not listening to their masters (government) about an exaggerated flu virus that the media is trying to hype as the next black plague.

Strike: Derailed the thread with COVID misinformation and political commentary.

CumberlandPosey · Post #16 » by **CumberlandPosey** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:43 pm

they build you up and then they tear you down.its a very old game...
besides harden doesnt seem like a guy that cares about such stuff.

levon · Post #17 » by **levon** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:45 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:
levon wrote:Yes. Tim Macmahon needs to chill out

Tim Macmahon and his constant IDAF who I tick off is the best thing we have going in NBA media right now and its not even close. You listen to the SW division pressers and its all these real generic, ass-kissing questions and then its Timmy asking legit questions and pressing players/coaches with real follow ups.

He is an absolute treasure.

I normally enjoy how frank he is and the fact that he's not ignorant and incendiary like so many of the "I say what's on my mind" people are, but this time it's a little much. Before Harden requested a trade, he had a very, very different tone about the Rockets and Harden while still maintaining that Harden's had insane sway. This feels really retaliatory and some of his lines on the Hoop Collective have been a little unprofessional to me. Now Harden is obviously being far more unprofessional. I just don't think that should give people the greenlight to openly **** talk in the media, because that opens the door to giving credence to ridiculous rumors.

Post #18 » by **Texas Chuck** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:50 pm

levon wrote:I normally enjoy how frank he is and the fact that he's not ignorant and incendiary like so many of the "I say what's on my mind" people are, but this time it's a little much. Before Harden requested a trade, he had a very, very different tone about the Rockets and Harden while still maintaining that Harden's had insane sway. This feels really retaliatory and some of his lines on the Hoop Collective have been a little unprofessional to me. Now Harden is obviously being far more unprofessional. I just don't think that should give people the greenlight to openly **** talk in the media, because that opens the door to giving credence to ridiculous rumors.

I haven't listed to that pod, so once I do I'll come back and change my tune if I feel he went too far. But I'd not be surprised if he's hearing people he trusts in the Rocket organization tell him things. He definitely wouldn't just run with a Fertita/Stone story. That would be totally out of character. He's not Woj who sells stories to be first. And considering Silas came from Dallas I'd guess Silas is probably at least one of his sources and you have to think Silas has zero interest in running off his best player.

Post #19 » by **Reeko** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 9:54 pm

Not at all. The Rockets had been bending over backwards to make him happy and now that they've had to switch gears he wants out. If he just wanted out and kept it professional most of this stuff wouldn't be coming out or at least the media would view him in a better light. Instead he's decided to play games by not showing up to training camp on time and partying without a mask during a pandemic. He gets zero sympathy.

xdrta+ · Post #20 » by **xdrta+** » Thu Dec 17, 2020 10:01 pm

Sublime187 wrote:Well, when you are naive enough to believe that a great athlete equals a great character you are bound to trash them. These are not holy men. We should judge them as basketball players.

And also, people are pissed that he is having a jolly old time and not listening to their masters (government) about an exaggerated flu virus that the media is trying to hype as the next black plague.

300,000 Americans would disagree with you. Oh wait, they can't, they're dead.