James Harden is a superstar

[SlobbaN]

Harden got destroyed by Mayo again. OJ locked him down pretty well tonight. Also, Harden doesn't defend Mayo, Chandler and other guys do. I still can't believe Harden got the max deal. Now OJ has every right to ask for max money himself, and I doubt Cuban will pay him...

[Rapcity_11]

Harden got destroyed by Mayo again. OJ locked him down pretty well tonight. Also, Harden doesn't defend Mayo, Chandler and other guys do. I still can't believe Harden got the max deal. Now OJ has every right to ask for max money himself, and I doubt Cuban will pay him...

1. Harden missed A TON of layups which had nothing to do with Mayo.
2. Marion defended Harden a bunch.
3. Why are you equating 26.3/5.4/4.3 on 59.4 TS% to 18.3/3.8/4 on 58.3 TS%?

Oh yeah, you were that guy claiming OJ to be better than Harden.

[Doctor MJ]

Harden got destroyed by Mayo again. OJ locked him down pretty well tonight. Also, Harden doesn't defend Mayo, Chandler and other guys do. I still can't believe Harden got the max deal. Now OJ has every right to ask for max money himself, and I doubt Cuban will pay him...

I like how not defending Mayo is something noteworthy now. As if we're talking about Kobe & LeBron and making it a point to guard the opposing star. Mayo is a guy with a league average PER. NOBODY gets up to stop Mayo, he's just another guy who can score 20 if his team lets him shoot enough.

He remains nothing remotely resembling a max player.

[CousinOfDeath]

Harden got destroyed by Mayo again. OJ locked him down pretty well tonight. Also, Harden doesn't defend Mayo, Chandler and other guys do. I still can't believe Harden got the max deal. Now OJ has every right to ask for max money himself, and I doubt Cuban will pay him...

This can't be serious.

[GAME TIME]

A superstar that didn't even make the all star team

[CKRT]

I don't think it's really an insult to not be an all star starter when CP3 and Kobe are playing, but hey if you think fan votes determine how you evaluate a player then, no offense but, your opinion is pretty worthless.

[lukekarts]

A superstar that didn't even make the all star team

He will make the All Star team. He's not made the fan vote (but as always, that's the 5 most popular guys; see Tim Duncan not making it). The teams will vote in the right players for the bench, though.

[Wall34]

Can someone tell me what's going on with Harden lately? i haven't been able to watch him much lately now his team is on a losing streak and his numbers are falling a little. What's going on?

[tsherkin]

Can someone tell me what's going on with Harden lately? i haven't been able to watch him much lately now his team is on a losing streak and his numbers are falling a little. What's going on?

He's had three bad games after a stretch of good ones. It happens. He's still averaging 27.1 ppg over his last twenty games, a stretch which includes 6 games of 30+ points, 14 straight games of 25+ points and only one game under 20 points (his most recent game).

I'd give the kid a break, it's not like he hasn't been performing and it's pretty normal to see some mortal-looking games after a streak like that. Also, he's taken 7-9 3PA in each of his last 5 games, pitting out his FG% and, since he only connected well in the Houston game, his overall efficiency as well. Given that and the minutes he's logging, I'd think it's fair to say that fatigue from bootstrapping Houston's offense is likely catching up to him. The rebounding and the passing have been pretty solid but obviously he's settling for 3s a little more, still logging heavy minutes and is still called upon to save the team offensively because no one else has anything resembling consistent production.

[Krodis]

The fact that McHale keeps leaving the starters in the game late even when the game is out of reach or already won is probably not helping with the fatigue.

[G35]

I was wondering when the pendulum turned the other way and Harden's efficiency wasn't as good and the Rockets go on a losing streak what would be said.

Harden is very streaky. He goes on streaks of 4-6 games of hot and cold. Just like Harden makes adjustments so are other teams. He hasn't been getting to the line as frequently as he was during this losing streak, his TO's have increased, and his shooting from the field has been horrible.

As far as fatigue that is a part of the game. As a superstar you are expected to perform every night whether you are playing Miami, Milwaukee, San Antonio, or Philly. Whether it's a game in January or April, this is when Harden is going to be at his physical best to recuperate.

That's the whole point about being a superstar or #1 option is what you do when you are the focus over the course of a season. Every player goes through lulls and hot streaks. Superstars have fewer lulls and more hot streaks than everyone else.

Is Harden going to be able to maintain the energy level to keep attacking the rim and not settle for outside shots as a #1 option.....

[Krodis]

I think the Rockets are just gassed. McHale is playing them too many minutes at too fast a pace, especially with these 5 straight back to backs.

[TheChosen618]

The Rockets are a young team and like most young teams, they struggle on the road, hence why they are currently on 7 game losing streak. 6 of those 7 games were on the road and the only home game they had was against arguably the best team in the West in the LA Clippers.

From what I've noticed, the Rockets have been slowing down recently. They aren't running up and down the court and playing in a high tempo recently and that has caused both Harden and Lin to have a drop in their productions.

Both of those two are athletic players that play much better at a high tempo pace opposed to a slow setting where they out-execute the other team. It was why the Rockets struggled when Mchale was out and when Sampson was coach, because they would play at a slow pace and try to out-execute teams and the entire team would struggle.

[RayBan-Sematra]

In his last 3 games Harden is averaging 20ppg on 29% shooting.
Tonight he shot 5-19 against the Wolves.

What's up with J-Hard?

[Sasaki]

In his last 3 games Harden is averaging 20ppg on 29% shooting.
Tonight he shot 5-19 against the Wolves.

What's up with J-Hard?

Combination of McHale riding him into the ground ( Harden's like 5th in the league in minutes and the guys above him all play for much slower teams than he does), a really hard January schedule, and the team around him being that terrible. Rockets with Martin instead of Harden would be in the Shabazz Muhammed sweepstakes.

[G35]

The Rockets are a young team and like most young teams, they struggle on the road, hence why they are currently on 7 game losing streak. 6 of those 7 games were on the road and the only home game they had was against arguably the best team in the West in the LA Clippers.

From what I've noticed, the Rockets have been slowing down recently. They aren't running up and down the court and playing in a high tempo recently and that has caused both Harden and Lin to have a drop in their productions.

Both of those two are athletic players that play much better at a high tempo pace opposed to a slow setting where they out-execute the other team. It was why the Rockets struggled when Mchale was out and when Sampson was coach, because they would play at a slow pace and try to out-execute teams and the entire team would struggle.

But that's what makes a player a superstar is playing well on the road. Your role players will play well at home, you need your "superstar" to play well on the road to carry the team to victories.

I'm glad that it's pointed out that running a high tempo offense not only helps the Rockets at winning games but it's also helping ALL Rockets players to produced at a higher level than they would if they were running a slower paced offense. That should be factored in when talking about Hardens production......

[rrravenred]

What? Another definition change for superstar? I can't keep up.

[G35]

What? Another definition change for superstar? I can't keep up.

That's why we should just stick to the one defined by Websters. It makes everyone's life easier

su·per·star noun \ˈsü-pər-ˌstär\
1
: a star (as in sports or the movies) who is considered extremely talented, has great public appeal, and can usually command a high salary
2
: one that is very prominent or is a prime attraction <a diplomatic superstar>

[TheChosen618]

But that's what makes a player a superstar is playing well on the road. Your role players will play well at home, you need your "superstar" to play well on the road to carry the team to victories.

Harden's home/road stats are pretty similar this season. I was really explaining why the Rockets as a team have been awful and have dropped 7 straight.

I'm glad that it's pointed out that running a high tempo offense not only helps the Rockets at winning games but it's also helping ALL Rockets players to produced at a higher level than they would if they were running a slower paced offense. That should be factored in when talking about Hardens production......

Yes, I think that if the Rockets make the playoffs, Harden will struggle big time. What happened in the Finals last season with Harden was not just some inexplicable coincidence and something that will never happen again. His game is just not built for the playoffs, in tight situations, and against set defenses.

It is why I currently like Westbrook over Harden.

[Doctor MJ]

I was wondering when the pendulum turned the other way and Harden's efficiency wasn't as good and the Rockets go on a losing streak what would be said.

Harden is very streaky. He goes on streaks of 4-6 games of hot and cold. Just like Harden makes adjustments so are other teams. He hasn't been getting to the line as frequently as he was during this losing streak, his TO's have increased, and his shooting from the field has been horrible.

As far as fatigue that is a part of the game. As a superstar you are expected to perform every night whether you are playing Miami, Milwaukee, San Antonio, or Philly. Whether it's a game in January or April, this is when Harden is going to be at his physical best to recuperate.

That's the whole point about being a superstar or #1 option is what you do when you are the focus over the course of a season. Every player goes through lulls and hot streaks. Superstars have fewer lulls and more hot streaks than everyone else.

Is Harden going to be able to maintain the energy level to keep attacking the rim and not settle for outside shots as a #1 option.....

Eh, you do mention both things in your post which could be seen as a clarification but I still feel like I want to be sure everyone's on the same page:

A player isn't streaky because he gets run down, he's streaky because his game depends on luck. Driving to the hole is the single best way not to rely on luck, it is however energy consuming.I don't see any reason to think that Harden on bad luck. On the other hand, Harden wearing down is a distinct possibility and clearly something he'll have to find a way to keep from happening in the future in order to be among the best of the best.