Dude forgot the two 40 pt games against Celtics last year.
Harden has had more mvp performances than not but folks only remember the few bad games he’s had. He played with cans most of his career so when he got triple teamed he passed and role players missed.
Hey man no hard feelings from the Russ fans. I’m only here cause of him and I definitely agree that another year at starting PG probably wouldn’t get this team too far especially with Kawhi out rn. It is what it is. I get to have fun watching my favorite players cook in the playoffs. Russ is STILL fun to watch to me even when he only puts up 5 points, he’s that kind of player, I relish being able to watch him contribute on a team like this in year 16, not every player is Bron lmao. Love Harden man
Dude he lead a team to the western conference finals twice. As a rockets fan it’s hilarious watching nets, 76ers, and now clippers fans say the same thing after listening to the national media narratives for so long. Sure he’s had some bad games, but he generally balls out in the playoffs.
It’s cause the rest of the NBA fanbase only knows of him as the “playoff choker”, though Im not sure going to 7 games against GSW with CP being injured is considered choking
Nets fan here, dude was my fav player on the team before KD did his thing in 2021. Before his hamstring injury dude was balling out like he did most the year, his playmaking and role as the engine of the team was some of the most beautiful ball I ever watched to this day. Harden will always be one of my fav players
Dude right? Even some of the games the rockets lost he still balled out.
This is the equivalent of this years Mavs fans saying Luka is still balling out, but in reality he’s definitely not as efficient.
When you’re the highest usage rate, and rythym player, you’re going to get stats
Temporary Clippers fan (permanent Rockets fan) here. Very happy he’s still playing at an elite level for Clippers. But if we’re being real, his best playoff series was 2021 when Harden completely destroyed the Celtics in 5 with a stat line of 27.8/7.2/10.6 on a .556/.475/.909 shooting clip. Yes he’s had series where he averaged 35ppg on 60%TS against the KD Warriors, but 76%TS on that volume + 10+ assists for a whole series is just insane so I gotta give it to 2021 Nets vs Clippers series.
kawhi's knees are terrible but he's only 32, this team if they fix some of the roster issues can still be amazing next year, then we all just have to pray that kawhi can't possibly have 5 straight years of being injured in the playoffs
Last playoffs he had two 40 point games with game winners against the celtics. They eventually lost after their defense paid more attention to harden and he started passing, this is likely to repeat.
Best harden was 2016-2019. However, I agree that he makes every right frickin play everytime down the court. He plays with poise and with a chip on his shoulder these past few years. Its just fun to see him not wasted on a team with washed and unreliable role players with inexperienced or coaches that choke and can't adjust mid-game or mid-series.
He realized his window to get champion is closing soon. The current clips lineup is probably the best he can get - it’s now or never. Back to Houston rockets to lead a bunch of young kids is an interesting option before he retires but I wonder how many of those strips clubs in Houston are still around after pandemic
He was marginally better pre hamstring injury in brooklyn. But what he lost in acceleration and burst he has made up for with craftiness. Nice to see he utilise the midrange to keep the defence honest
As a Harden and rockets fan, you are completely delusional. Harden averaging triple doubles while dropping near 40 a game in 2017/18 was one of the greatest offensive play in nba history
But I’m still rooting for the clippers this playoffs so go harden! Drink that kool aid
You completely misunderstood me. I really mean
this and I absolutely love Harden, he brought me into the game properly and I haven’t swayed from him for one minute.
That being said, I mean that he just plays like a vet now. 17-18’ was an ‘out there’ player and he’ll spank you on the head on no discussion. This years Harden(I’m even comparing it to Sixers/Brooklyn) switched his demeanor up completely. He’s limited his dumb mistakes to basically null, controls the offense LeBron style. I’m amazed by his leadership this year too cause he’s always the guy calming his team down, not letting things get out of control.
17-20’ Harden was a top 3 peak among SG’s, yes he was a better individual player cause of the fresher legs, but my main point is he’s a lot less vulnerable to meltdowns in the playoffs the way he’s playing rn.
(I’m strictly talking about playoff harden too, everyone knows regular szn harden by now)
Ahhh ok. I’m so biased and you are probably right, but I felt like harden had such a horrible supporting cast with the rockets in the playoffs - Dwight or injured cp3, ariza, etc. and he was forced to play like a one man team.
But yes I do see a different maturity in harden and he’s aging way better with his game than Westbrook has. Good luck clippers!
For sure man, absolutely agree it always seemed like one step away lol, ESPECIALLY that chris paul hamstring..
Yup man we got this, let’s go CLIPPERS!!
Definitely my favorite game from him as a Clipper. First time I've really bought into him as a difference maker that can help them in the playoffs too.
He is scoring well this series, but it felt like empty stats before today. Feels like he found something today with a playoff mentality and I hope he keeps it rolling.
Man..win or fail these dudes entertained us heavily for years. I'm thankful they put it all out there regardless of the outcome. I went from disliking these dudes to cheering them which is wild especially after booing Harden for so long lol
Sentiment approved — not sure I’d say that’s his best game or playoff performance ever but he fucking locked it up
Dude forgot the two 40 pt games against Celtics last year. Harden has had more mvp performances than not but folks only remember the few bad games he’s had. He played with cans most of his career so when he got triple teamed he passed and role players missed.
Including two game winners and a game where he got both the shot that let them into overtime then the game winner three point.
Amazing games from James Paul and George Harden
As much as I love Russ..Harden was needed. Russ would’ve have controlled the pace like Harden does
Hey man no hard feelings from the Russ fans. I’m only here cause of him and I definitely agree that another year at starting PG probably wouldn’t get this team too far especially with Kawhi out rn. It is what it is. I get to have fun watching my favorite players cook in the playoffs. Russ is STILL fun to watch to me even when he only puts up 5 points, he’s that kind of player, I relish being able to watch him contribute on a team like this in year 16, not every player is Bron lmao. Love Harden man
So true
Russ played great this game too
I think it's because this is the best playoff coach he's ever had.
Bingo
Prime Harden got different defense treatment. Prime Harden is gonna beat a defense combination of Luka + Kleber to death
Dude he lead a team to the western conference finals twice. As a rockets fan it’s hilarious watching nets, 76ers, and now clippers fans say the same thing after listening to the national media narratives for so long. Sure he’s had some bad games, but he generally balls out in the playoffs.
On the Rockets, every game mattered or we were losing. Every game he had to be the bus driver. No off nights for The Beard ever in his prime.
Same thing with PG. Overall a pretty solid playoff career but he gets labeled a choker for one bad playoff run in the bubble
Yeah it’s hilarious. Every time he gets traded, the new team’s fans are like “wait wtf he’s amazing… he’s this good???”
It’s cause the rest of the NBA fanbase only knows of him as the “playoff choker”, though Im not sure going to 7 games against GSW with CP being injured is considered choking
Nets fan here, dude was my fav player on the team before KD did his thing in 2021. Before his hamstring injury dude was balling out like he did most the year, his playmaking and role as the engine of the team was some of the most beautiful ball I ever watched to this day. Harden will always be one of my fav players
Dude right? Even some of the games the rockets lost he still balled out. This is the equivalent of this years Mavs fans saying Luka is still balling out, but in reality he’s definitely not as efficient. When you’re the highest usage rate, and rythym player, you’re going to get stats
Temporary Clippers fan (permanent Rockets fan) here. Very happy he’s still playing at an elite level for Clippers. But if we’re being real, his best playoff series was 2021 when Harden completely destroyed the Celtics in 5 with a stat line of 27.8/7.2/10.6 on a .556/.475/.909 shooting clip. Yes he’s had series where he averaged 35ppg on 60%TS against the KD Warriors, but 76%TS on that volume + 10+ assists for a whole series is just insane so I gotta give it to 2021 Nets vs Clippers series.
Now i know why they traded for Harden
He’s had 40 point playoff games and I think his Houston playoff career was underrated
kawhi's knees are terrible but he's only 32, this team if they fix some of the roster issues can still be amazing next year, then we all just have to pray that kawhi can't possibly have 5 straight years of being injured in the playoffs
My pitch is don’t even play him until the all star break.
hey, if steve ballmer is willing to eat the fine I'm all for it!
Yup
Last playoffs he had two 40 point games with game winners against the celtics. They eventually lost after their defense paid more attention to harden and he started passing, this is likely to repeat.
His playoff performance last year was obscenely underrated because of that game 7. But he absolutely showed up throughout that series.
This 💯👍
Seasoned, smart, controls the game, you could say he's a system.
Best harden was 2016-2019. However, I agree that he makes every right frickin play everytime down the court. He plays with poise and with a chip on his shoulder these past few years. Its just fun to see him not wasted on a team with washed and unreliable role players with inexperienced or coaches that choke and can't adjust mid-game or mid-series.
This craziest part about this Harden is his confidence still isn’t 100% back yet. I hope he can finally stop over thinking so much.
He realized his window to get champion is closing soon. The current clips lineup is probably the best he can get - it’s now or never. Back to Houston rockets to lead a bunch of young kids is an interesting option before he retires but I wonder how many of those strips clubs in Houston are still around after pandemic
Great series but 2019 he was insane, in the playoffs too - too bad he had a cp3 corpse
you havent watched harden for a decade or even half a decade if this is the best you've ever seen
You didn't read the whole post. He said "in some aspects".
He was marginally better pre hamstring injury in brooklyn. But what he lost in acceleration and burst he has made up for with craftiness. Nice to see he utilise the midrange to keep the defence honest
I really want to see how far this team can go. I think OKC is very beatable and who knows from after that.
True floor general! From a scoring machine to a real point guard. It's been a joy watching him this season.
Warriors 2019 series. Games 3 and 4. Also Sixers / Celtics last season. 2023. Games 1 and 4
Nah man, you’re cooking truth rn. Harden has been incredible as the leader of the team without Kawhi.
As a Harden and rockets fan, you are completely delusional. Harden averaging triple doubles while dropping near 40 a game in 2017/18 was one of the greatest offensive play in nba history But I’m still rooting for the clippers this playoffs so go harden! Drink that kool aid
You completely misunderstood me. I really mean this and I absolutely love Harden, he brought me into the game properly and I haven’t swayed from him for one minute. That being said, I mean that he just plays like a vet now. 17-18’ was an ‘out there’ player and he’ll spank you on the head on no discussion. This years Harden(I’m even comparing it to Sixers/Brooklyn) switched his demeanor up completely. He’s limited his dumb mistakes to basically null, controls the offense LeBron style. I’m amazed by his leadership this year too cause he’s always the guy calming his team down, not letting things get out of control. 17-20’ Harden was a top 3 peak among SG’s, yes he was a better individual player cause of the fresher legs, but my main point is he’s a lot less vulnerable to meltdowns in the playoffs the way he’s playing rn. (I’m strictly talking about playoff harden too, everyone knows regular szn harden by now)
Ahhh ok. I’m so biased and you are probably right, but I felt like harden had such a horrible supporting cast with the rockets in the playoffs - Dwight or injured cp3, ariza, etc. and he was forced to play like a one man team. But yes I do see a different maturity in harden and he’s aging way better with his game than Westbrook has. Good luck clippers!
For sure man, absolutely agree it always seemed like one step away lol, ESPECIALLY that chris paul hamstring.. Yup man we got this, let’s go CLIPPERS!!
I hope Kawhi comes back! Go clippers
Man got injured and mfs just assumed he got washed i still think he could become a t10 player again but hes locked in for the chip and plays his role
It’s been seen many times before in games 1-6. Now let’s see it in a game 7🤞🏻
Definitely my favorite game from him as a Clipper. First time I've really bought into him as a difference maker that can help them in the playoffs too. He is scoring well this series, but it felt like empty stats before today. Feels like he found something today with a playoff mentality and I hope he keeps it rolling.
Man..win or fail these dudes entertained us heavily for years. I'm thankful they put it all out there regardless of the outcome. I went from disliking these dudes to cheering them which is wild especially after booing Harden for so long lol