1. "funny how that type of game made people say kobe is the goat" In response to Reply # 0
if you look at the numbers and style of scoring harden actually is more effective. more assists, too.
so where does that leave him if this goes on like this for 2-3 more years? right behind MJ?
or does he need the rings to be in the convo? give him shaq, pau or pippen and he might get some. 82 points?
i don't even like his game at all and i hope he flames out in the playoffs with westbrook like they both did last year. but that type of ball been cultivated by the league and he is taking full advantage of it.
''i went from bashful to asshole to international''- CdoubleO
7. "and playing 'straight up' is why Kobe is a GOAT" In response to Reply # 2
there was a window of time (in which he won MVP) where they got rid of illegal defense, people would just camp out under the rim so you had to find other places to score. this was prior to the "illegal screens are now mostly legal" pussyball era.
Kobe used to take shots that were on paper, bullshit... but make them to get around the new defense.
In retrospect, his "Michael Jordan Standom" shouldn't have worked but it did.
4. "Harden won't get the ultimate respect until he wins" In response to Reply # 0
He doesn't even necessarily have to win a title -- but he has to be competitive and perform better in the biggest moments. His game has been built for the Regular Season - but the cadence of his game completely changes in the playoffs as defenses lock in and tighten on every possession.
10. "RE: plus the load on his body all year long" In response to Reply # 5
He just makes the game so hard for himself. It just bad basketball. I have never seen a guy work so hard just to get a basket
Where as his peers are way more efficient....by a long ways.
Harden and Westbrook combined for 16 for 68 shooting.
Other players look to not draw contact, so there is no wear and tear on the body. He looks to draw contact and put up as many shots as possible. So in the postseason his body is shot.
11. "Well I think Harden is "efficient" by most definitions." In response to Reply # 10
Shooting 45% from the field with 10 attempts from 3 as he did just a couple years ago is pretty good. But agreed most of his game is predicated on FTs and it's never worked in the 'offs.