I agree with all of this about expectations on the others, and I think Harden had a good series despite having his usual bad games and that Mitchell and Mobley should get a bit more media attention for poor performances.

However, a narrative I am noticing around the league with LeBron, Curry, etc, that just because they are “old” you can’t call them out on bad performances. Why not? Of course we can preface discussions and should “it’s crazy this player is still this good” but if Harden is still getting 30 + million dollars, Curry and LeBron getting paid 50 + million dollars, they are getting paid regardless of age, to be HIGH impact players. If, regardless of age they don’t live up to that, we should call them out. In a regular job, just because you have 30 years of experience and was fastatic at leading teams before, it doesn’t mean you are excused for performing poorly at your current job for what you have done in the past if you are getting paid those big bucks. If you decide you can’t or past performances suggest you can’t do as much and you take a smaller salary then your expectations are lower.

Harden has actually since game 2 played overall well in this series, but I hear a lot of revisionist narratives about him from a lot of supporters on here, like he didn’t have stinkers with the Clippers and 76ers in elimination games that are inexcusable, even if he’s past his prime, he’s still really good. If he gets paid like an all star, he needs to play like one in elimination games, and it’s fine calling out he typically doesn’t play up to his contract in elemination games.

Mobley and D Mitch are getting criticism too though lmao. Harden is the biggest playoff choker in NBA history, of course him potentially choking in yet another game 7 is going to be discussed

Harden himself has knocked mitchell out 3 times, fuck you mean he’s never shown up while mitchell has? 😂😂 go see a doctor, something wrong with your head lol

box score watcher opinion

what happened bro? we going to the ecf while tyrese eating burgers at hlme

and how r the pacers doin this year big fella.

They would have already been eliminated if it wasn’t for harden.

He has carried them lol

What if you make $47m like Mitchell and Mobley?

Right but he only played 1 game against the Lakers and people (me) are still shitting on him for that series loss.

It’s not one or the other. Donovan can be responsible and simultaneously Harden can be an overrated playoff choker.

Then he should’ve balled out in big games a decade ago

Damn i forgot lol

Lol that’s cute, I recognize you, your the tobias stan who thought tobias harris was better than harden. Your opinion is invalid automatically and yes I do KNOW they were doubling Harden, not embiid who was being shut down 1v1 by al horford, meanwhile harden who had already dropped 2 45pt games with game winners and lead the 3rd win in game 5 with 17/10/6/ 2 steals 68%TS only 2TO. I watched them not guard bum ass tobias or pj tucker in either corner, I watched them let embiid stand around at the 3pt line while 4 people were guarding harden. I remember you got temp banned because you were just frothing at the mouth in the game threads talking shit about harden 😂😂 you genuinely have mental issues, you spend your free time forming fake narratives and lies like a Russian influence bot

Can’t tell if your trolling….The way to beat it is to pass out and let your team beat them 4v3, guess what happens when harden does that? His team plays like dogshit despite having a massive advantage. What is there to figure out? Like I dont get how you are blaming harden for his bum teammates not hitting layups and open 3s. The fact all you can tell me is “figure it out” tells me you dont have a clue and wanna sound smart, its corny. Again it’s not passiveness. It’s being double teamed and having worse teammates, I dont understand how you dont understand that. If hardens team tries to double the best player a 2nd or 3rd player steps up like paul reed and Jenkins. That doesnt happen except rarely on the cavs strus might, but for the most part he’s giving 2-8 and thats one person….its a team sport bruh, if the other team is selling out on harden the teammates have to punish the 4v3 until they can’t sell out on harden anymore. If the team doesn’t do that its literally a double at half court while 1 is full court pressing even offball. Watch some basketball sometime you might like it