And without his beard?

Even uglier than that

“but when the world needed him the most, he vanished”

James Harden got subbed out for three minutes, and the Cavs immediately gave up a 13-5 run.
This has been the case all playoffs. When he’s on the Cavs have a +1.8 net rating. When he’s off, they’re -8.8. That’s a difference of +10.6

He just wanted to hit the strip clubs early

As great as Harden (and Durant) are, they just aren’t winners. It’s like the have the drive to be individually great at basketball, but they don’t have the drive to win like the greats do. Maybe I’m just be irrationally hard on them, after all, it’s incredibly difficult to win a championship. It’s not like they have been stuck in purgatory, they’ve been surrounded by really good teams over the years.

Durant rode Currys coat tail to 2 titles, but his success has been mostly mediocre otherwise.

Cuz that man keeps failing down trying to draw a foul shooting a 3.

Playoff sinker

The idea of harden is almost always much better than harden in reality, meaning people think youre getting this elite scorer but he has way too many no shows in the playoffs, especially elimination games.

The only case i can think of this might not being the case is the 2021 nets. When fully healthy, he would just play the facilitator role to kd/kyrie. You just cant expect harden to be the bus driver in the playoffs.

i’d have heated arguments with people that would say harden > dwade, never want to hear that shit again in my life

Every year people think he’s gonna prove everyone wrong. But he never does

He’ll only win you a playoff series or two

Continue blaming the 36 year old as if he wasn’t the best player in most of the first two series getting them here. If the young players around him played amazing and he was the only reason this flame would at least make sense.

He’s a generational playoff choker. But Cavs don’t make the ECF without him. He’s 36 and gassed.

Cavs are a sorry ass team that took 7 games to beat Scottie + summer league squad. 7 games to beat the fraudulent one man pistons (who themselves needed 7 to beat the fucking magic). They chocked all playoffs and harden bailed them out.

He’s got one more toe than Garland, that’s literally it

James Harden got subbed out for three minutes, and the Cavs immediately gave up a 13-5 run.
This has been the case all playoffs. When he’s on the Cavs have a +1.8 net rating. When he’s off, they’re -8.8. That’s a difference of +10.6

Well they don’t get here without him tbh. They went all in on the current makeup. It’s the correct choice. Just got to figure a way to either improve on this buy in, retool or back out.

People called me stupid when I said he isn’t moving the needle at all for them

It’s one of those trades people talk themselves into when they’re not good enough to win a ring but none of the stars in their primes are available

Chris Paul was the best player on a Finals team at 37 don’t disrespect him

Yep. Not max player and not a starter. He’d probably be fine back in the 6Man role but lord knows he wouldn’t go for it

He averaged 24/5/8 on 61% TS this season. Was 13th in the entire NBA in offensive EPM. Saying he’s not a starting caliber player anymore is a hilarious overreaction to one playoff series.

Oh don’t worry, some dumb team will give him a deal and them and his fanboys will delude themselves again

This is a terrible take, it seems like you haven’t watched the games. The Cavs played like garbage whenever Harden wasn’t in, and they always performed a lot better when he was playing.

He looked like a damn solid starter all regular season.

Playoff Harden is just a different beast.

Not a starter is crazy. Hes still a starter.

But if you wanna win he can’t be a serious part of your team or cap.

And really only if he is paired with stronger defenders around him. Those Knicks fast breaks were largely due to him just not getting back on defense.

Massive overreaction here, Harden was ²⁰⁄₇ on 64 TS% in the regular season and probably the best or 2nd best Cavs player on the first 2 rounds.

Just because he had a horrible conference finals doesn’t make him a bench player now lmao, just means he’s not good enough for a championship winning team which tbh none of his Cavs teammates are either.

This is such a stupid take from someone who didn’t watch shit. They wouldn’t have made it out the first two rounds without him

As great as Harden has been and as much as I rooted against him during the Warriors/Rockets rivalry, it’s been pretty disappointing watching a great player like him underperform so much in critical situations.

Top 25 regular season player ever but also arguably the biggest playoff dropper ever

They tell you otherwise when he’s rolling but all you gotta do is wait. The most predictable of outcomes is Harden at his worst when he needs to be his best.

he truly is the gift that keeps on giving and i never even have to argue with harden stans anymore i just have to wait

That G1 really did a number on him - lost all motivation and hunger

How was he a net negative for the team when the team performs a lot better while he is playing rather than on the bench

They have been better with him on the court like probably almost every game. They collapse without him for the most part. Is he a shell of his former self, of course but he is not a net negative lol

That shit really knocked him down a peg. What could’ve been…

Played 3 games on the hamstring injury

But worse he rushed back to cover for Kyrie and immediately jumped into heavy minutes and b2bs and it just never recovered.

…and honestly, it’s ok for him not to be a superstar at 36 anymore. Still doesn’t change the fact that he has done worse in the playoffs without exception. I hate these “who is the worst/best… discussions”, but when it comes to playoff performances he is the worst superstar ever. Karl Malone is the only one to come close. CP3 is always thrown into this mix as well but he does not deserve to imo.

Ergo harden > lebron

Jeff Teague and Pat Bev are Morons.

Dwayne Wade was better at 36 years old?

Bron right? how old was his ass in 2020?

harden actually does this shit, LeBron has still never 27/7/7’d which would be good for him and great for any other player

What’s the logic here? In what world does an elimination game in the ECF not matter the most?

Not like he played any better in the other games lol

Glad Cavs and their fans are that weak and gave up on game 4 before it even started

He also played like shit in their wins in that series. 9-24, 11-26, 5-21 from the field

Harden IS consistently shit in big playoff moments, you’re right.