James Harden to the Clippers - A Halloween Special

[rustywest]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

They were terrible before the trade.

Harden transformed them. Don't overthink it.

That's a bold faced lie! Stop

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by rustywest

That's a bold faced lie! Stop

I should have been more specific: before strip club and Mann moved to full-time starters.

[rustywest]

The Clippers are floundering at the wrong end of the season. James Harden has gradually morphed into a slug...

The team looks old and slow, and they can't stop anybody. The transition defense deplorable.

I'm doing the complete 360. Surprise, surprise... They should've never made that trade.

The 27-5 run was league best but sadly it looks like Kawhi was right. They were winning on talent alone... And Ty Lue has been running Harden into the ground. I have been very unhappy with Westbrook's limited minutes all season long. 75% of his nights less than 20 and 90% of Harden nights 35+. Not what I'd envisaged when the trade went down and looks like this ploy from Lue is catching up with Harden.

The problem with Harden setting the tone for your team is how sluggish he is getting into actions. Everything is slow, he's lost the first step so he don't blow by nobody and seems reluctant to catch and shoot 3's or take middies. Is comfortable dribbling into step-backs or firing out that one pass grenade at the end of the clock but this stinks for team basketball. His effort on D has waned significantly (expected) but its his lethargy and nonchalance that seems to have rubbed off onto the team. That's their identity right now...

[Nomad]

The Pacers literally looked like they were going up against a college team, after the toughness of the Lakers the previous night at Cryoto.

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by rustywest

The Clippers are floundering at the wrong end of the season. James Harden has gradually morphed into a slug...

The problem with Harden setting the tone for your team is how sluggish he is getting into actions. Everything is slow, he's lost the first step so he don't blow by nobody and seems reluctant to catch and shoot 3's or take middies. Is comfortable dribbling into step-backs or firing out that one pass grenade at the end of the clock but this stinks for team basketball. His effort on D has waned significantly (expected) but its his lethargy and nonchalance that seems to have rubbed off onto the team. That's their identity right now...

how does his usual defensive effort compare to his block attempt on Kawhi

[rustywest]

The last 18 minutes of that Cavs game and the 1st half vs the Suns is exactly what this teams identity should've been...

I will say, I don't dislike Harden as a human and I want him and the team to succeed but the style the team plays with Russ is 1000 times more enjoyable to me. You see it on both ends of the floor... I'm not saying its better (although it probably is right now considering Lue ran Harden into the ground), it just would've made the regular season enjoyable.

[ninjacookies]

He looks washed.

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

He looks washed.

28/2/8 on 17 FGA

must not be game 7 yet

[ninjacookies]

[ninjacookies]

SCP's splits this series:

26/7/4 2to's on 54/50/91%




o30.5 p+a for free USDT.

[rustywest]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

SCP's splits this series:

26/7/4 2to's on 54/50/91%

I guess its a shame the NBA is a team sport and not a one on one contest.

Its played on the court not on a sheet of paper

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by rustywest

I guess its a shame the NBA is a team sport and not a one on one contest.

Its played on the court not on a sheet of paper

Fell off Mt. Rushmore right after my post, obviously. Like clockwork.



Your boy didn't do too hot this series, either.


But that's neither here nor there.


Ship everyone and keep Ivanka. 2037 world champs.

[rustywest]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Fell off Mt. Rushmore right after my post, obviously. Like clockwork.



Your boy didn't do too hot this series, either.


But that's neither here nor there.


Ship everyone and keep Ivanka. 2037 world champs.

Russ was god awful.

BUT if we are being honest Lue and the team (much like the Lakers but incredibly to a greater extent), put him in a position to fail. Its always been about rhythm and confidence with Russ. Don't be surprised if he plays like crap when you make him a guy with spotty minutes who just stands in the corner (but can't shoot)...

[rustywest]

Thank god its over. That James Harden trade killed my joy for the game of basketball, and I've got NOTHING against James Harden the human being. But that was the most joyless season I've ever endured.

Now lets see the Clippers give Harden a max and extend Tyronne Lue!

I pray to god Russ finds a new home where he is allowed to be a point guard instead of a shooting guard that stands in the corner with less than 2 minutes a game of ball handling duties.

F*%k off LA Clippers

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by rustywest

Russ was god awful.

BUT if we are being honest Lue and the team (much like the Lakers but incredibly to a greater extent), put him in a position to fail. Its always been about rhythm and confidence with Russ. Don't be surprised if he plays like crap when you make him a guy with spotty minutes who just stands in the corner (but can't shoot)...

I'm not sure what else you'd want for a Russ situation. He's not going to be an NBA starter again. Ever. Perhaps maybe on a bottom feeder like Detroit with no postseason prospects, but not on a playoff contender. His shooting will always be a deterrent for his minutes prospects. Otherwise, nobody could ever question his determination, motor or grit.

I honestly hope he goes back to the Fakers. I think that was a much better fit than LAC, and he seemed to gel with the second quad.

[rustywest]

Bravo to Dime Dropper! This guy gets it. Nails the greedy bungling Clipper organization to an absolute tee

[rustywest]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

I'm not sure what else you'd want for a Russ situation. He's not going to be an NBA starter again. Ever. Perhaps maybe on a bottom feeder like Detroit with no postseason prospects, but not on a playoff contender. His shooting will always be a deterrent for his minutes prospects. Otherwise, nobody could ever question his determination, motor or grit.

I honestly hope he goes back to the Fakers. I think that was a much better fit than LAC, and he seemed to gel with the second quad.

Ninja, I'm sorry but you've outed yourself here to not having your finger on the pulse about Russ and his Clippers tenure. That's fine, you've probably not watched every single game of his career like I have. I'm not looking for a fight here...but the Clippers role sans Harden was anything but a good situation for Russ.

There is a 0% chance he goes back to the Lakers. 0.00000 % if LeBron is a Laker.

If you get a spare hour watch the podcast I posted. He is young, but he lives and breathes basketball and he nails absolutely everything about Russ and the Clippers...

I'm glad we can have a reasonable discussion about Russ though. 95% of people on this forum do not respect anything I say about Russ or anything positive about Westbrook. I have always been aware of his flaws, I'm not some deluded stan the way 5 or 6 guys on this forum make me out to be.

I don't care if he is on a contender, or even if he starts. I just want him on a team that lets him be a f*#ing point guard and gives him consistent minutes. He had the PERFECT ROLE on the Clippers before Harden showed up and if you don't believe me I already posted career best shooting splits in his role pre-Harden. Starting alongside 2 stars was the perfect role at this stage in his career and he was thriving. By the season end, he had almost zero ball handling duties because he shared 90% of his minutes with Harden on the floor. That's the worst situation for Russ because he isn't an off-ball shooter. Yes, Russ is flawed. But so is James, in different ways.

Its cool you like Harden but I don't enjoy watching his style of play.

Alot of people saying Russ can't start, he doesn't belong in the NBA, he is cooked blah blah blah. He got one start post Harden (w/o Harden) and he posted 16/15/15 and the Clippers absolutely obliterated the Suns on the road in a must win game for the Suns with no Kawhi. You telling me this guy can't start? He can start, but you just use discretion on a nightly basis whether he closes or not.



Or if you've got league pass, watch the entire 1st quarter of that game and tell me with a straight face he can't start.

[gomiamigo]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

25-5.

Amazing how Strip Club Patron's completely transformed the complexion of the offense with his distributing and floor spacing.

All whilst averaging a decade-low 11 shot attempts per game.


Not sure how this full length feature ends, but I'm all the way here for it.

We always knew how the LA Strip Club Odyssey would end. 7-28 FG, 1-13 from 3 in the final 2 losses.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by rustywest

Ninja, I'm sorry but you've outed yourself here to not having your finger on the pulse about Russ and his Clippers tenure. That's fine, you've probably not watched every single game of his career like I have. I'm not looking for a fight here...but the Clippers role sans Harden was anything but a good situation for Russ.

There is a 0% chance he goes back to the Lakers. 0.00000 % if LeBron is a Laker.

If you get a spare hour watch the podcast I posted. He is young, but he lives and breathes basketball and he nails absolutely everything about Russ and the Clippers...

I'm glad we can have a reasonable discussion about Russ though. 95% of people on this forum do not respect anything I say about Russ or anything positive about Westbrook. I have always been aware of his flaws, I'm not some deluded stan the way 5 or 6 guys on this forum make me out to be.

I don't care if he is on a contender, or even if he starts. I just want him on a team that lets him be a f*#ing point guard and gives him consistent minutes. He had the PERFECT ROLE on the Clippers before Harden showed up and if you don't believe me I already posted career best shooting splits in his role pre-Harden. Starting alongside 2 stars was the perfect role at this stage in his career and he was thriving. By the season end, he had almost zero ball handling duties because he shared 90% of his minutes with Harden on the floor. That's the worst situation for Russ because he isn't an off-ball shooter. Yes, Russ is flawed. But so is James, in different ways.

Its cool you like Harden but I don't enjoy watching his style of play.

Alot of people saying Russ can't start, he doesn't belong in the NBA, he is cooked blah blah blah. He got one start post Harden (w/o Harden) and he posted 16/15/15 and the Clippers absolutely obliterated the Suns on the road in a must win game for the Suns with no Kawhi. You telling me this guy can't start? He can start, but you just use discretion on a nightly basis whether he closes or not.



Or if you've got league pass, watch the entire 1st quarter of that game and tell me with a straight face he can't start.

I've been a Russ proponent since his pre-mvp days with OKC. My history's documented and stamped.

I'm not particularly fond of Strip Club Patron, actually. But rather gravitate towards hated figures within in the BO ecosystem solely for the contrarian jeers. It's my life fuel.


Russ ain't done yet. Far from. But I truly don't think he's got starter in him (spot starting is a different story) at this stage in his career. At least not when viewed through the scope of NBA front offices. I don't call the shots.

Both 1st ballots at the end of the day. And that's all that matters.

Originally Posted by gomiamigo

We always knew how the LA Strip Club Odyssey would end. 7-28 FG, 1-13 from 3 in the final 2 losses.

Cancun don't discriminate based on the color, content, or creed of the Nike swingman this time o' year.



Drinks is on the house.

[fumanchu]

clippers need help, can't just rely on harden like lastnight. if this happens he'll be worn out/injured by the time playoffs come.

[ninjacookies]

Near 3d 29 piece fresh off VIP bottle service at the Rhino.

Light work.

[ninjacookies]

Single handedly carrying the squad while Boardman recoups from permanent knee lupus.


Something like 8,000 assists tonight.



Turns out he's less cooked than McD's beef patties.

[fumanchu]

yeah! i've been pleasantly surprised with these games, specially since they're against good teams

[The Accountant]

A lot more fun to watch him play as the primary player than a secondary or third piece

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by rustywest

The Clippers are floundering at the wrong end of the season. James Harden has gradually morphed into a slug...

The team looks old and slow, and they can't stop anybody. The transition defense deplorable.

I'm doing the complete 360. Surprise, surprise... They should've never made that trade.

The 27-5 run was league best but sadly it looks like Kawhi was right. They were winning on talent alone... And Ty Lue has been running Harden into the ground. I have been very unhappy with Westbrook's limited minutes all season long. 75% of his nights less than 20 and 90% of Harden nights 35+. Not what I'd envisaged when the trade went down and looks like this ploy from Lue is catching up with Harden.

The problem with Harden setting the tone for your team is how sluggish he is getting into actions. Everything is slow, he's lost the first step so he don't blow by nobody and seems reluctant to catch and shoot 3's or take middies. Is comfortable dribbling into step-backs or firing out that one pass grenade at the end of the clock but this stinks for team basketball. His effort on D has waned significantly (expected) but its his lethargy and nonchalance that seems to have rubbed off onto the team. That's their identity right now...

The gift that keeps on gifting.



Meanwhile, Worstbrook out here adding airball layup packages to the 2k arsenal.


I don't know how far this Clips squad can go, but if they can figure out their road woes, they could be dangerous.