We're so spoiled with Mike and Tommy that being forced to watch the Celtics on a national broadcast is the worst. There a lot of bad national crews out there, but I actually think JVG is the best color guy out there. Most national PBP or color guys are NBA shills (definitely looking at you Mike Breen), but JVG doesn't have much of a filter and I like that. I like Reggie Miller on TNT for the same reason.
I don't. It's difficult to watch when he is playing your team but its so effective. Furthermore, as a Cs fan, you have to acknowledge that Pierce did a lot of the same things as Harden, albeit not as well.
JVG is very smart, and can be really insightful about the game. My problem with him is that he often goes on these tangents during games about whatever, usually something like "I don't understand why coaches can't ask for foul calls to be reviewed?" and he'll go on and on while the game is going on. He also basically never bashes a fellow coach and spends too much time bashing referees; like he is still a coach in the NBA.
If the refs called the game the same way for Harden as they do Jaylen or Tatum, Harden would average about 17ppg, and Houston would be a .500 team. It doesn't bother me so much that Harden plays the way he does, its that the inconsistency in officiating gives him an advantage that nobody else gets.
I think Thibs should be a coach who is very questionable to return next season. He's not done nearly enough with the talent he's been given, IMO.
Yup, sitting down in the front row. Not uncommon in the weeks/months following the Masters for the winner to wear it out in public. Sergio wore his everywhere around the world last year.
yeah, but he was OUR asshole.
I root for Brad Marchand, too, even if it sometimes make me feel dirty.
Agreed that PP was a much better defender. Harden is a better offensive player.yeah, but he was OUR asshole.
And I'd dispute that Pierce wasn't as good as Harden in a number of dimensions. I think he was a better defender, for one. And he certainly drew contact in a manner bordering on unsporting, but I'd say it was a few times a game, while Harden does it, or tries to, on every damn possession. And he's good enough he really doesn't need to.
It was as if he thought he had 2 seconds left, when he really had 6.
Towns and Butler, by far their 2 best offensive players, took 20 shots, Rose and Crawford took 25 in 20 less minutes, something is very very wrong with that.
Why wouldn't Harden try to take advantage of every opportunity when he is so skilled at creating contact? He's led the league in FTA for 4 consecutive seasons......I don't understand the idea how him doing less of what he is great at would make him a more effective player.yeah, but he was OUR asshole.
And I'd dispute that Pierce wasn't as good as Harden in a number of dimensions. I think he was a better defender, for one. And he certainly drew contact in a manner bordering on unsporting, but I'd say it was a few times a game, while Harden does it, or tries to, on every damn possession. And he's good enough he really doesn't need to.
He created contact.. that's not supposed to be a foul.. at least on the defender. Harden plays by a different set of rules is what a lot of people don't like... and it's not just typical superstar treatment. Congrats to him for doing it, but it's not fun to watch as an opposing fan.
I spent much of last year following/criticizing Thibs on how he handled Kris Dunn in rendering him essentially useless playing the 2 and even sometimes as a 3 last season in quick short bursts as a weak side decoy to Wiggins or Towns (whichever was on floor with the second unit) iso's. He stapled Jimmy Butler to the bench in a similar manner during his rookie season in Chicago as well. When you have such a young and athletic team you want to utilize their athleticism and energy in the open floor......yet Thibs refuses to coach to his personnel instead running his "stuff" regardless of the skillset of his players on the floor. Acquiring Butler only masked this issue as he is such a good fit on a Thibs-led team.
Yes, most of the time it is. Creating contact to draw a foul is a skill when the defender is out of position rendering himself vulnerable. Harden is among the best the game has ever seen at creating angles to take advantage of defenders allowing him this opportunity......LeBron is another, DeRozan is tremendous at this and Giannis is quickly learning this aspect of the game.
Kudos to you for recognizing this.
To simplify, I hate that his style of play insists on taking the ugliest, least aesthetically pleasing aspect of the game, which drives more-casual fans like me away and makes a mockery of the sport... is rewarded with success. Over-rewarded, if you consider the consistency of the officiating. I'm not making any pretense of being "objective", I'm stating my opinion in a game thread.
No, that's fine. I credit you for recognizing a bias which I honestly think is awesome. To me, the one area where I feel Harden COULD be called out on is on his step-backs which sometimes are a blatant travel that is not called. Many "look" like travels however the NBA rule on how a shooter gathers the ball favors Harden who uses his plant step simultaneously so it doesn't count as his first step......but other times the refs simply swallow the whistle like this one here:
