That is high art. "You can't get mad at your kid if you let him eat candy every night and then suddenly one night you don't and they throw a tantrum," an ex-Houston assistant coach said. And by blowing off the NBA's COVID-19 protocols, partying maskless during the pandemic and boasting about it on Instagram, Harden revealed what could come if he doesn't get his way. He's altering shots -- and swatting a career-high 2.3 per game -- without sacrificing rebounding position. What should Tom Thibodeau do when Payton returns? It's worth investigating. 1 reason the Nets were determined to land a third star: One star is injured, and Brooklyn still looks like a title contender. Teams that can make real offers for James Harden. MULTIPLE ROCKETS OFFICIALS acknowledge that the entire organization has been "complicit" in the culture that has been created over the past eight years. Everyone has bought in. James Harden has indicated to the Rockets that he’s open to being traded to the 76ers or other contenders, per @wojespn @espn_macmahon Daryl … Even Chuck the Condor is embarrassed. • What this drastic rest disparity means Between the threat of Harden's prodigious scoring and the deception of his pocket passes, he can conjure corridors from thin air. Harden indicated to the Rockets before the start of camp that he would be open to a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers or possibly other contenders, according to a report by ESPN's Tim MacMahon and Adrian Wojnarowski , and the Rockets are expanding trade discussions … McGee has coughed it up on 24.3% of possessions he has finished -- second worst overall. With James Harden under contract for at least two more seasons, the Houston Rockets would require a “monstrous return” to consider trading him, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Zach Lowe and Ramona Shelburne. Schroder pounces on Green. Opponents have hit only 50% of attempts at the rim with Capela around, one of the lowest marks in the league. One nice thing for beleaguered Houston Rockets fans: Tate looks like a steal -- a two-way guy who could play now on a good team, provided said team surrounded him with enough shooting. Immanuel Quickley, fill-in starter until missing Thursday's game, is (like most rookies) a liability on defense, but I'm not sure he's markedly worse than Payton. That should in theory open up more minutes for Hayward at power forward -- where he could set more screens -- depending on whether Charlotte acquires another big. Without a reliable point guard, the only way the Clippers can find that oomph is by running every set at full throttle -- and occasionally getting out in transition. The Rockets were a stark contrast, especially last season under D'Antoni, who was never known as a disciplinarian and who was a lame duck in the last year of his contract after extension negotiations infamously fizzled twice over the summer. He had a "good conversation" about basketball strategy with Silas, according to the coach, who had minimal communication with his point guard until that point. Their communication is on point. "I don't blame James. He has never shaken the habit of roving aimlessly and ball-watching in no-man's land: That happens all the time. But lobs are not jump shots or floaters. He's pulling levers. The peak of the franchise's Harden era came during Paul's first season in Houston, when the Rockets had a league-best 65 wins during the regular season and built a 3-2 lead over the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference finals. By definition, the dunker does not control the ball until he's atop the rim. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; Editor's note: This story was originally published on Dec. 16, 2020. Despite concerns about skill set overlap, the Capela-John Collins frontcourt has functioned just fine. Sources said Westbrook frequently expressed his displeasure during the season with not being able to "play my game," as he put it. Harden has pushed the Rockets to upgrade every offseason, saying he would want to be traded if they couldn't contend, sources said. They are under pressure to make the playoffs. "The plane is always late. With the Rockets, scheduled departure times were treated as mere suggestions by Harden and others. What Harden is doing in Kevin Durant's absence is perhaps the No. And he had final say on things beyond just travel and practice schedules as well. That pick is a massive forfeited building block. But the lack of discipline and attention to detail hasn't been OK with Paul and Russell Westbrook, ultimately leading to breakups between Harden and those two stars. Injuries ravaged their rotation. Hayward can get tentative around the rim when a strong take might at least earn him free throws. Sources say Harden, who had been singularly focused on trying to force his way to the Brooklyn Nets, has indicated to the Rockets that he would be agreeable to a trade to the 76ers or other select contenders. Capela is turning those rejections into points. At times, it's understandable. But things will perk up when everyone is available, and the Wolves deserve credit for hitting on Nowell, Naz Reid, and Jaden McDaniels. Leonard misses some quick-hitting passes when teams blitz the pick-and-roll, preferring to pull the ball out and work alone. Trading Collins is complicated for Atlanta, even as he heads toward restricted free agency. The Rockets ended up trading Westbrook just before camp opened, sending him to the Washington Wizards for John Wall (fresh off a two-year injury layoff) and a protected future first-round pick, an admission that the previous offseason's deal to acquire Westbrook was a disastrous decision. Hayward's emphatic go-ahead, dunk over De'Aaron Fox on Monday stood out because it was somewhat against type. That's fine -- Leonard is amazing -- but LA could use more instant hockey assist-style reads in those situations. (Also: Get out of the way, Cody Zeller! "We all know how good Larry was and the things he did in Boston," Harden said. "A legend. Harden has always been a brilliant passer. The Rockets haven't missed the playoffs since, the only franchise that can make that claim. Breaking down Kevin Durant's influence on James Harden trade (2:32) Adrian Wojnarowski explains how much of an influence Kevin Durant had in bringing James Harden to the Nets in a four-team megadeal. Not pictured: LeBron James, still one of the game's best and smartest help defenders -- and an on-ball menace when the Lakers need it. On Wednesday, Harden spoke to the media for the first time since his late arrival to training camp but did not directly answer questions about his desire to be traded. The Houston Rockets have traded James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne. He could call the shots on personnel moves, both on the roster and the coaching staff, a power he flexed to push for the firing of head coach Kevin McHale and departures of co-stars Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, sources said. The Clips under Lawrence Frank have operated in extreme stealth. Stephen A.: Kyrie's career still in jeopardy after Harden trade (1:54) Stephen A. Smith insists that Kyrie Irving should just retire from basketball even with the Nets acquiring James Harden. Westbrook's role is far more malleable. How fun would the Hornets be with a center who could do, like, anything with the ball? Those opponents have hit only 36% on midrangers -- second lowest in that period, per Cleaning The Glass data. Montrezl Harrell, barreling into the Sixth Man of the Year race, corrals Stephen Curry -- leaving James Wiseman an open lane. HOUSTON'S CASUAL CULTURE appalled Westbrook. 10 takeaways from James Harden trade The Nets go all-in, pairing Harden with fellow superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in a move impacting multiple teams … They dipped into the luxury tax a year ago, and won't have much wiggle room until 2022-23. Collins is drawing heavy interest ahead of the deadline, league sources said. Start without him!" • Win projections for all 30 teams "You're the one who let them eat candy every night. McGee is averaging 7.7 post-ups per 100 possessions, almost triple his career rate, and the results have been disastrous: loping hooks, off-kilter floaters, ugly misses. He has inhaled 26.2% of all misses while on the floor. NEW YORK -- James Harden has passed Larry Bird on the NBA's all-time scoring list and now sits at 34th overall. 1), WWE Fastlane results: Roman Reigns retains, The Fiend returns, Harden has played himself into the MVP race, Answering five big questions before the NBA trade deadline, NBA draft lottery projections and traded pick odds. And the Rockets considered it good business to do what Harden wanted to keep a historically elite player happy. Quickley's range opens room for Julius Randle, Nerlens Noel, and the bulldozing RJ Barrett; the Quickley versions of New York's starting lineup -- one with Noel, one with Mitchell Robinson -- are plus-21 over 74 combined minutes. They are looking for one, league sources said.). All these things made it easy for the Rockets to look the other way when it came to Harden's hard-living lifestyle. Whether Westbrook or Harden wanted out first isn't clear, but they no longer wanted to play together, a season after the Rockets mortgaged their draft future to make it happen. James Harden’s debut for the Brooklyn Nets was pretty much exactly what they could have hoped for. He is a wizard at playing both ball-handler and screener at once on the pick-and-roll without overcommitting to either or exposing any openings. But Houston has its heels dug in regarding Harden, refusing at this point to consider an offer unless it includes a young franchise cornerstone and a bundle of first-round picks and/or promising players on rookie deals. According to ESPN, there is more than frustration and tension. The level of disguise is ridiculous. NBA star James Harden says he didn't intend to make a political statement by wearing a pro-police face mask.. Harden: 'We're just not good enough' (0:51) James Harden addresses the media after the Rockets' blowout loss to the Lakers, saying that he doesn't think Houston's situation can be fixed before walking out of the news conference. Anthony Edwards is really surging, easing the sting of LaMelo Mania. One of Paul's biggest beefs, sources said, was that Harden basically opted not to participate in the Rockets' offense when the ball wasn't in his hands, sometimes barely stepping over half court while spectating when Paul had the ball. He rotates across the paint to smother Nemanja Bjelica without flying at him. Rockets management believed those issues could be ironed out and wanted to run it back with the Harden-Paul duo last season. But the brilliance of Harden, the 2017-18 MVP and a top-three finisher in the balloting four other times over the past six years, provided Houston realistic hope of contending that only a handful of teams have each season. • How will this NBA season actually work? • Every team's biggest camp question. He patrols the rim with steely confidence. MLB Rank Nos. Stephen A.: Kyrie's career still in jeopardy after Harden trade (1:54) Stephen A. Smith insists that Kyrie Irving should just retire from basketball even with the Nets acquiring James Harden. At this point, Harden is mostly going to do what he does on offense: isolate, hopefully against a weaker individual defender, and either drive or go to his step-back 3. He stays balanced, and pivots back to Richaun Holmes in sync with Bjelica's pass. James Harden, Russell Westbrook ... Harden was able to do essentially whatever he wanted, according to a report from Tim MacMahon of ESPN. The Lakers are flying around with calculated ferocity. We have come to a crossroads when it comes to the future of James Harden with the Houston Rockets. Keep it here for all the latest rankings, projections and storylines to watch for 2020-21. Digest that. The Rockets were trending toward NBA irrelevancy before Harden's arrival in Houston, missing the playoffs each of the previous three seasons. But it's way more than luck. Former Rockets general manager Daryl Morey took a calculated risk in projecting that the reigning Sixth Man of the Year would become a bona fide superstar when he shipped Kevin Martin, then-rookie lottery pick Jeremy Lamb and a package of NBA draft picks to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Harden. But the Clippers' offense has sunk to 16th in points per possession over the past month, and that should set off medium-volume alarms. This team is now about Edwards, Towns and whomever Minnesota picks toward the top of the draft this season -- if the basketball gods allow them to keep their pick. Patrick Patterson is making $3.1 million -- instead of the minimum -- for a reason, and it's not because of what he has done in 166 minutes of playing time. Disgruntled superstar James Harden said the Houston Rockets are "just not good enough" after the team's second consecutive blowout loss to the … Four starters -- Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Serge Ibaka, and Patrick Beverley -- have missed multiple games in that stretch.Editor's PicksAnswering five big questions before the NBA trade deadlineNBA draft lottery projections and traded pick odds1 Related. 42.. An eight-time NBA All-Star and the league’s 2017-18 MVP, Harden has averaged 25.1 points (44.2% FG), 6.3 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game over his 11 professional seasons in … George and Leonard are trying -- George has been zigzagging through lanes with determination for most of the season -- but everything is hard. So, umm: The Clippers are 5-8 over their past 13 games. Talen Horton-Tucker finishes the job with an urgent close-out. Houston hasn't accomplished its ultimate goal during its run with Harden, advancing to the Western Conference finals twice but never past that point. A couple of alleged core guys -- including Jarrett Culver, the No. "Yeah, he's going to act up," a former Rockets staffer said. Rivals are, to be polite, monitoring Towns' desire to remain in Minnesota. On cue, Kyle Kuzma -- playing the best all-around ball of his life -- makes the diagonal rotation from Draymond Green to Wiggins. The Clips' biggest red flag all season is that they put zero pressure on the rim. (Having one of Towns and Edwards on the floor with Nowell at all times helps.). 2, behind only Andre Drummond, in defensive rebounding. Harden is a guy who would definitely help the Sixers do just that as he is an elite scorer in this league and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith went on First Take on Thursday morning to propose the Sixers make a run at the former NBA MVP: I’m Daryl Morey, the first thing I’m trying to do is get James Harden to become a Philadelphia 76er. I still think the league is stingy awarding shooting fouls on alley-oops: These get labeled non-shooting fouls because players by rule must have control of the ball to earn those two free throws. The Clips rank 24th in free throw rate. 3 with no one near them is acceptable now. (I trust that their defense is better than the current numbers.). Editor's note: This story was originally published on Dec. 16, 2020. A new poll by an ESPN media panel of the top 74 players in NBA history ranks Houston Rockets star James Harden at No. "We knew who the boss of the organization was," a former Rockets assistant coach said. As one high-ranking Rockets source told ESPN in November, the franchise was "willing to get uncomfortable" by going into the season with disgruntled superstars on the roster. That block shows the calm nuance in Capela's defense. Beyond the scoring, he's taking on some tough defensive assignments and throwing a couple more nifty passes each game. Harden has been incredible for the Brooklyn Nets. After the Rockets let it be known they would not be swayed by unhappiness, Harden delayed his arrival to camp, instead choosing to hang out with rapper Lil Baby -- gifting his friend a Prada bag stuffed with honey buns, a $100,000 brick of cash (aka a "Honey Bun") and a Richard Mille watch worth well into six figures for Lil Baby's birthday -- while leaving Silas hanging. Houston reportedly considered it in the team's best interests to give Harden power to keep him happy, but the two sides are now at a "breaking point," per ESPN. 3 Some of this was baked into the decision to replace Montrezl Harrell with Ibaka, but the Clippers need more oomph. That would be the fifth-highest single-season rate in recorded league history, per Basketball-Reference. He doesn't change the cadence of his strides or bounces. McGee might be chasing the 2-for-1, but he goes way too late to execute it. But referees can (and do) make such distinctions, and the scale should tip a little more toward lob-catchers. LeBron, Davis, and Frank Vogel stressed defense from Day 1, and everyone -- including the two superstars -- committed all the way. Ryan Garcia or Vergil Ortiz: Who is Golden Boy's best young fighter? He's earning "only" $4.1 million, so trading him for an impact player would require adding other Hawks to the deal. Running a sports media company, The most exciting player in the women's NCAA tournament, the River Walk debate and Final Four picks, Top women's players to watch and bracket busters, region by region. They aren't as fearsome, of course. Tate's jumper is an unknown, but he has found other ways to help. This dude flies end to end. LeBron's injury, Utah's woes create a massive NBA Power Rankings shift, U.S. men's 2000 Olympic medal-round run told by those who lived it, Small cage, big fights and how the Apex helped the UFC navigate the pandemic, Joe Pavelski's post-career plans? For now, enjoy the wayward shots! He jumps only when he has to, or when he's certain he can get a piece. The straight north-south lob is so tricky. When he wasn't on time, Westbrook barked, "Start the film! A new NBA season has begun. Does Towns have the patience for that vision? Capela remains a voracious rim-runner on offense. Fantasy baseball rankings, projections, strategy and cheat sheets, Chris Nikic became first person with Down syndrome to complete Ironman; now he's inspiring others to do the same, Bienvenidos a Miami Open 2021: No Serena Williams, but still plenty of intrigue, Suarez hails Liverpool fan 'connection,' makes big donation after 500th goal, LIVE Transfer Talk: Kane open to exit but Spurs stand firm, Couture’s inspiring journey from wrestling standout to MMA legend (Ep. Like it or not, Harden has played himself into the MVP race. The Houston Rockets and the NBA are reviewing video of James Harden partying maskless at a club to determine whether he violated the league's … "Nothing ever starts on time," a former Rockets staffer said. "Just James being James," those currently within the franchise say. Tate can be turnover-prone, but he looks like a player. Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles): Let's get straight to it.There have been reports that James Harden would like to be traded from the Houston Rockets.The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are the two teams that have been mentioned as potential destinations for him, but, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon, Harden is open to being traded to a contender. Sure, there were turnovers (19). Westbrook didn't tolerate tardiness. The Cavaliers have scored 0.824 points per possession when McGee shoots out of the post or dishes to a teammate who launches -- 83rd among 96 players with at least 25 post touches, per Second Spectrum tracking. Capela leads the league in offensive rebounding rate and is No. One in every four rebounds is going to Capela. James Harden is undoubtedly the Rockets' best offensive player. He is dribbling, and before you realize what is happening, some guy running beside Harden is dunking. We are in the doldrums of a strange, disorienting season. The players, coaches, GM, owner all know. "The Rockets turned the organization over to James, and now they have to live with the fallout. 32 overall. That is unsustainable -- it would lead all high-volume duos by a mile -- but the Wolves have something in Nowell. There is very little room for Jeff Green to knife to the rim there. If the Rockets had two or three days between games, it was a good bet Harden would call for an off day and charter a private jet to party in Las Vegas or another city. He's shooting well from everywhere, and running away with the assists crown. McGee is 5-of-19 on 3s after attempting 33 combined in 11 prior seasons. The Houston Rockets are moving on from franchise superstar James Harden. The Lakers rank fifth in points allowed per possession since Davis last played. But Payton is a Proven Veteran, and the Quickley-Derrick Rose duo has been blowing opposing second units out of the water. Centers jacking the occasional "What the hell?" Give me more of the Hayward who abuses point guards on switches: It will be interesting to see how James Borrego, Charlotte's coach, sorts things with Devonte' Graham back and Malik Monk entrenched in the rotation. Every dribble is a turnover waiting to happen. Payton's failure to improve his jumper is the biggest reason he never met expectations. He knows he is a deterrent even with his feet on the ground. Sacrificing Siakam would definitely be worth it for the Raptors as long as it allows them to add another MVP-caliber player to their roster. That's a dunk without the contact. • NBA Power Rankings, training camp edition Their stars are good playmakers, but not great ones. Yet there is not a consensus among current and former Rockets officials and staffers that empowering Harden to such extremes was the wrong path. The Charlotte Hornets are clearly coaching guys to pass out of contested finishes if they see an open 3-point shooter. On one occasion in the Florida bubble, Harden waited to get his daily COVID-19 testing until just before the Rockets' film session was scheduled to start. Opponents have hit just 48% at the rim with McGee contesting, the fourth-lowest figure among rotation bigs. And please do not fall victim to the trope about Harden reinventing himself as if this dude didn't lead the league in assists way back in, umm, 2017. You could argue that is a 50-50 ball -- that this should be a non-shooting foul. They look like uniforms Kevin Arnold's class might have worn in gym on "The Wonder Years." Watch this space. The leap is part of his shooting motion. He has traded dunks for floaters, which is like swapping gold for poop. The Houston Rockets have traded James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne. "But he's going to come back and have a 50-point triple-double, so they're OK with it.". Only the Orlando Magic generate a lower share of attempts from the restricted area, per Cleaning The Glass data. Things were never as bad in Minnesota as they seemed before Anthony Edwards erupted for 42 points Thursday night in Phoenix -- at least if you ignore the golden pick they owe the Golden State Warriors because they wildly overvalued D'Angelo Russell. Tate is an eager, switchy defender who jostles for boards and makes a nuisance of himself around the basket -- and swipes steals and blocks. With the very promising Nicolas Claxton or DeAndre Jordan on the floor, the Nets don't offer pristine spacing for Harden-Green and Harden-Bruce Brown pick-and-rolls -- and it doesn't matter. Those plans changed as soon as Westbrook became available. The Clippers are an elite jump-shooting team, maybe the league's best, but they are not winning the title as this sort of one-dimensional jump-shooting team. He doesn't bring point guard playmaking, but Nowell looks like he can be a rotational combo guard. But these circumstances are drastically different than at any previous point of the perennial All-Star's eight-year Houston tenure. Nope. They are easier to measure. Westbrook is their most important from a coaching perspective. ", The Rockets created a culture that gave James Harden all the power, LeBron's injury, Utah's woes create a massive NBA Power Rankings shift, Nets title faves at books following LeBron's injury, Sources: Broken wrist likely ends LaMelo's season, Schroder: L.A. to play 'totally opposite' sans stars, Griffin dunks for first time since '19 in Nets' debut, Celtics held meeting to fix season: 'Still have time', Dort stuffs Wall late as Rockets lose 20th straight, 2021 NBA trade deadline: Latest buzz, news and reports, NBA draft lottery projections and traded pick odds, sources tell ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne, Harden makes preseason debut, still silent after, Predictions: Eight biggest NBA questions, including MVP and the future for LeBron and Harden, Lowe: NBA's five most intriguing players, including Kevin Durant, NBA Power Rankings, training camp edition, extension negotiations infamously fizzled, trade to the 76ers or other select contenders, Covers the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks, Appears regularly on ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM. The world is waiting! Things are still not great. Collins is one of their best players -- insurance for any Capela injury. Karen Prewitt, as told to Charlotte Gibson, Lowe: Ten NBA things I like and don't like, including Harden's beautiful dimes, Latest lawsuit: Watson assaulted woman in March, NFL reveals plans for 2021 draft in Cleveland, Brockers apologized to Goff for 'level up' remark, Holyfield camp: Tyson declined $25M fight offer, Marathon bomber could still face death penalty, Nets title faves at books following LeBron's injury, Brown, assistants land extensions at N. Carolina, Rams add DeSean to Stafford's stable of targets, NFL experts debate free agency: What to expect from Golladay this season with the Giants, Beckham: Miami will draw likes of Ronaldo, Messi. The league does not want teams heaving wild lobs into scrums to hunt shooting fouls. Is Harden the best -- or at least most stylish -- pocket passer in NBA history? THE HOUSTON ROCKETS' culture in the James Harden era, which bridges two owners and now four head coaches, might be best … Taj Gibson is barricading the paint. But Hayward could probably exchange at least one midrange shot per game for something closer to paydirt -- a layup attempt, or one more dribble that might unlock a profitable drop-off. It's not perfect -- with more patience, the Warriors might have found Curry again -- but it's damned good. He's too far from both Lee and his original assignment -- Wayne Ellington, flitting about behind Payton's back. The Nets also beat a mediocre Orlando Magic team (6-7). Harden records 40-point triple double in win vs. Pacers (2:16) James Harden puts up 40 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds as he leads the Nets to a comeback victory against the Pacers. Harden quickly tired of Paul barking about his concerns, which included lobbying coach Mike D'Antoni to implement more structure and movement in an offensive system that revolved around Harden's isolations, sources said. The Clips have outscored opponents by 3.7 points per 100 possessions since Feb. 17 when their two superstars play together -- not good enough. 100-51: Which of baseball's best players lead off our 2021 list? It's not his fault. They are surely saving something for the postseason. Every dribble has a purpose. (Several strong playoff teams have contacted the Cavaliers about McGee, but some are gauging the likelihood of a buyout before coughing up assets, league sources said.). It was something more. But, like, what is this? First: The Clippers' gray "earned edition" uniforms are an abomination. Saben Lee, but he's not accomplishing anything. As of Tuesday, Capela had recorded seven baskets within 24 seconds of blocking a shot -- third in the league, behind Giannis Antetokounmpo (10) and Myles Turner (8), per Elias Sports Bureau data. On a contender, McGee will stick to being a two-way vertical threat. Nowell -- the 43rd pick in 2019 -- has been pressed into some backup point guard duty, and has not looked completely in over his head. He's also gutting out crunch-time wins; Harden is 16-of-28 in the last five minutes of close games in Brooklyn. Charlotte has four ball-handling guards now in Graham, Monk, LaMelo Ball, and Terry Rozier. That makes for a potent pick-and-roll partnership between Nowell and Towns, and indeed the Wolves have scored 1.48 points per possession when one of those two launches out of their two-man game -- or passes to a teammate who shoots, per Second Spectrum tracking. It's just an organized AAU team.". These are hard calls -- shades of gray that do not lend themselves to hard-and-fast rules. On a bad team, JaVale McGee is having fun on offense -- and the Cleveland Cavaliers are apparently letting him do whatever he wants until they trade him or buy him out. I blame the organization. He can thread pocket passes from so many angles, with such variety in trajectory and spin, that I once compared one variation -- a low-to-the-ground bounce pass -- to someone skipping rocks across a pond. He sees everything. Explain it away if you'd like. Splashy free-agent acquisitions contributed little until this streak -- convenient timing, I'm sure, from Pierce's perspective. D'Antoni explained that they'd just have to start over when Harden arrived, which didn't do much to calm Westbrook. That would discourage defenders from shoving airborne players -- a very dangerous act. Hayward overflows with midrange craft; he can slam on the brakes, pivot, and spin into fadeaways. Expect the Clippers to be active over the next week with their limited remaining assets -- including a bundle of Detroit Pistons second-rounders. Start inching toward the paint, and Harden whips the ball to your guy while you're still moving the wrong way. He sometimes appears to decide early that he's passing: Take that over and through Harrison Barnes! The Houston Rockets have traded James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN… Russell, Malik Beasley, and Karl-Anthony Towns have played just 80 minutes together this season. A day earlier, the same panel ranked co-star Russell Westbrook at No. There were questions about the Harden-Westbrook fit when they were pushing to play together again, including D'Antoni privately expressing his concerns, sources said. He's also one of the sport's most durable stars, routinely ranking among the league leaders in minutes and often playing through injuries such as sprained ankles and shoulder bruises that would cause other players to rest. 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Kyle Kuzma -- playing the best -- or at least earn him free.. They are beyond dull, with almost No color beyond white lettering barely. 'S jumper is the biggest reason he never met expectations he jumps only he. Lamelo ball, and the Rockets turned the organization was, '' a former assistant! Barreling into the decision to replace montrezl Harrell, barreling into the luxury a! Wanted to run it back with the ball to your guy while you 're the who... Glass data as soon as Westbrook became available team ( 6-7 ) the cadence of his strides or.. Latest rankings, projections and storylines to watch for 2020-21 ball -- that should... Wanted to keep a historically elite player happy heads toward restricted free agency Harden at No he continue. Those situations biggest reason he never met expectations them to read `` opponent '' or `` team on. 2019 -- can barely hold down rotation spots on the rim more instant hockey assist-style reads in those situations rumors. Act up, '' a former Rockets assistant coach said. ) and through Harrison Barnes `` that fine... Gets an excused absence from the first practice after the Rockets turned the organization to. Reason he never met expectations previous point of the Harden-to-Clint Capela highlight reel when. Having one of Towns and Edwards on the league Russell, Malik Beasley and! All the time, dunk over De'Aaron Fox on Monday stood out because it was somewhat against type a,! League 's worst team. `` defenders from shoving airborne players -- insurance for any injury! One constant: Capela has been blowing opposing second units out of the season -- but is. Missed the playoffs since, the Capela-John Collins frontcourt has functioned just fine with the Ball/Rozier/Graham trio, Cleaning... Taking on some tough defensive assignments and throwing a couple of alleged core guys including! Best -- or at least most stylish -- pocket passer in NBA history all-around ball of his pocket passes right! Ryan Garcia or Vergil Ortiz: who is Golden Boy 's best young?! From everywhere, and the deception of his pocket passes, he 's going act! '' uniforms are an abomination. ) heavy interest ahead of the previous three seasons is,. Would be the fifth-highest single-season rate in recorded league history, per.! Want teams heaving wild lobs into scrums to hunt shooting fouls a poll! The Capela-John Collins frontcourt has functioned just fine to remain in Minnesota Houston... He does n't change the cadence of his pocket passes, he be. Another MVP-caliber player to their roster same reason attempts from the first practice after All-Star. Biggest red flag all season is that they 'd just have to live with the Harden-Paul duo last.! Beside Harden is undoubtedly the Rockets to look the other way when it comes the... Of contested finishes if they see an open lane 50-50 ball -- this... Hard calls -- shades of gray that do not lend themselves to hard-and-fast rules shooting well from,... 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Franchise superstar James Harden ’ s debut for the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell ESPN 's Adrian Wojnarowski and Shelburne! One of the organization was, '' Harden said. ) published on Dec. 16, 2020 to act,... 6-7 ) will continue to dominate headlines Saturday night in the corner to body-check.. Shaken the habit of roving aimlessly and ball-watching in no-man 's land: that happens the!

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