Salman Ali: James Harden on passing Calvin Murphy in scoring: “We all know how great Calvin was for this organization… It’s an honor… I got a lot way to go to pass Dream, but as long as I keep playing at the pace I am now, I have a chance.”
James Harden Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: G
Born: 08/26/89
Height: 6-5 / 1.96
Weight:220 lbs. / 99.8 kg.
Salary: $38,199,000
Born: 08/26/89
Height: 6-5 / 1.96
Weight:220 lbs. / 99.8 kg.
Salary: $38,199,000
Austin Rivers on Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden: They don’t say a word to each other. They don’t they don’t talk any trash to each other. They don’t. They don’t say anything. So it’s not like to the point where you’d be like, Man, these guys really hate each other. I think they both respect each other a lot. They just won’t admit it because they’re both so competitive. (…) I think James is so competitive, that he just doesn’t like somebody that’s also getting MVP. And I think it’s the same way Giannis.
Justin Kubatko: Duncan Robinson has 250 3PM (and counting) this season. Fastest in NBA history to reach that mark: 48 – Stephen Curry, 2018-19 51 – Curry, 2015-16 51 – James Harden, 2018-19 55 – Harden, 2019-20 65 – Curry, 2016-17 67 – Harden, 2017-18 67 – Paul George, 2018-19 68 – Robinson
While watching Sunday night’s box-office affair between the Houston Rockets and Milwaukee Bucks, perhaps the saying speaks more to the mental exercise of what it takes to play defense and get stops. “Heart and will,” James Harden said. “Everybody says we’re undersized — and they got a couple of offensive rebounds on us just cause they have 7-footers and whatnot — but you gotta just keep fighting, keep fighting. Once we get that ball, we’re out, so it just takes good spirit, fighting and making sure we’re communicating defensively and in our right positions.”
Westbrook finished with 31 points, eight assists and six rebounds, but it’s more important to note how he kept Houston afloat while Harden sat with foul trouble. He constantly put pressure on the Bucks’ defense, forcing them to concede open shots to Green, Tucker, Ben McLemore, and others. In addition, it seemed like him and Harden struck a good balance of when to attack versus when to move the ball and look for others. When Harden struggles offensively, Westbrook is more than capable of picking up the slack. “Yeah, I think we’re comfortable now,” Harden said of the pair’s chemistry. “I think with that training camp, we’re in a good place. We found ourselves.”
“We loaded up,” House explained. “We talked. The most important thing was to stop him before he got downhill, of course. We did a good job about locating him before he could get the ball or even after he got the ball to make sure that we were on the help side and that guys were already communicating with one another. That’s been a big help and a big factor for us — communication on defense. So we don’t have those “my bad” moments.” “Very important,” Harden added on their late-game defense. “I think throughout the course of the game we played some really good defense. Obviously, they’re a really good offensive team, but throughout the course of the game we got stops when we needed to.”
Bleacher Report: James Harden (20,796 points) passed David Robinson to become the all-time scoring leader for a lefty.
4d
StatMuse: James Harden tonight: 49 PTS 9 REB 8 AST 3 STL 3 BLK 14-20 FG He is the only player to score 49 or more points on 20 shots or fewer in the last 25 years. pic.twitter.com/lw26FGGJ18
What the Rockets are banking on is discomfort. Making opposing teams have to adjust to their style. We’ve seen them do it before to good teams—the Lakers, Celtics, and Jazz come to mind although you could make the case that Boston already plays a similar brand. Houston wants teams to believe they have the advantage, force inefficient post-ups down their throat, only to cause a shift to match a style of play they already excel in. It’s a five-on-five chess game and Houston is dead set on putting you in checkmate with bishops and knights. “That’s the point,” Harden said. “To be able to use our advantages against our opponent. Most teams have traditional centers and seven-footers and we don’t. We have to use our quickness to our advantage. Obviously, transition defense and rebounding are going to be key for us and we have to focus on that at a high level.”
Alykhan Bijani: James Harden on focus and differences being in the bubble versus in Houston: “Concentration level is going to be higher. You’re limited in distractions. At this point, it’s just whoever who can bring that focus together as one unit. Hopefully that’s us.” #Rockets
Jonathan Feigen: James Harden’s final comment on today’s media zoom call: “We’re bringing it back to H-Town. We’ve come up short these last few years but this is an opportunity for us to fight for it, to get after it again. We have some grinding to do, but the goal is to bring it back to H-Town.”
Mark Berman: James Harden (@James Harden), one of the owners of the @HoustonDash, on winning the @NWSL Challenge Cup: “Beautiful site.Adversity, w/ the coronavirus & everything that’s been going on in the world,for them to win a championship,it’s amazing. I’m proud of them. Celebrate & have fun”
Salman Ali: James Harden on Russell Westbrook’s impact on practice: “He just changed the game, especially in transition… Definitely a dynamic aspect that we’ve been missing.”
Tim MacMahon: Nugget from @ESPNStatsInfo: James Harden (34.4 ppg) could go scoreless in the 8-game seeding schedule and still average 30 per game this season. He’ll be the first player to score 30 per in three straight seasons since Michael Jordan did so in seven consecutive years (1986-93).
Santoprieto’s suit states that Harden paid $82,200 to stay for a week at the home contingent on his not having more than seven guests. But Harden had multiple parties during the lease term in which he had more than 15 people, the property was damaged during his stay and Santoprieto’s relationship with the homeowners association was negatively affected, his suit states.
Tim Reynolds: Stat races, such as the scoring title, will continue through the end of the seeding games. The league announced that decision last month (though the scoring title for James Harden and assist crown for LeBron James are basically wrapped up anyway).
James Harden joined the Rockets at Disney World. And immediately caused controversy. Harden wore a Thin Blue Line flag mask. The Thin Blue Line can symbolize support for police – who are said to be the thin blue line separating order from anarchy – but has also become viewed to represent oppression and white supremacy. The mask includes a skull resembling the Punisher logo, which has become another symbol of both police pride and something more menacing.
Alykhan Bijani: James Harden: “Homecourt advantage? There’s no Homecourt advantage. We don’t have any fans…It don’t matter if you’re 4th, 5th, 6th seed. For us, it’s about getting in shape and making sure our offense and defense is crispy and we’re all on the same page. We’ll play anybody.”
Michael C. Wright: James Harden on late arrival: “Just had some family issues. I’m happy I’m here. Felt really good to be out here with the guys and getting after it.”
Alykhan Bijani: D’Antoni on James Harden: “He’s been going hard before he got here. I didn’t see any difference whatsoever. We’ll watch tomorrow. If he’s sore, maybe we’ll back him off. He looks like he’s ready to go. You forget how strong he is. He’s one of the strongest players in the league.”
Tim MacMahon: Mike D’Antoni says he was “really pleased” with how James Harden looked in practice. Harden had no limitations and participated in the full practice, his first since clearing the bubble quarantine.
Alykhan Bijani: James Harden makes a behind-the-back bounce pass to Robert Covington on the roll and screams “He’s Baaack!” (via @Daryl Morey) instagram.com/p/CCuDoAaB0wp/
Chris Haynes: Houston Rockets star James Harden plans to participate in his first practice today from Orlando, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
Salman Ali: PJ Tucker on James Harden returning: “It changes everything. He’s our team He’s our captain. He’s runs the ship…. The intensity goes up. The level of play goes up. He raises the stakes everytime he steps on the floor. That’s what we all love about him.”
Salman Ali: James Harden will need to get a couple of negative COVID-19 tests and spend 36 hours in isolation before he’s cleared to practice with the team.
Salman Ali: Mike D’Antoni on getting James Harden back: “It’s one step to getting a complete [roster]. It’s a big step. It’ll be a seemless transition.”
James Harden rejoins Rockets
Marc Stein: James Harden has arrived at Walt Disney World tonight and will have to isolate and register three consecutive negative tests for COVID-19 before he is cleared to join the Rockets
Mark Berman: Mike D’Antoni on James Harden arriving at the NBA’s 2Bubble in Orlando: “Really happy that James is here. Now we’ll just wait for the team to be completely whole with Russell (Westbrook) & Luc Mbah a Moute (arriving).Good 1st step.I’m just really glad that James is here.” #Rockets
4w
James Harden and Russell Westbrook traveling to Disney together?
Stadium: A source tells our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania that Rockets star James Harden is feeling fine, working out and may travel with Russell Westbrook to Orlando when Westbrook clears from coronavirus.
Alykhan Bijani: Coach D’Antoni on James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Luc Mbah A Moute getting to Orlando: “It’ll be soon. Not gonna be long, we hope. We think we’ll get em back in here towards the middle of the week.”
