In the 19-year offseason, when Harden and Wei Shao's "double MVP combination" once again failed to compete for the championship, Harden finally compromised to the times and chose the "active group" way of fighting for the championship. Although the Rockets were not willing to let Harden go easily at that time, under his negative performance, they had to let him go...
I thought that after joining the Nets, Harden would be able to enjoy the treatment of Durant joining the Warriors that year - doing the most "easy" job and holding the highest honor in the league. After all, at that time, the Nets' big three could be called the league's most luxurious championship lineup after the disintegration of the "Five-Star Warriors".
But last season at Durant's long injury retirement, Irving from time to time to miss the game, Harden was forced to become the team's thigh, had to carry the team on his own. And Harden also did not live up to the expectations of the outside world, playing in a single season with an average of 24.6 points, 7.9 boards and 10.8 assists, 46.6% shooting rate + 36.2% three-point shooting rate of the superstar performance.
And at that time, the Nets, under the leadership of Harden, not only did not decline in the record, but even achieved a record of 48 wins and 24 losses in the Second East, easily breaking into the playoffs.
After entering the playoffs, Harden's personal performance remained undiminished - averaging 27.8 points per game in the first round, 7.2 boards, 10.6 assists, 55% shooting percentage, fully exerting his offensive and organizational advantages; in the second round, due to the impact of injuries, it fell to 14.3 points, 6.7 boards, 8.0 assists, and 31.7% shooting rate.
However, although Harden's personal performance was relatively "crotch-pulling" in the second round of the playoffs last season, no one believed that he would never be able to play a superstar performance. After all, the most direct reason for his poor performance is still affected by injuries. Otherwise, the Nets management would have traded Harden in the offseason.
I thought that after the rest of the offseason, healthy Harden could still easily play a superstar performance. However, after the start of the new season, Harden unexpectedly did not play a superstar personal performance.
Before joining Philadelphia, Ha only scored 22.5 points, 7.9 boards, 10.1 assists, and a personal performance of 41.2% shooting, and he did not lead the Nets to stabilize the record again. Especially in the new season, when Durant was injured again and Irving could not play the home game because of his refusal to be vaccinated, this time Harden not only did not play a better personal performance, but conscientiously helped the team win, but chose to leave the Nets...
After Harden left the Nets, Nets fans hoped that he would be able to continue his poor form at the Nets, completely unable to play the personal performance of the superstar, especially the offensive end to continue to "pull the crotch". Philadelphia fans hope that Harden can play the personal performance of the superstar, especially the restoration of the offensive firepower of the previous superstar, and help the team to compete for the championship.
27+8+12！ Harden Philadelphia made his debut and easily played a good performance
After joining Philadelphia, Harden recently made his debut. I thought that after nearly a month of truce, Harden may not have too good performance on the offensive end; but I did not expect philadelphia debut, Harden handed over 7 of 12 shots, 7 of 5 three-pointers, and a quasi-triple-double performance of 27 points, 8 boards and 12 assists in a single game.
In addition to the efficiency of the individual offensive end, Harden's organization and tandem also activated Maxi and Embiid, making their scoring simpler and more efficient than ever...
In contrast, Harden played 37 minutes in a single game against the Kings (the last game), shooting 2-of-11, and only got 4 points, 7 boards and 12 assists, and a personal performance of 18.2% shooting. After joining Philadelphia, Harden seems to have become stronger, comparing the two games before and after joining Philadelphia - the score increased by 24 points, the shooting rate increased by 40.1%, and even the number of turnovers dropped from 6 to 2...
So, before leaving the Nets, he performed "pulling his crotch", why did Harden become stronger after joining Philadelphia?
Before leaving the Nets, although Harden still averaged 22.5 points + 41.2% shooting per game, but games that did not score 20 points in a single game abounded, why did he not only reduce the number of mistakes significantly after coming to Philadelphia, but also easily scored 27 points?
1. The impact of "new regulations + injuries" has caused Harden to fail to play a superstar performance. In the second round of last year's playoffs, Harden should not have played again in the series due to a hamstring injury. However, after Irving retired from injury, in order for the team to have a better chance of qualifying, he had to come back with an injury, making it more difficult for him to recover from his injury.
In the new season, from Harden's personal performance in the early part of the season, his hamstring injury is actually not good. But when Irving was "banned" for refusing the vaccine, he had to play. After all, durant alone may not lead the team to too bad results, but if he is injured due to overdraft, it is even more detrimental to the Nets to win the championship.
Coupled with the promulgation of the new rules of the league, Harden has become the "key target" of the league's referees. Therefore, before the injury has fully recovered, the league referee has a "better kill than let go" attitude towards him, which led to a huge decline in Harden's personal data and actual performance in the early part of the season.
2, Irving's comeback, Harden's negative performance. In fact, before Irving's comeback, Harden had played a superstar performance of 36 points, 10 boards and 10 assists, 39 points, 8 boards and 15 assists, 33 points, 14 boards and 10 assists, and 34 points, 12 boards and 13 assists. But when the Nets management allowed Irving to make a "part-time" comeback, Harden's personal performance went into a negative state...
After all, at the time of the "ban" of Irving, no matter which side Durant was on, the team management was equivalent to standing on Harden's side. And when the team management allows Irving to "play part-time", it not only means that the Nets management is on Irving's side, but also means that the follow-up Nets Big Three face the league's 29 team, and there is no big advantage.
Especially in the playoffs, when Irving can't play on the road, with the overall state of the Nets at that time, even if Durant once again plays a "super god" performance in the series? As long as Irving can't make a full comeback, they won't be able to get past the Bucks.
It is precisely because the championship is hopeless that Harden will choose to "lie flat" before the end of the trade day, because he hopes that the Nets management can send him to a team that is more suitable for him like the Rockets management.
3, the gap between Nash and Rivers, it is obvious that Harden played more easily in Philadelphia. Although the "3-1 was reversed" and "chicken soup marshal" famous memes, caused Rivers to become the object of ridicule. But that's only relative to the top head coaches in the league, because Rivers is indeed inferior to Popovich, Cole and other famous coaches who have led the team to win the championship many times.
But compared to Nash, Rivers was more than a little stronger. For now, the reason why Harden can't play a superstar personal performance in the Nets is also a "credit" from Nash.
After all, as the Nets manager, Nash did not create a suitable system for the Big Three to maximize their own capabilities, but could only rely on their individual ability to win. After coming to Philadelphia, under Rivers' coaching and system, Harden obviously played more easily than when nash was coaching.
In addition, the buffer and recovery period of more than 20 days before and after being traded also allowed Harden's already overwhelmed body to be restored to a certain extent, allowing him to have more physical strength and healthier body before his Philadelphia debut; and Philadelphia's new environment, new teammates, and new hopes for the championship also made Harden, who longs for the championship, full of momentum.
In summary, it is not difficult to understand why Harden's personal performance has fluctuated in the Nets and Philadelphia. "New rules + injuries, negative attitudes" led to Harden's mediocre performance at the Nets; While Philadelphia's better offensive and defensive system, coupled with new championship hopes and more physical strength, hardened a relatively better personal performance.
And from the current degree of Harden's recovery, Philadelphia's overall lineup, and the team system, now Harden can not only play a good performance in a single game, but also be able to stabilize the personal performance of the giant star...