Since winning the MVP and scoring queen, for Harden, he has no longer clung to the individual honors of the regular season, but has set his sights on impacting the championship. Even for this reason, Harden did not hesitate to give up his status as the boss of the team, took the initiative to apply for a trade, and joined the Nets in February last year to form the "Duooha" super big three.
Unfortunately, the first season of the Nets' big three did not complete the championship victory. Last year's playoffs were injured by Harden and Irving, and the Nets only made it to the second round of the playoffs. Because only Durant's strong output, the Nets, which lack major generals, simply cannot cross the strong Bucks.
I thought that after last season's rout, the New Season Nets would be more eager to win and prove themselves. But in the new season, the Nets not only did not "make a comeback" and play the dominance of the Big Three; on the contrary, because Irving refused the vaccine and Durant was injured, the "Duooha" Big Three had not yet won the championship, and it had already disintegrated in advance...
"Ma Daha" joined forces in the first five matches, and once let people see the hope of competing for the championship
I thought that after Harden joined Philadelphia, his arrival would definitely lead to fluctuations in the overall combat strength of the team, and even Embiid gave up the ball and withdrew from the MVP championship.
But I did not expect that after Harden's arrival, Embiid's personal data did not decline, but still contributed 32.6 points, 10.8 boards, 3.4 assists, 49.3% shooting rate of the superstar performance...
Even under Harden's organizational tandem, Maxi was successfully activated during this time - averaging 24.8 points, 3.6 boards, 3.4 assists per game, 60.6% shooting and 63.3% three-point shooting.
And the first five games of the "Ma Daha" team, in addition to Embiid and Maxi played well. Harden also changed the Nets' slump, averaging 24.6 points, 7.6 boards, 12.4 assists per game, and shooting 54.1% from the field. In the end, it was precisely because of the strength shown by "Ma Daha" in the first five places, so Philadelphia was once regarded as one of the most likely teams to rush out of the East.
Successive "pull crotch" performances, Harden has never been able to fight a hard battle
But "Sweet Time" always passes faster, and after the "Ma Daha" combination teamed up to win five games, Harden was beaten back to the "prototype" in the Philadelphia vs Nets game. Facing his former owner and facing his former big brother, instead of proving that he was not wrong to leave, he was completely lost in the game...
Harden shot 3-of-17 from the field, scoring only 11 points, 6 boards and 5 assists, shooting 17.6% from the field. And when Harden's personal performance is not good, Maxi is no longer magical, only 7 shots in a single game, 4 points, 1 board and 1 assist performance; Embiid although he got 27 points and 12 boards, but only 17 shots 5.
After the game with the Nets, Harden is not as magical as before, but he can quickly adjust back to regular form. In the next seven games, it can still contribute 23.5 points, 7.8 boards and 8.8 assists, but the scoring efficiency has dropped from the previous terrible 54.1% to 41.8%...
I thought that with Harden's ability, even if he pulled the crotch again, he would not be worse, who knew that in the recent Nets vs Suns game, Harden once again "pulled the crotch" in the hard battle - this game Harden shot 2 of 11, only 14 points, 7 boards and 9 assists; for comparison, Paul shot 9 of 15 in a single game, easily won 19 points, 4 boards and 14 assists.
And it is precisely because of Harden's personal performance of "pulling crotch", so although Embiid bombed 37 points, 15 boards and 3 assists in this game, but because of the "two fists are difficult to defeat four hands", Embiid could not lead Philadelphia to defeat the Suns in the end.
Before Harden joined Philadelphia, although Embiid also led the team to a good record performance, and even became a popular candidate for MVP, no one always thought that they were the favorite team for the championship. After all, thanks to Embiid's strong scoring point, Philadelphia will have a hard time going further in the playoffs.
It was only after Harden joined that Philadelphia was recognized as one of the most likely teams to break out of the East. But unless Harden can maintain the performance of the first five games he played in Philadelphia, otherwise with his recent form, Philadelphia is still doomed to not go far in this year's playoffs...
He "pulled his crotch" at key moments in the playoffs for two consecutive years, resulting in the team losing to the Warriors in succession
In fact, Harden "pulls his crotch" as soon as he fights a hard battle, which is nothing new. In the 17-18 regular season, Harden averaged 30.4 points, 5.4 boards, 8.8 assists + 44.9% shooting percentage per game, coupled with a record of 65 wins and 17 losses, successfully breaking the "with the climb" law and winning the MVP trophy.
But despite getting the MVP, Harden's playoffs this year are still highly questioned. In the 18th Western Conference Finals, the Rockets led Paul and Harden to lead the Warriors 3-2. In the G6 after Paul's injury, Harden can still get 32 points, 7 boards and 9 assists, and comprehensive data on 41.7% shooting;
But in this game, Harden scored only 0 points, 1 board and 1 assist in the last quarter, and he could not stand up when the team needed him to score the most. In the playoffs in 2019, after the personal data went further, it was thought that Harden could overcome the attribute of "pulling crotch" at key moments.
Who ever wanted to take an 87-82 lead in the first three quarters of Durant's injury + G6, Harden still failed to stand up and harvest the game in the fourth quarter, but watched Curry shoot 6 of 8 in the last quarter, and blasted 23 points to lead the Warriors to advance...
Pull your crotch in a hard fight? If Harden can't change in time, Philadelphia is doomed to go far this year
In fact, whether it is from the performance of the Rockets period, or from the Nets period or after joining Philadelphia, Harden has not proved himself in the key game - he is not "pulling the crotch" throughout the game, or "dropping the chain" at a critical moment.
Although the current Philadelphia, like the Nets, does not need Harden to score crazy, only that he does a good job of organizing and connecting the team. However, if Harden "pulls the crotch" at the offensive end, it will not only directly affect the overall offensive firepower of the team, but also affect the play of Maxi, Harris, Sable and others.
After all, once Harden attacks "pulls the crotch", he can't attract the bag clip, can't attract more defense. It also means that other Philadelphia players need to face a more intense defense when Harden attacks "pulls the crotch".
Easy to "pull the crotch" in key games or key moments, this is the biggest flaw in Harden's career so far, and it is also the hidden danger that Philadelphia cannot go further in this year's playoffs. After all, if it were not for this flaw, Harden might have defeated the Warriors in the playoffs as early as 18 years, defeated the Cavaliers and successfully won the championship + FMVP trophy, and why did he fall to the point where he is now looking around for the championship?
To say that Harden has no offensive talent, he can blast 30+ points for three consecutive years to win three scoring kings; to say that Harden does not have defensive talent, with his tonnage, but can be tough James, alphabet brother and other strong forward players without falling behind.
In terms of Harden's performance in recent years and the strength he has shown, he has every chance to become a star of the level like Durant and Alphabet Brother, but in the end Harden is reduced to the second boss of the championship team...
In fact, whether it is the technical level or the physical level, it is not the main reason why Harden "pulls the crotch" in the key game, nor is it the main reason that restricts him from becoming a supergiant. The main reason why Harden "pulled his crotch" in key games and could not become a supergiant is his willpower and attitude.
For example, in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last year, when Harden and Irving retired from injury, when the Nets were almost impossible to beat the Bucks to advance, it was Durant who, with his super willpower and paranoid attitude, averaged 35.4 points per game, 10.7 boards, 5.4 assists, and 50.9% shooting rate of the "super god" performance, dragging the series into the seven-game battle.
In summary, in fact, whether it is the technical level or the physical level, it is enough to support Harden to become a super giant, and even support him to win the championship. But compared to other supergiants in the league, it is clear that Harden lacks willpower and paranoia. For example, in the face of predictable failure, Harden is not like Durant, Curry, and Kobe Bryant to fight for the "first line of life", but "rational lying flat".
If Harden can't change his willpower or attitude next, then no matter how well he plays in the regular season, he will still most likely "pull his crotch" at key moments in the playoffs. So as long as Harden can't change in time, even if Philadelphia breaks into the playoffs this year with the first place in the East, they will still be difficult to win the championship and can't go further in the playoffs...