THEE OFFICIAL 2019-2020 NBA OFFSEASON THREAD: VICTORY LAP

[do work son]

It’s not just Harden though. People like to thrown that choker label on any star player who hasn’t carried his team to the Finals or a ring. Regardless of whether that person just lost to better teams.

I have my issues with Beard, but agree the playoff choker label is not entirely fair.

So on one hand a player can absolutely choke I think (harden game 6 vs Kawhi less spurs still deserves an explanation) if you (not you specifically) ever hooped before you know that being afraid of the moment is a very real thing

my issue is that when labeling someone like harden a choker, we willfully omit all the times he’s come through in big moments.

it’s like when they used to say bron or CP wasn’t clutch which was always wild

for me you can’t be a choker if you come through more times than you don’t

what’s the difference between choking and simply coming up short or having a bad game

it's easier to ignore context and slap a label. he's definitely had his shortcomings (game 6 vs the clippers, game 6 vs the spurs, game 5 vs the warriors setting the TO record), but contextually, hes historically had weaker teams than the opposition. on one hand, everyone recognizes that kd, klay, steph, dray, and iggy was one of the greatest lineups the nba has seen and likely the most dominant team of the last 15 years, but somehow a team of james harden, chris paul, trevor ariza, eric gordon, and pj tucker choked by not beating them.

 

[P C H]

League is definitely a better place with him in it. Top 40 player ever. Very fun to watch.

Top 40?! I love it man

 

[doublemesh96]

League is definitely a better place with him in it. Top 40 player ever. Very fun to watch.

top 40? Name 39 better I’ll wait. U ain’t got **** else to do. Let’s hear it. I’ll wait.

 

[B Sox]

Top 40?! I love it man

It's tough with this because I don't really know how much weight to put into longevity. He's had 6 seasons at an all-star level. Half of those probably at a truly elite, all-time great level.

If we are only talking about absolute peak, I have no problem putting him higher.

What are your thoughts on that?

 

[doublemesh96]

Na name 39 better

 

[doublemesh96]

**** name 15 better

 

[getback]

Good on them. Don't have to rely on players to foot the bill. Hopefully someone steps up for the Garden staff.

 

[P C H]

It's tough with this because I don't really know how much weight to put into longevity. He's had 6 seasons at an all-star level. Half of those probably at a truly elite, all-time great level.

If we are only talking about absolute peak, I have no problem putting him higher.

What are your thoughts on that?

I personally just think what he’s done is good enough to be top 15 of all time

longevity or not, 3 chips 2 mvps (one unanimous) the 3pt records,6all nba’s 6all star appearances, best player on a 67 and 73 win teams, is top 15 to me

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

somehow a team of james harden, chris paul, trevor ariza, eric gordon, and pj tucker choked by not beating them.

Somehow? Lol. Yall come up with these narratives like we didn't watch the games live

 

[pums]

I saw someone named their kid Covid Bryant ...

 

[do work son]

Somehow? Lol. Yall come up with these narratives like we didn't watch the games live

You’re a liar or delusional if you’d pick the 17-18 rockets to win that series. One team had Steph, Klay, and KD, and the other team didn’t.

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

You’re a liar or delusional if you’d pick the 17-18 rockets to win that series. One team had Steph, Klay, and KD, and the other team didn’t.

I watched the playoffs bro. The rockets were good enough to win. They choked. The end.

 

[MIKE LOWERY]

Not peak offseason yet, but we're getting there.

 

[atlsfinest]

I watched the playoffs bro. The rockets were good enough to win. They choked. The end.

They lost because Chris Paul got hurt. Did the Warriors "choke" last year?

 

[do work son]

I watched the playoffs bro. The rockets were good enough to win. They choked. The end.

They lost to a better team when their second best player got injured. It isn’t anything more than that, but I get y’all need to let these Skip Bayless/Colin Cowherd level takes off.

 

[noblekane]

You crazy!

oh you a steve curry fan now?

 

[getback]

Isn't 17-18 when CP3 got hurt? Tough to choke when you don't have your second best player.

 

[akajae]

Warriors done done.

 

[noblekane]

Curry is the best second fiddle in NBA history, IMO.

nevermind

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

Once KD got hurt and the rockets still lost both games all those excuses went out the window. It's a wrap. Harden aint that guy. All time great regular season scorer and one of the worst playoff performers ever. His legacy.

 

[CDFTDOT]

Curry is the best second fiddle in NBA history, IMO.

Kobe?

 

[elpablo21]

It’s been suspiciously tame in here so far.

Only a matter of time before it breaks into Lord of the Flies.

 

[atlsfinest]

Once KD got hurt and the rockets still lost both games all those excuses went out the window. It's a wrap. Harden aint that guy. All time great regular season scorer and one of the worst playoff performers ever. His legacy.

So when the Rockets lost in 2019, they can no longer use an excuse for the 2018 team?

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

So when the Rockets lost in 2019, they can no longer use an excuse for the 2018 team?

What?

 

[atlsfinest]

What?

The games in which the Rockets and the Warriors played when Kevin Durant was hurt were in 2019. What does that have to do with "excuses" for the 2018 Rockets team? It was a completely different season