Harden costing himself millions?

He is not a restricted free agent this offseason. That will be at the end of next season. If he plays horrible in next years playoffs then maybe but not right now. It’s almost impossible to ask a 22 year old to guard the best player in the league in LeBron James on defense, while giving up 3 inches in height and 30 pounds, and be as productive on offense while facing one of the best defensive teams. He has an impossible task thrown on him. We saw what he was capable of when he is not being asked to guard LeBron James fulltime. I have no idea why Thabo is staying more on LeBron.

This is what happens when the hype machine gets going. Don’t get me wrong, I love Harden, I think he is an excellent teammate that excels on this team because he knows when to assert himself and when to back off and let KD and Westbrook do their thing. 

As the third option there wasn’t a lot of pressure on him. Also all of his bad games would get swept under the rug, because his teammates play (stellar or poor) would overshadow his poor play. He wasn’t blamed for one loss the entire season. He was the baby of the family so to speak. Compare him to Bosh, the Heat’s #3 who got a grip of blame over the last 2 years.

Personally I think some team will overpay Harden. He is not a franchise 2G. He may get incrementally better than he is and will make some all star games over his career (does anyone else see an overall lack of league talent at the 2?) but he will never carry a team anywhere. Like I said, I love Harden, but I love him for what he is, not what the hype makes him out to be.    

 3 year player on the biggest basketball stage in the world. Its disappointing to see how he is performing, but people still know what he is consistentaly capable of. He’s in a slump and it happens to the best. 

 @WolfRob. I wouldn’t really call it a slump. He is beening asked to guard the best player in the world and then score 20 points against a great defense. Very very hard to do.

I dont think it cost him any money but maybe a little bit of leverage.  I think you have to look at the body of work.  Lebron’s playoff runs or lack there of in Cleveland did not hurt his market value.

I don’t think this has costed him anything…

He’s playing against a team who’s defensive strength and defending his offensive strength… Harden has basically been taken out of his game due to the Heat’s ability to hedge and defend the pick and roll. He’s also been asked to defend LeBron a lot of the time this series, which is a tough matchup for him.

He’s a very good young player who’ll keep getting better.