James Harden was a Special Slashing Prospect - Throwback NBA Draft Scouting

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[@ax7160]

I don't know how much of this is just because of hindsight, but young Harden's ability to effortlessly get to his spots on offense; no matter where he gets the ball, has obvious future NBA all-star written all over it

[@JordanR34948]

Easy to say when he made it

[@user-yt7uc2rm2p]

I mean he went third overall we all knew he would eventually hit all star.. it would be hindsight to speak on anything after the trade to the rockets

[@mikewilliams9069]

before he had asctoopidafrow

[@sheezy3962]

He was always better than Curry.

[@Nunya7211]

Reminds me of watching darius garland a few years ago in college. You could see the same thing

[@begcoins]

Hardens game was really simple until he got traded to the Rockets. Once he got that payday and the ultimate greenlight he started working on his legendary footwork which obviously changed the game as we know it.

[@gluestick5759]

Speaks to what differentiates a guy like him from even the better players in the league- most guys in a low pressure situation after getting paid and getting the reigns wouldn't start putting nose to grindstone and work on their game enough to become an MVP level guy while already being an excellent and effective player

[@rockysalvatore435]

Yep everyone copied him not curry

[@dominiquewilson]

Wrong. Harden was always Nice. He just was in the team with KD and Russ. He got the green light when he got to Houston. He didn’t just “get better” lol.

[@begcoins]

@@dominiquewilson He was the point guard off the bench. He literally couldn't play iso ball like Houston Harden until he left. He literally said that he felt restricted in that offense.

[@DaffyTaffy93]

As an Okc fan I knew that guy had the potential to have his own team and be great sad seeing him go all those years ago

[@devvv4616]

He doesnt even have his eurostep yet. When he got to the Rockets, every drive was basically a eurostep variation

[@sammymac2546]

No, he was in t shirt lol

[@terrencetaylor8851]

@@sammymac2546 what?

[@sammymac2546]

@@terrencetaylor8851 commented on the wrong thread my b

[@juju-vl7oj]

It’s weird , I grew up near ASU and even went to see Harden play a couple home games but now I barely remember he went there . He was really good then but I never would’ve guessed he’d end up a top 50 player of all time .

[@allenross3050]

Too 25-30

[@tlxxlt4745]

Also, I love his change of pace when he handles. It’s not like Kyrie where he hits you a thousand times, rather it’s just a couple effective moves and he gets by. If he developed his right hand more I really think he could’ve been one of the greatest finishers ever, % wise. That between the legs is lethal, and he slows down while doing it and then speeds up.

[@dotunxd]

Kyrie with the mavs is more of a couple effective moves than “ hitting a thousand times”

[@Rswishhh]

U need to watching more film on Kyrie, u talking like he’s Julian Newman 😂

[@MakaveliDior]

I hate when people think that Kyrie does 1000 moves 🤦🏻‍♂️😂

[@terrencetaylor8851]

he is still one of the greatest finishers ever...

[@sbnpouipnbt2614]

@@Rswishhhi mean

[@tlxxlt4745]

I love harden’s ball handling (pause). He uses his off hand a lot to kind of set up his own lane, and use his body. I do think that he should’ve developed his right hand as a finisher, although as a handler it was great. His left hand dominance really puts into perspective how good he was.

[@carltonbanks5470]

1:41 Jrue was just trying to hang on for life because he already left his feet on the pump fake.

[@aaronlampkin284]

One of the easiest prospect's you knew was going to be Great.

[@michaelahurt]

????? Dude _no one_ thought that at the time I was at summer league after his freshman year and was talking to some NBA scouts and mentioned I thought Harden was a much better prospect than OJ Mayo ... they all looked at me like I was crazy I thought he would be a Joe Dumars type who could slide on or off ball as needed -- and Joe is in the HOF -- but anyone seeing the isolation god he became is using pure hindsight. Even after 3 years in OKC he was viewed as a Manu type player not an MVP He was also helped a ton by how the game evolved

[@aaronlampkin284]

@@michaelahurt I can’t speak for everyone but I watched college basketball since 07 religiously and knew he was going to be an all time great scorer. For me it wasn’t hindsight, I was Very High on Harden and just knew bro. Also agree, he was a better prospect than OJ mayo . NBA scouts from 2004-2009 opinions aged like shit like I knew it would for most of their “scouting takes”

[@FlashGordon2fast]

@@michaelahurt Not true,of course people didn't expect Harden to be a top 5 SG of all time,but a very good NBA player you could see that at ASU for sure

[@sancho404]

@@michaelahurthe evolved the game*

[@michaelahurt]

@@sancho404 Steph Curry, Steve Kerr, Daryl Morey and Mike D'Antoni evolved the game Harden just took advantage of it

[@WyWid]

1:47 playing off of two feet!! So glad you mentioned it

[@allenross3050]

Harden used to wear an undershirt like Luka in euroleague when he was a teen. I didn’t know that

[@sammymac2546]

@@allenross3050 nah he was in a t shirt lol

[@samxyx]

Harden and Embiid are some of the most unrecognizable guys when you compare their appearance to their NBA one.

[@WyWid]

3:54 there is goes again! Off two feet. So disciplined

[@Ness315]

i remember the comparison was Manu Ginobili pre-draft

[@CBand01]

James Harden had a simple game in college and OKC. When he got to Houston, he became our franchise player and became his own guy. He felt that OKC betrayed him so he showed them what they were missing.

[@joeldriver-sp2rg]

If OKC GM Sam Presti wouldn't have traded Harden he would have been a part of a dynasty that would have won at least 3 championships and maybe even more. It will go down as arguably the stupidest trade in the history of pro sports. None of us here in OKC can believe they got rid of him even to this day. The Warriors never would have happened because the Thunder would have kicked their ass every single year.

[@monkeyman9856]

It’s cool to see him play without trying to draw a foul every single play. He doesn’t play basketball like it’s supposed to be played anymore, and he wonders why he’ll never win a chip

[@VERYRARE00000]

only reason he doesn’t have a ring is because he lost to the plot armor of the warriors every year. what other superstar took the KD warriors to seven games in a series??? okay then. if you can’t appreciate a player’s individual talent without bringing up rings just stop talking basketball its retarded….. he’s the best combo guard in the history of the game.

[@JamesHardenoverKobe13]

Yall got duped if yall believe the "James Harden cant carry and chokes". "James Harden travels" lines. Bewhahaha. Sorry James Harden haters. That's not a travel. The NBA released a statement going into detail on why they couldn't call it a travel according to the 2009 rule change. People tend to skip this part. LeBron, Kobe, and Wade traveled so much they had to change the travel rule in 2009 to allow an extra step. Hey remember when kobe would hit people in the neck and head area when defended well. Harden is a cleaner version of Kobe. The double standard is adorable. Players like LeBron, Derek Fisher, Ginobili, Luka, Reggie Miller, Danny Ainge, and Vlade are examples of real flopping. Do you remember Lebron flopping in Miami. On ball, off ball, heck LeBron was flopping during timouts. Yet hey let's pretend none of this happened. I like how yall are against load manage in the regular season. Yet bash Harden for balling in the regular season during his prime. While skipping other teams who will load manage and skip games. That's actually the spurs "playoff secret". That was the whole point of CP3 after 2017. Funny how no spur fans will mention thier roster that year. The spurs are now the reason why players skip games Who do you think taught Kawhi Leonard to sit out so many games. Heck he joined and already 60 win team while also adding post defense in Marc Gasol. Yet Kawhi Leonard was still using load management. Ha. Easy to have energy or "consistency" at the end of the season when you load manage for most of your prime years. Kyrie is a perfect example. Kyrie played only three seasons with at least 70 regular season games. Yes you heard that right, only three. Funny to watch casual who obviously don't watch the game all year get amazed by Kyrie "consistency". There was one point where Harden played more games than both KD and Kyrie combined and Kyrie wasn't even hurt. What about how Harden had to play without Joel embiid at one point against both Boston and Miami. Funny how people skip the part where Lamarcus Aldridge had the best playoff series in his entire career vs Dwight Howard. Dwight was playing the least games and minutes during this part of his career. Keep in mind Dwight Howard played in more games with Kobe than in any season he did with Harden. Plus Kobe had Steve Nash as well that year. But hey let's pretend none of this happened. You can also debate Wade 2006 team was better than any Harden had in his prime. Just to put the 2000s, 2010s, and the beginning of the 2020s into perspective. Hakeem dominated the era of the centers. Shaq "dominated" the era of the power forward. Huge difference. Plus Shaq and Kobe (not kobe and shaq) got bailed out in 2000 and 2002. Can you even call this a legitimate threepeat let alone a back to back? Cute. Look at giannis weak champ. Imagine if Hakeem missed games in the playoff while his team advanced without him to the next round during a champ run. Yet that's exactly what happened to giannis in 2021. The 1971 Bucks played against an injured Lakers and Baltimore team. Yet you can still debate 1971 was more competitive than 2021. Which do you prefer? 1971 Bucks or 2021? Sorry Giannis fans. Hey remember when people try to say kobe quote about Harden was true. Cute. Yall realize kobe qoute was actually what Phil Jackson said about Kobe in his prime. Yes go back and look what Phil Jackson said. Keep in mimd this happened right after the 2004 choke. Hey remember when kobe also said Devon Mitchell was going to beat Prime Harden? Now you see why Mitchell tries to play like Kobe so much. Harden never had a superteam in his prime. Let alone choke with one like Kobe did in 2004 or LeBron and Wade in 2011. What happened to kobe after he ran Shaq and Phil off? Right. Nothing. Kobe even missed the playoffs during his prime. In his prime. It took three players to replace Shaq in Odom, Gasol, and Andrew Bynum. While Phil Jackson returned. The Rockets took kobe to game 7 in 2009. Keep in mind Tmac missed the entire series while Yao missed half the series. Plus game 7 of 2010 is another example of kobe bricking and getting bailed out. Yet this is suppose to save kobe from the shaq talk? Hahaha!!! Shaq and kobe loved themselves more than the game. Let that sink in. Kobe had Phil Jackson, Jerry West, Tex Winter, and prime Shaq. Yet still needed to get bailed out. Meanwhile, Spurs started load management. That's the spurs "playoff secret" during the Tim era. You can thank Tim spurs for the reason players play less now. "Black mamba" was a self proclaimed nickname... it wasn't given to kobe. That's the same as lebron fans calling him the goat just because lebron said so. Hahahaha!!! Lebron picked up Shaq and kobe selfishness and the Spurs load management tactics. Plus Team USA wasn't the best during the 2000s even with LeBron (including LeBron in 2006) and prime Tim. With all due respect. Plus I like how Tim fans pretend Tim never choked to an eight seed in the first round. Plus Tim choked at the free throw line. Yes Tim was hackable. Hey remember when warriors kept fouling Rockets to keep them from breaking another three point record. They even had Draymond Green commit flagrant foul on the Rockets. This was around 2013. Houston Rockets are the only team in history to lead the league in three attempts and made. While also winning the champ in the same season. No other team have done this even once. Rockets did it twice. 2018 was going to be only the third time in NBA history. "but but but they missed all those 3's in game 7". Cute, the "greatest of all time" warriors couldn't even win back to back at the time. Hey remember when spur fans claimed Bruce Bowen wasn't dirty. He injured other teams top stars multiple times doing this. Kinda ironic Zaza from the warriors used the Bruce Bowen move on Kawhi and injured him in 2017. Warriors resorted to doing the same in 2018 game 7. Some of those missed threes were straight up fouls. Keep in mind even with the difference in the roster and last resort Bruce Bowen moves. Warriors won by only 9 points. Sorry. Warriors are far from "the greatest of all time". With all due respect. Warriors have never won a champ without injuries to their opponents top two stars. This includes 2015, 2017, and 2018. Glass ankle curry couldn't even win FMVP until half the league was injured. Cute. Before KD warriors had no back to back and a 3-1 choke job. Guess they didn't believe in curry like they claimed. Kinda funny to see curry fans bash KD for his overrated ring. When curry shares the same overrated ring. They're trying to cut the finger to save the hand. Hey remember when LeBron and KD blamed the old Rockets and old Celtics for joining superteams in their 20s. Drexler and Charles didn't even join Hakeem until after a decade in the league. The "youngest" Celtics 3 (Paul, Kevin, and Ray) was older than the Heat 3 "oldest" player. LeBron was 25 at the time be created a superteam. That's adorable. LeBron beat only one 50 win team up to 2010. That was a Detroit Piston who didn't even have Ben Wallace. Plus lebron 2007 team was a defensive minded team. They even held the spurs to 85 or less in three out of the four games. They gave LeBron a chance to win. What happened? They forced LeBron into more jump shots. What's next? His fake 2020 bubble champ that was clearly handed to him? Please enlighten. Always remember James Harden haters. History isn't written by the "victors". They just try to burn other people's books. I'll debate today's game is just as good as ever. The fans of lebron, kobe, shaq, tim, and curry are the one's holding back basketball. All the load management since the 2000s. They're the ones who started the "regular season don't matter but I'll still take the fans money while our players sit out". The superteams getting exposed in their prime when "playoffs matter" during 2010s. Adorable.

[@VERYRARE00000]

@@JamesHardenoverKobe13 💯💯💯💯💯 these folks needa put some respect on on Harden's name!

[@saurabtirkey1486]

​@@JamesHardenoverKobe13 Cook brother

[@machivelli-l9b]

Harden was the strongest guard in the leauge at one point that and his footwork and volume shooting is what got him to MVP Harden. He always had the playmaking and handle.

[@k.matturi9219]

His ability to reinvent himself is an underrated talent ,his passing is on par with LeBron James .Also led the Pac10 in steals ,showed that he had elite confidence . Most of the time the league leader in steals is an all star .

[@mightyPants]

I glanced the thumbnail and thought it said 'generational diver' at first.

[@davidwoods7042]

I remember having ASU season tickets that harden year. He was awesome. You make a really good point about the game coming easy. The ones who usually bust as high picks don’t have that productivity volume, or the ability to read the game.

[@HKim0072]

3:54 man, I can hear Tom Thibodeau yelling "ICE ICE" through my screen.

[@sammymac2546]

T shirt harden was the fucking truth

[@Truthisfree2U]

It was over for Harden when the NBA stop letting him initiate contact and get tk the foul line. He was hooking people whenever he’d drive and he was so good at it the defender was always called for foul. Once the NBA got hip all those 30 and 40 points went down quickly

[@allenross3050]

Nah it was that injury

[@begcoins]

Do a video on Harden in OKC vs Houston Harden.

[@Certified_100]

My fav college player right here

[@crøwn-yami]

that hamstring injury robbed us

[@JASONTHEGAMER377]

Players are out with hamstrings all the time and come back the same call down

[@JamesHardenoverKobe13]

​@@JASONTHEGAMER377 Warriors have never won a champ without injuries to their opponents top two stars. This includes 2015, 2017, and 2018. Glass ankle curry couldn't even win FMVP until half the league was injured. Cute. Before KD warriors had no back to back and a 3-1 choke job. Guess they didn't believe in curry like they claimed. Kinda funny to see curry fans bash KD for his overrated ring. When curry shares the same overrated ring. They're trying to cut the finger to save the hand.

[@tnk4me4]

Amazing. Any plans on doing a Markelle Fultz video? I'm still wondering what they saw in him that made him the consensus no1 pick in a draft that had Jayson Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, D'aaron Fox and Bam Adebayo

[@devvv4616]

He was very good and had a pretty good shooting form. Basically brings what you want in a guard as a franchise player. He lost his ability to shoot in the nba, and his confidence with it

[@lahkooky504westside3]

He was seen as a generational scorer. A harden/kyire hybrid. I remember the hype him and Lonzo had

[@tnk4me4]

@lahkooky504westside3 I remember his hype. I just didn't see it being as justified at the time the way I saw Lonzo or Ben Simmons.

[@lahkooky504westside3]

He was a smoothed player...

[@izaak7470]

he had a massive wingspan and advanced footwork and shotmaking ability which made him one of the best pull up shooting guard prospects we had seen in some time. the ability to pull up over any defender's head was like a 6'4 kevin durant. combined with being the 2nd or 3rd best playmaker in this draft and his athleticism it made sense for him to be a number 1 pick

[@ayeyaungshexalitegang]

This is dope. Good work

[@6aliph77]

One of my favorite players to watch. We need to appreciate his game and stop nit picin

[@kingpin2killa]

feel like this how dylan harper going to look like for rutgers

[@sancho404]

used to go to these games as a kid in tempe . great times

[@WyWid]

4:54 yo so glad to see a missed shot in this tape. The game is more than just makes and misses. It’s the concept!

[@TheStonersCommittee]

You just got a subscriber. I’m about to checc out your content.

[@benpfeifer8192]

@@TheStonersCommittee ❤️❤️

[@pigu8734]

harden special slashing prospect lore

[@WyWid]

7:57 gadamn his pull back and pretty shot

[@byrieirving3482]

How the HELL did you get 60 fps 720p asu harden footage LMAOO

[@benpfeifer8192]

@@byrieirving3482 i have my ways

[@NihalRehalPD]

reminds me of anthony edwards with the physical finishing at the rim

[@rockysalvatore435]

Can't man wishes

[@JesusChrist2000BC]

Anthony Edwards actually plays defense.

[@WyWid]

0:24 playing off two feet

[@HKim0072]

As a Ws fan, we dodged a lot of bullets to get Steph. lol, Hasheem Thabeet. OKC already had Russ, so Harden was a better fit. Maybe OKC goes with Steph if they have a wing + KD. Tyreke Evans (who won ROY) to the Kings. And the famous David Kahn picks.

[@robsottg7806]

great video

[@benpfeifer8192]

thank you

[@hiker-uy1bi]

SGA is the new Harden

[@axiomobliviontruthhurts4767]

Similar to Another Arizona lefty Curtis Millage

[@Jacksel01]

Do you think Dylan Harper has a similar game?

[@tlxxlt4745]

No, harden is a much better shooter (as it stands, Harper’s shot is kind of flat), and harden has better finishing touch around the rim in terms of floaters, one footers etc. Harper has a better right hand though, and MAYBE plays a little better defense. Harden is a lot more effective as a space creator since his handle was better than Harper’s, plus the threat of the shot. They’re only comparing them because they are lefties.

[@tlxxlt4745]

Harper also uses his body more to create space, since he’s not really a creative handler. I do think he’s a slightly better athlete, though I could be wrong.

[@tlxxlt4745]

However they both bring positional size as point guards, and both can play SG, so they’re both combo guards. I think harden has better defensive instincts but currently doesn’t put in the effort like Harper does.

[@twistedladder3506]

Your mic is very quiet

[@brendancarr1186]

maybe take some tums man (good video tho)

[@mrzack888]

what media player software you using?

[@benpfeifer8192]

@@mrzack888 quicktime on mac

[@bohanxu6125]

Harden feels like a less athletics D Wade with better ball handling and 3s.

[@aldairmechisso302]

Not better ball handling

[@rockysalvatore435]

@@aldairmechisso302 cope

[@dthreezy]

I would say more flashy ball handling not necessarily better, also Wade didn’t need to utilize his handle as much to get by defenders because of his superior athleticism

[@iaintmissin]

It’s like watching two different players. He’s done unfortunately… hops long gone, he can’t keep the weight off and his incredible first step is slowing down too

[@platterboi123]

Can you do kyries Duke footage please?

[@Nunya7211]

Sam Presti saw it

[@Nunya7211]

Nah thats jidion

[@machivelli-l9b]

Damian lillard throwback?

[@benpfeifer8192]

oooh

[@SeizedM0ney]

You youngins pay attention

[@bradfordwainwright4557]

Ginobili 2.0

[@jmha2428]

That thumbnail makes him look special alright lol not a very flattering pic

[@CarlosRojas-hr6ms]

Too bad he went to the dark side with the incessant flopping. He was really good and would have been fun to watch. Instead it was extremely infuriating to watch

[@Tayy]

Only to you. Not to the people who voted him MVP and love his game.

[@JamesHardenoverKobe13]

Hey remember when kobe would hit people in the neck and head area when defended well. Harden is a cleaner version of Kobe. The double standard is adorable. Players like LeBron, Derek Fisher, Ginobili, Reggie Miller, Danny Ainge, and Vlade are examples of real flopping. Do you remember Lebron flopping in Miami. On ball off ball heck LeBron was flopping during timouts. Yet hey let's pretend none of this happened.

[@JamesHardenoverKobe13]

Here's another perfect example of yall ignoring history. Sorry James Harden haters. That's not a travel. The NBA released a statement going into detail on why they couldn't call it a travel according to the 2009 rule change. People tend to skip this part. LeBron, Kobe, and Wade traveled so much they had to change the travel rule in 2009 to allow an extra step.

[@jsmith5074]

You talk so much 😒

[@umberto488]

Most overrated player in NBA history

[@allenross3050]

Harden changed the game of basketball

[@umberto488]

@allenross3050 did he? How? By showing people they can get away with egregious flops and travels? By shooting 43%, being terrible in the playoffs every. Single. Time. And getting a big contract? Harden was a great slasher like this video shows, but he was also the same player who played no defense and disappeared the minute they took away his free throws.

[@allenross3050]

@@umberto488 harden was so dominant offensively that the league had to put in rules 3 seperate off szns to nerf him. And even then ultimately it was a hamstring injury that ended his prime not any rule the league put in to stop

[@umberto488]

@allenross3050 3 what? Harden was dominant in the regular season for sure...but the league caught him every single year. No denying how offensively explosive he was, but it is the ugliest basketball in league history. Travel, Eurostep 3, 20 free throws, and 43% from the field...no defense. He is like the guy who finds the glitch in the game and keeps exploiting it for point...and he still lost because he didn't learn the most important elements.

[@JamesHardenoverKobe13]

​@@umberto488 Yall got duped if yall believe the "James Harden cant carry and chokes". "James Harden travels" lines. Bewhahaha. Sorry James Harden haters. That's not a travel. The NBA released a statement going into detail on why they couldn't call it a travel according to the 2009 rule change. People tend to skip this part. LeBron, Kobe, and Wade traveled so much they had to change the travel rule in 2009 to allow an extra step. Hey remember when kobe would hit people in the neck and head area when defended well. Harden is a cleaner version of Kobe. The double standard is adorable. Players like LeBron, Derek Fisher, Ginobili, Luka, Reggie Miller, Danny Ainge, and Vlade are examples of real flopping. Do you remember Lebron flopping in Miami. On ball, off ball, heck LeBron was flopping during timouts. Yet hey let's pretend none of this happened. I like how yall are against load manage in the regular season. Yet bash Harden for balling in the regular season during his prime. While skipping other teams who will load manage and skip games. That's actually the spurs "playoff secret". That was the whole point of CP3 after 2017. Funny how no spur fans will mention thier roster that year. The spurs are now the reason why players skip games Who do you think taught Kawhi Leonard to sit out so many games. Heck he joined and already 60 win team while also adding post defense in Marc Gasol. Yet Kawhi Leonard was still using load management. Ha. Easy to have energy or "consistency" at the end of the season when you load manage for most of your prime years. Kyrie is a perfect example. Kyrie played only three seasons with at least 70 regular season games. Yes you heard that right, only three. Funny to watch casual who obviously don't watch the game all year get amazed by Kyrie "consistency". There was one point where Harden played more games than both KD and Kyrie combined and Kyrie wasn't even hurt. What about how Harden had to play without Joel embiid at one point against both Boston and Miami. Funny how people skip the part where Lamarcus Aldridge had the best playoff series in his entire career vs Dwight Howard. Dwight was playing the least games and minutes during this part of his career. Keep in mind Dwight Howard played in more games with Kobe than in any season he did with Harden. Plus Kobe had Steve Nash as well that year. But hey let's pretend none of this happened. You can also debate Wade 2006 team was better than any Harden had in his prime. Just to put the 2000s, 2010s, and the beginning of the 2020s into perspective. Hakeem dominated the era of the centers. Shaq "dominated" the era of the power forward. Huge difference. Plus Shaq and Kobe (not kobe and shaq) got bailed out in 2000 and 2002. Can you even call this a legitimate threepeat let alone a back to back? Cute. Look at giannis weak champ. Imagine if Hakeem missed games in the playoff while his team advanced without him to the next round during a champ run. Yet that's exactly what happened to giannis in 2021. The 1971 Bucks played against an injured Lakers and Baltimore team. Yet you can still debate 1971 was more competitive than 2021. Which do you prefer? 1971 Bucks or 2021? Sorry Giannis fans. Hey remember when people try to say kobe quote about Harden was true. Cute. Yall realize kobe quote was actually what Phil Jackson said about Kobe in his prime. Yes go back and look what Phil Jackson said. Keep in mimd this happened right after the 2004 choke. Hey remember when kobe also said Devon Mitchell was going to beat Prime Harden? Now you see why Mitchell tries to play like Kobe so much. Harden never had a superteam in his prime. Let alone choke with one like Kobe did in 2004 or LeBron and Wade in 2011. What happened to kobe after he ran Shaq and Phil off? Right. Nothing. Kobe even missed the playoffs during his prime. In his prime. It took three players to replace Shaq in Odom, Gasol, and Andrew Bynum. While Phil Jackson returned. The Rockets took kobe to game 7 in 2009. Keep in mind Tmac missed the entire series while Yao missed half the series. Plus game 7 of 2010 is another example of kobe bricking and getting bailed out. Yet this is suppose to save kobe from the shaq talk? Hahaha!!! Shaq and kobe loved themselves more than the game. Let that sink in. Kobe had Phil Jackson, Jerry West, Tex Winter, and prime Shaq. Yet still needed to get bailed out. Meanwhile, Spurs started load management. That's the spurs "playoff secret" during the Tim era. You can thank Tim spurs for the reason players play less now. I even remember an interview where kobe straight up said he was playing less than the 80s and 90s players by using load management. Yes kobe actually said this. "Black mamba" was a self proclaimed nickname... it wasn't given to kobe. That's the same as lebron fans calling him the goat just because lebron said so. Hahahaha!!! Lebron picked up Shaq and kobe selfishness and the Spurs load management tactics. Plus Team USA wasn't the best during the 2000s even with LeBron (including LeBron in 2006) and prime Tim. With all due respect. Plus I like how Tim fans pretend Tim never choked to an eight seed in the first round. Plus Tim choked at the free throw line. Yes Tim was hackable. Hey remember when warriors kept fouling Rockets to keep them from breaking another three point record. They even had Draymond Green commit flagrant foul on the Rockets. This was around 2013. Houston Rockets are the only team in history to lead the league in three attempts and made. While also winning the champ in the same season. No other team have done this even once. Rockets did it twice. 2018 was going to be only the third time in NBA history. "but but but they missed all those 3's in game 7". Cute, the "greatest of all time" warriors couldn't even win back to back at the time. Hey remember when spur fans claimed Bruce Bowen wasn't dirty. He injured other teams top stars multiple times doing this. Kinda ironic Zaza from the warriors used the Bruce Bowen move on Kawhi and injured him in 2017. Warriors resorted to doing the same in 2018 game 7. Some of those missed threes were straight up fouls. Keep in mind even with the difference in the roster and last resort Bruce Bowen moves. Warriors won by only 9 points. Sorry. Warriors are far from "the greatest of all time". With all due respect. Warriors have never won a champ without injuries to their opponents top two stars. This includes 2015, 2017, and 2018. Glass ankle curry couldn't even win FMVP until half the league was injured. Cute. Before KD warriors had no back to back and a 3-1 choke job. Guess they didn't believe in curry like they claimed. Kinda funny to see curry fans bash KD for his overrated ring. When curry shares the same overrated ring. They're trying to cut the finger to save the hand. Hey remember when LeBron and KD blamed the old Rockets and old Celtics for joining superteams in their 20s. Drexler and Charles didn't even join Hakeem until after a decade in the league. The "youngest" Celtics 3 (Paul, Kevin, and Ray) was older than the Heat 3 "oldest" player. LeBron was 25 at the time be created a superteam. That's adorable. LeBron beat only one 50 win team up to 2010. That was a Detroit Piston who didn't even have Ben Wallace. Plus lebron 2007 team was a defensive minded team. They even held the spurs to 85 or less in three out of the four games. They gave LeBron a chance to win. What happened? They forced LeBron into more jump shots. What's next? His fake 2020 bubble champ that was clearly handed to him? Please enlighten. Always remember James Harden haters. History isn't written by the "victors". They just try to burn other people's books. I'll debate today's game is just as good as ever. The fans of lebron, kobe, shaq, tim, and curry are the one's holding back basketball. All the load management since the 2000s. They're the ones who started the "regular season don't matter but I'll still take the fans money while our players sit out". The superteams getting exposed in their prime when "playoffs matter" during 2010s. Adorable.