Has James Harden been throwing playoff games since a rookie?

A reasonable contender for the stupidest thread in the history of the forum, nicely done dude

 

He has been kind of notorious for some of his playoff performances. Throwing them? I doubt it...

 

He depends so much on goading the other players into fouls and getting calls from the refs.

That's always been my explanation. When the refs swallow their whistles in the playoffs and other teams defenders can get away with physicality that wouldn't fly in the regular season, he gets frustrated and basically quits, or at least stops expecting success.

 

Harden is tremendous player. It's just something about big moments where he disappears. Maybe he didn't realize going down 2-0 is a big deal. I don't really know. It's like in the big moments he refuses to the things that got them there or just doesn't have the ability to find his shot when the defense makes adjustments and that's the difference between good players and great championship players.

 

Because of the pressure, maybe Harden parties and drinks more than usual during the playoffs.

 

I forgot about this...........we all heard the reports of him partying out late with a big game the next day.

 

I don't believe he's thrown games; however, I don't think he cares about the playoffs. There was a playoff game where Harden was garbage. He shot terribly, and it looked like he was moving in slow motion. I believe it was his second year as a Rocket.

Turns out Drake had a big party the night before, and Harden was partying late into the night with a playoff game the next day.

 

I seriously believe this explains most (if not all) of his zombie-like playoff performances.

 

too many patterns to discount completely. the difference is egregious

 

his regular season turnover % is 15.7% and playoff is 15.5%, so you are just making up garbage

 

It’s either the crushing pressure to perform, it’s that he looks to get bailed out with fouls rather than taking control and command, or he lets his lifestyle get in the way. All three plausible. Harden to know which one. But it’s tangible. You can touch and feel it.

LeBron didn’t want to shoot the ball. He had it. Also tangible. He got over it.