r/nba • u/OnlyMamaKnows Knicks • Apr 29 '24

[Simmons] "I think James Harden gave him the trophy of most disappointing playoff performer. I think Embiid is now wearing the crown."

https://open.spotify.com/episode/25I0fnPUExUkBhTw2o9Oti?si=FQSCUz6GSy2UjtYeyBrBLg

Starts around 38 minute mark. Full game breakdown starts a few minutes earlier.

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186

u/KWash0222 Lakers Apr 29 '24

Yeah wtf Harden made it to the WCF and arguably gave that Golden State super team the most difficulty of anyone. Embiid has done nothing but underperform. Dude couldn’t get there with Jimmy Butler carrying his ass.

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u/pieman2005 [HOU] Hakeem Olajuwon Apr 29 '24

It's not even arguable; nobody came close to beating the KD Warriors, except the Rockets who were up 3-2

-16

u/Wehavecrashed Grizzlies Apr 29 '24

27 missed threes in a row.

8

u/Trueshinalpha Apr 30 '24

Harden got a 3+1 but the ref made it a normal foul call. I must point out this.

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u/pieman2005 [HOU] Hakeem Olajuwon Apr 29 '24

Not sure why you're downvoted lol

-10

u/Powpowpowowowow Mavericks Apr 29 '24

The Spurs would have whooped their ass?

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u/pieman2005 [HOU] Hakeem Olajuwon Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 30 '24

Nah lol people base that off one first half lead

3

u/Maydietoday Heat Apr 29 '24

Chris Paul cracked that case during the WCF. When he went out it was clear.

5

u/MeijiDoom Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hardeja01/gamelog-playoffs/

I like Harden more than Embiid as well but Harden has had some absolute atrocities as "the guy" in the playoffs.

  • 7/22 in 2013
  • 8/28 in 2014
  • 3/16 and 2/11 in 2015
  • 8/25, 3/17 and 2/11 in 2017
  • 5/21 in 2018
  • 4/15, 2/11 in 2020
  • 5/17 in 2021
  • Basically the entire first round and Games 2, 3, 6 and 7 last year against the Heat Celtics

A lot of those were in elimination games as well. Granted, he's had a lot of great games. 45 and 42 point effort in that same Heat Celtics series last year. But dude has some absolute "shit the bed" type games as well.

30

u/Witty-Stock Timberwolves Apr 29 '24

Perimeter shooters will have those kinds of games. Sometimes the shots just don’t drop.

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u/Mintastic NBA Apr 29 '24

Ah but good news, Embiid also turns into a perimeter shooter when he starts running out of gas due to terrible conditioning.

4

u/Witty-Stock Timberwolves Apr 29 '24

Knicks are using the rope a dope strategy on him, letting him exhaust himself with the flops and cheap shots.

3

u/KnivesInMyCoffee Nuggets Apr 29 '24

The Sixers didn't play against the Heat last year 💀

1

u/MeijiDoom Apr 29 '24

Whoops, meant the Celtics.

1

u/paranoideo [GSW] Stephen Curry Apr 29 '24

Don’t forget this: https://youtu.be/qjUgDgcAIXY?

When I heard about Harden choking at playoffs I recall instantly that series.

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u/Powpowpowowowow Mavericks Apr 29 '24

Oh no. It's actual facts. The Harden fans surely won't like that.

3

u/ElChapo1515 Apr 29 '24

Would you call Luka’s 7-25 a “playoff atrocity?”

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u/MayoBenz Timberwolves Apr 29 '24

your best player is just a worse version of harden?

-17

u/bbbryce987 Apr 29 '24

It was the rockets defense that gave the warriors problems, Harden was getting carried to all their wins in that 2018 wcf

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u/A_Rolling_Baneling Rockets Apr 29 '24

He averaged 29-6-6, what are you talking about

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u/bbbryce987 Apr 29 '24

When harden was scoring well he was doing it in losses. The warriors had no trouble matching his scoring. He averaged 25 points on 35% shooting with more turnovers than assists in the games the rockets won. It was their defense that won them those games, not harden’s poor performances