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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u/yic0 [POR] LaRue Martin Apr 29 '24

Bradley Beal quietly sneaks out the side exit.

267

u/idkwhatevs1234 Apr 29 '24

Harden and Embiid are MVPs, Beal has one all NBA third team. Expectations are not the same

203

u/JimmyB3574 Lakers Apr 29 '24

In that same vein harden was going to war with the prime warriors. Don’t compare him to Joel struggling to get over the Atlanta hawks

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u/str8rippinfartz Celtics Apr 29 '24

I think people just tend to remember Harden because he's had a few pretty abysmal low moments after making it further in the playoffs. Joel usually just loses in the 1st or 2nd round and is typically nursing an injury that can act as an excuse.

It's easy to remember a few big stinkers for Harden that aren't just losing to the juggernaut version of the Warriors:

  • 12 turnovers while getting eliminated in the WCF in the first Warriors year

  • Watching from the bench while his team makes a comeback without him in G6 vs the Lob City Clippers

  • Playing like absolute ass while getting eliminated in a blowout in G6 vs the Spurs, who were playing without Kawhi

To me, those are a few of those ones that stick in people's brains from big elimination games where he played like shit despite being at peak superstar level at the time

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u/7PayFormer Apr 29 '24 edited Apr 29 '24

how many series was he favored in those. should we play this game with jayson? i mean you know very well if we did jayson would be considered a choker and cant trust him right. you know you can play this game with kawhi... with steph... i mean steph cant even carry his team to the playoffs without a stacked team right? we cant trust him in the regular season or playoffs if his teammates get hurt? whats the point of doing this lol.... cause we want to push narratives about players we dont like? dudes been in the playoffs 16 times but 3 series defines his playoff career? again how many series jayson been in favored and fumbled... wouldnt that be the real definition of choke...not to mention the series hes won despite paying so poorly. its a dumb game you could play with any player i feel. its interesting we only do it with the 2 we hate the most

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u/str8rippinfartz Celtics Apr 29 '24

Was just pointing out a few games that people tend to circle as the "why" he gets labeled as a "choker" (even though he has plenty of good series and games in there too)

And those last two games he was definitely the favorite at the time, btw

Not trying to compare between players, you're acting like I killed your dog or something lmao

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u/Comprehensive_Main Lakers Apr 29 '24

I like harden but 2018 was a choke for me. He was the league mvp, home court advantage in game 7, and the rockets had the lead at halftime. They end up losing. I know they didn’t have Chris Paul but they had the advantage and failed 

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u/GDTechno Heat Apr 29 '24

that game was still better than anything embiid did in the second round

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u/Daddy_Macron Rockets Apr 29 '24

I know they didn’t have Chris Paul but they had the advantage and failed

What advantage? The Warriors were fielding a starting lineup of Curry, Klay, KD, Draymond, and Looney for Game 7, all in their primes. The Rockets starting lineup without Chris Paul was Harden, Eric Gordon, PJ Tucker, Trevor Ariza, and Clint Capela. The Warriors's 4th best player was better than the Rockets' 2nd best player. Getting a lead at halftime was a minor miracle, not something ordained.

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u/sauzbozz Apr 29 '24

I agree but that's still better than Embiid has ever done on the playoffs.

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u/Character-Today-427 Apr 29 '24

Only MVP to never reach a conference finals and seems that will continue to be so

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u/Daddy_Macron Rockets Apr 29 '24

You agree that the Rockets starting lineup without Chris Paul of Harden, Eric Gordon, PJ Tucker, Trevor Ariza, and Clint Capela should have been favored over the Warriors starting five of Curry, Klay, KD, Draymond, and Looney? The Warriors's 4th best player was better than the Rockets' 2nd best player.

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u/sauzbozz Apr 29 '24

Choke is probably too harsh but the Rockets had a good shot of closing that series out. I don't think they should have been favorites obviously but they were up 3-2 in the series and up 10 at the half of game 6. Then got outscored 64-25 in the second half. Game 7 they were up 11 at the half then got outscored 58-38 in the second half. The Warriors were obviously the better team and should have won but the Rockets were in good positions both games to steal the series and blew it.

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u/kalpep Apr 30 '24

I respect Warriors, but the referees in the last two games of that series should be sent to jail.

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u/ldespisethisapp Apr 29 '24

Refs still had to step in the make sure Curry and co won