The title of this article is all I need to say. That is it. James Harden is not a guy who will lead you to a championship. He's a nice selling point to season ticket holders that will put them in seats.
James likes to go to concerts, go to Las Vegas, show up to play, collect his check and that's it. Every season, he comes back doing the same exact things he's done in previous seasons. His game hasn't evolved since his Houston days.
At age 33, the majority of star players who dominated the league in their 20s, continued to dominate, evolve and grow within their games. Whether it's developing a post game, a fade away, a better midrange jumper, being more efficient, just take the time to think of the players who have won championships and see how much their games have evolved.
The next aspect of this is, Harden is not a leader. He needs to be on a team where he has that guy to do that for him. Because when the tough gets going, it's time to leave a city, be traded and go play elsewhere.
If you look at James Harden's years in Houston, that's what he still wants to do. Iso ball and get his, but he has guys around him to help in Embiid, Maxey and Harris.
The media and sports shows are asking should James leave Philly and will he. Or how do you replace his productivity if he were to leave? I think we should be asking at this point, does James want to win or make more money?
If he wants to win, he has to completely evolve his game and become a different player. To be a 6'4" 215 lb point guard and you're not posting up on possessions most nights, why isn't he doing that?
Harden is basically the same size Jason Kidd was in his prime (not making comparisons in their games, just in stature). He's the same size as Dwayne Wade when he played. The difference with Harden versus Kidd/Wade is Kidd and Wade evolved as they got older.
Kidd went to post ups and ran the Dallas offense through his size and speed. Kidd was able to play off the ball and make 3s or draw defenders in. Wade developed a post game where he can shoot fadeaways, get to the basket and play off the ball a lot.
Harden is great to watch when he has a rhythm going but when he doesn't, the rest of the team goes down with him. Look at the history of game 7s and how much he's fallen short, I don't need to give you the stats.
Philly won't win a championship unless they hire the right coach, Embiid plays a minimum of 65 games, Harden's game evolves, Maxey has the ball in his hands more and they have an intention of being an efficient team.
Even if Harden was to leave, it would put a damper on Philly but it wouldn't be the end all, be all. It's not like you're losing Houston Rockets James Harden, you're losing a shell of what he once was.
The reality is, you need more scoring for a Philly team who only scored 88 points in their final game of the season. When your star players aren't a factor, who are you looking to for productivity?
If James Harden leaves and goes back to Houston it will only mean one thing. He doesn't really care about winning at this point of his career. He just wants to make his money, have fun and live vicariously through his fame as a basketball player.
I've always said, there are some players who are just gifted at what they do and like the lifestyle and money that basketball provides. James Harden is one of many players who have that mindset.
When Patrick Beverley comes out and says players don't love the game, he's right (I'll be addressing his comments in a separate article down the road).
At the end of the day, the Philadelphia 76ers won't be a title contending team until major changes happen and that'll be on Daryl Morey and Elton Brand to fix. Until then, Philly fans can enjoy and reminisce of the Allen Iverson days because “The Process” ended years ago...
