James Harden isn’t worried about Carmelo Anthony fitting in with the Rockets, Michael Lee of Yahoo Sports reports. Anthony, who was traded by the Thunder to the Hawks in a salary dump, is expected to join Houston once he clears waivers. Anthony stated this week that he never really fit in with Oklahoma City’s roster but Harden believes he’ll do just fine in the Rockets’ high-powered attack. “Everybody in the world knows what Carmelo brings, how gifted and talented he is, and he still has a lot more to go,” Harden said. “If he comes to Rockets, we’ll bring the best out of him, and I’m sure he’ll bring the best out of us as well. We all know how easy Melo scores the basketball. … Things aren’t always going to be perfect but as long as you have that communication, good things will happen.”
Harden offered more insights on a variety of topics:
- He feels the Most Valuable Player award gives him validation after starting out with OKC as a sixth man. “I don’t know anybody else who did it. But that’s just a testament to how many guys out there that are coming off the bench, and not getting as much playing time, that you could still be that guy. It feels great, all the work that I put in, to be able to hold that trophy up.”
- He’s motivated by the Rockets’ heart-wrenching series loss to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals after being up 3-2: “It’s on my mind every day. It’s Game 6, Game 7, that’s what drives me every day.”
- Despite Golden State adding DeMarcus Cousins, he’s confident the Rockets can knock the Warriors off their perch. “If you don’t get better in this league, you get passed up pretty quick. We’re not done. But what we have right now is for sure good enough.”
- He gives a big thumbs up to the Rockets and center Clint Capela agreeing on a $90MM extension, Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated tweets. “Obviously we love the game of basketball but to be able to provide for your family for generations, that’s what we do it for. I’ve seen him work his butt off these last few years. He listens, learns, competes. I’m happy for him.”
Go get that ring Harden, these close minded NBA fans will be quick to crown the Warriors champions but I know you guys will knock them out this coming season and win the title.
Got it. Dionis predicts Rockets win it all. Wrote it down in my note tracker. I only wish I could wager you a fine bottle on it.
Lol
I’m not a blind bandwagon follower of the Warriors. Rockets will be champions.
You’re a blind bandwagon follower of the Rockets LOL. It’s easy to pick the Challenger to the championship.
Tell me you’re a thunder fan or a raptor fan or a Blazer fan and that would be a little more believable.
I’m a Warriors fan but not a bandwagon fan I remember the Sleepy Floyd Terry teagle Larry Smith Greg Ballard Ralph Sampson years and cringe as my memories of Lakers Showtime 80s and 90s teams thrashed my Warriors for 20 years at least.
But times are good now. Every city goes through their good times and bad times.
Got it. You’re a blind bandwagon follower of the Rockets. If you would like to wager a bottle of French Bordeaux, I’m thinking of a Chateau Le Tour 1982 for our wager. It will cost about 2200.00 plus 300 tip for my sommelier , so figure a wager of 2500.00 to cover all costs. In addition, loser has to write on this website how silly it was to think Rockets would ever win and tell how the other knows NBA and the loser is a just a silly fool trying to comment on NBA. So my friend Dionis a winner takes all gamble are you in Sir.
Not really I just like to be optimistic, I’m not going to gamble dude there is no need to. Because I have an opinion other than the Warriors you little kids want to get disrespectful like I don’t have any knowledge on a sport I spend all day following and have been doing for the past 23 years. The Rockets are my pick.
Well fine, I’ve written down your ”prediction” since you like throwing mud calling us little kids I am reserving my return fire when the rockets fail and going to give you full volley return fire. that being said, 23 years of NBA gee you like throwing numbers so here is one for you. I started NBA when John Havlicek was still coming off the bench for the Celtics. I saw the dark days with NBA playoffs on tape delay, my favorite player still is “Pistol Pete” Maravich and we little kids as you like to call us still wear floppy tube socks to this day. So you know were to put your 23 little kid years. I live the NBA everyday just putting on my socks.. Let me guess you wear your hair Dennis Rodman style! That would fit like your theory of Smelo in Houston……I shall return…Paladin out
Now it’s a problem that call you little kids? That’s nothing compared to the amount of insults you people throw here on the daily basis.
I agree. I hate the name calling. I just like basketball and opinions and you’re right you’re wrong excetera. Soon as people call names kind of starts being crappy.
I get that your feelings have been hurt. These websites can be worse than Kevin Durants twitter accounts. We shall see you is correct and who deserves ridicule after this season. If I lose I accept & deserve it. If I win, it will be brutal for you I guarantee that. So start thinking of a new handle for yourself and do multiple burner accounts to avoid the ridicule.
Yep, another iso, ball stopping volume shooter. Perfect fit!
That iso ball seemed to be working just fine with Paul and Harden in the West Finals. Now they add another isolation god in Melo, you think it will be easier to defend? Good Luck, Rockets in 6.
That’s what happens in the 4th quarter crunch time anyway you need a bucket you go to one guy and let him work.
The only team that doesn’t do that is the Warriors they swing the ball find the open guy and try to get it done that way.
Most other teams do the iso when they need a bucket. That’s why the Raptors have failed the last few years because DeRozan and Lowry are not closers. They’ll get you 35 in the first 45 minutes of the game.
Rockets go to harden Jazz went to Joe Johnson couple years ago Blazers Lillard, Celtics Isaiah Thomas couple years ago. Closers.
That’s how they do it and I think Anthony will fit on the Rockets just fine. He’ll have a edge trying to prove himself.
Harden might have won the MVP last year but he wasn’t the best player in the league, he actually wasn’t as good as the year before when Westbrook won it. AD, LBJ & Giannis were all better than him, so he shouldn’t be boasting too much about it. Don’t get me wrong I really like him very much, one of the best NBA players I have seen, but it just wasn’t the best last year, as simple as that.
He already should have had 2 MVPs going into last season. GMAB.
In what universe
I would agree that James Harden is the best player in the NBA right now. Hands down.
He can score on anyone and he has such great vision for finding the open guy.
I never knew he was that good at seeing his teammates until Mike D’Antoni gave him the ball and let him run the floor a couple years ago. Genius move.
I dont even think he is a top 10 player
Harden?
I think his defense is there when he tries to. But I think the coaching staff wants him to save every ounce of energy for offense plus not be in foul trouble. I think that’s the way he’s coached.
I’ve had this discussion too many times. I’ll just post the short version of my opinion on him. His numbers are massively ballooned by the ridiculous calls he gets, as otherwise, he wouldnt be that efficient offensively. Getting to the free throw line is 100% a skill, but not the way he does it. It’s just a gimmick. He could have been the next Ginobli, but he admittedly chooses to spend his time in the offseason watching film on ways to trick the refs and get more false calls, instead of getting better. Ginobli has been a flopper himself, but at least he tries to score, whereas Harden just tries to get a call by throwing his arms into people and flailing. If anything, those should be no calls, or offensive fouls. I just personally dont like watching him dribble and then end up at the FT line after getting a garbage call. He is literally the first and only player I’ve ever not enjoyed watching. There is a reason his gimmick doesnt work in the playoffs. Chris Paul is by far the best player on that team, and they will go as far as he takes them, as I said last offseason when they got him. He can make harden better, but Harden needs to play off the ball more, and learn how to move without it, instead of making Chris Paul watch him dribble while standing in the corner like a glorified Patrick Beverly.
Off the top of my head, my top 10 players in the NBA going into next year would be LeBron, KD, Kawhi*(if healthy), Anthony Davis, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Embiid, Butler, Giannis. I would have to think a little longer for a more definitive list though
Yeah I can’t stand the drawing fouls that Harden does swinging his arms into the defender. It’s so bad that other guys are doing it, even my guys Curry and green and Durant. It looks so stupid I hate it.
The k l other person in the league that does anything even remotely comparable is DeRozan, and those 2 sit down together watching the film I mentioned in the previous comment
So defense doesn’t really matter? I think you may want to rephrase what you said and communicate it as ‘James Harden is the best offensive player in the NBA right now.’ Now that I may agree with.
As for his vision, it’s always been there. D’Antoni didn’t do anything special. Harden was a PG in college, and Westbrook’s backup in OKC.
It’s amazing how little apparently has to be done by a not even close to deserving player to win MVP in a league where LeBron, KD, and Anthony Davis, as well as several other deserving players are active…but that’s what happens when the media narrative is a certain way well before the season starts.
Melo cant win. He gets no credit, and gets all the blame no matter what happens. I think he fits Houston, although I thought he fit OKC or Miami better. Houston lost Ariza, which is a big deal, but they arguably have more depth this year, with their young guys. They should be fine. I would have to question the fit of Harden, Gordon, Anderson, and Melo together though
I like what you’re saying here, and I think it’ll work. They’re Pros, they want to win, they’ll find a way.
Melo will fit fine in Houston? Same guy who had D’Antoni run out of NY because he didn’t like the offensive philosophy. Yeah, it’s going to be fun watching this one play out…
cesc is right in that Harden was probably more deserving in 2016-17 of the MVP award, but of course Russ’ historic season couldn’t be overlooked.
I feel like at times the NBA pulls a make up call on MVP, a win for a multi season body of work instead of just that season alone.
That should have been either LeBron or Kawhi, if it wasnt Westbrook. Westbrook deservingly got it once he somehow got that team past the 6th seed. There were others in front of Harden too, although I would agree he was slightly closer. He was in that 5-7 range, as opposed to the 6-9 range he should have been this year
He’s gunna fit so nicely on the bench.
Great reminder of one of the best quotes of the year.
“I ain’t sacrificing no bench role.”
Marketing officials with Cadbury agree there is a fit for Carmello with the Rockets. They are in contact with the team about carrying that candy bar as well as their other offerings at the team’s snack bars.