The Los Angeles Clippers, on the other hand, kept an eye on the 76er guard throughout the summer. Three games into the 2023 season, the Clippers sent a collection of role players and draft picks for the reigning assist leader.

The Clippers had a good reason to make the trade. The duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have yet to provide the franchise its first championship due to injuries or playoff meltdowns. Harden would give the team additional all-star-level help for the core's possible last season together.

However, the new roster got off to the worst start possible. They lost six straight games immediately after the acquisition, falling to 3-7 overall.

The offense didn't have an ounce of rhythm. There was only one basketball to accommodate ball-dominant starters.

In particular, the backcourt pairing of Harden and Russell Westbrook noticeably failed to coexist. In his 111-97 debut loss to the New York Knicks, the former teammates logged 31 minutes each. However, they struggled to establish the team's primary facilitator when on the court together. With no floor general, the starting group took turns creating their own shot. The offense's flow suffered as a result.

Los Angeles finished the game with a season-high 22 turnovers, more than their assists (21). Westbrook contributed five turnovers of his own.

But head coach Ty Lue had faith in his team smoothing the bumps despite the alarming start. After their sixth-straight defeat, Lue asked Westbrook to come off the bench. And it's working.

Los Angeles has a 13-3 record with Harden as the starting point guard. The squad's eight victories in a row is the longest active winning streak in the league.

Flash-forward 40 days from losing to the Knicks, the Clippers beat New York 144-122. The offense showed an efficient flow with Harden at the helm and Russ playing just 15 minutes. The team produced 36 assists and only eight turnovers. Harden was responsible for 12 of those assists, along with 10 points.

The future Hall of Famer may not be the same scorer he was in Houston, but the 34-year-old is still one of the league's best playmakers. He led the association with 10.7 APG last season. Since becoming the point guard, he's been creating easy looks for teammates while limiting his shot attempts.

Leonard has immensely benefited from Harden's play creation. His efficiency plummeted in early November in the previous dysfunctional offense. The Claw averaged 22.6 PPG on 48.2/36.5/84.4 shooting splits last month. With Harden running the show this month, he's progressed to 29.3 PPG on an insane 62.3/54.8/95.1 split.

During the first 16 days post-Harden trade, the team ranked 28th in assist-to-turnover ratio. In the first 16 days of December, their assist-to-turnover ratio ranked sixth.

Not only did the Clippers' starting unit need time to gel together, but Harden also needed more reps himself. His previous game before his debut was Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. That was in May. After the loss to the Knicks, he attributed his lack of shape to not being a full participant in training camp or preseason.

It's safe to say after last night's 151-127 win in Indiana, Harden is back to the 20 & 10 guy he was last season. In Los Angeles' first five losses with the Beard, he averaged 15 points and 4.2 assists per game. In December, he is averaging 20.1 points and nearly ten assists. Last week, he put on a vintage 28-point and 15-assist performance in a win without George against the Golden State Warriors.

The Clippers don't need Harden to be the game's leading scoring like he was last night. Although, he still left Indiana with nine assists. But if he can turn back to his old self in a given matchup, the team is an obvious contender.

Harden's Clippers have arrived at 16-10, currently the sixth-best record in the Western Conference. The offense has shown no sign of slowing down with him, winning five of their last six by double digits. We will remember Coach Lue's decision as season-saving.

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On Episode 93 of the In The Paint Show, co-hosts Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland go in-depth on the booming sports trading card industry with owner of Denver-based Vices, Noe Magdaleno. From nostalgia to supply and demand to social media promo, Ron Dev and Noe discuss what sparked this trend to make its comeback.

Click the PLAY button below to tune into the latest episode of the In The Paint Show!

Ron and Dev also touch on the new-look Brooklyn Nets with James Harden in the fold. What will the dynamic be when Kyrie Irving takes the floor forming one of the more potent "Big Three" offensive trios in NBA History? Are the Nets now the odds on favorites to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals?

Jalen Duren

6'9"   -   C   -   2021

Next, the guys break down the standout high school players from the NIBC St. James Invitational, including Jalen Duren and Ryan Nembhard of Montverde Academy, Caleb Foster and MJ Rice of Oak Hill Academy, Kennedy Chandler of Sunrise Christian Academy and many more.

To close out the show, Ron and Dev hit on the latest FAB 50 National Ranking update and some news from the CIF Southern Section putting SoCal high school sports at further risk of postponement/cancellation.

The post In The Paint Show: The Sports Trading Card Revival, Harden in Brooklyn, FAB 50 Update! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

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First, the guys discuss Giannis signing a five-year supermax contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. What other pieces do the Bucks need to add in order to create a championship contender? Can Giannis draw another superstar to Milwaukee to play alongside him?

Hit the PLAY button below to tune into ITP 90!

James Harden

6'5"   -   SG   -   2007

Next Ron and Dev dissect the latest story on ESPN regarding James Harden and his influence on the culture in Houston. Does Harden's partying lifestyle hurt the continuity of the team chemistry or does it make his insane stat lines even more impressive? Ron and Dev also debate whether a team can win a title with Harden as its centerpiece.

To follow that up, the guys take a closer look at LaMelo Ball's first two preseason games with the Hornets. Were they impressed or does Ball need to show more? Also, why Hornets fans and NBA fans in general should be patient for LaMelo's offensive game to get into full gear.

Ron and Dev then transition into their latest story on Ballislife on the six rookies that NBA fans can expect to make an immediate impact in the league and close out the show with some more updates on high school basketball guidelines, scheduling and COVID-19-related cancellations.

The post In The Paint Show: Giannis' Supermax, LaMelo's Debut, Looking Forward to Top Prospects in the 2021 Draft appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

On Episode 89 of our In The Paint Show, co-hosts Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland discuss a variety of basketball topics from the NBA's quick offseason, free agency winners and losers, which rookies will make an immediate impact and which teams have the biggest advantage heading into the 2020-2021 season.

Hit the PLAY button below to tune in!

Ron and Dev also breakdown the Houston Rockets situation with James Harden. Should Houston try to move Harden before the season starts? Where does one of the best offensive players the game has ever seen fit best? What should the Rockets expect to get in return for their disgruntled superstar?

Andre Curbelo

6'0"   -   PG   -   2020

The guys also discuss the early themes and surprises of the college basketball season. Why are the "Blue Blood" programs like Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina struggling? Has the balance of power evened out this season among college hoops teams? Which college freshmen have stood out the most? Finally, Ron and Dev break down what the high school sports scene looks like across the country.

The post In The Paint Show: NBA Season Fast Approaching, College Blue Bloods Struggling, HSBB Update! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

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As replies started pouring in the list of names expanded drastically with debates, snubs and sensitivity quickly following. Episode 77 of the Ballislife In The Paint Show expands on Baron's tweet as Ron and Dev discuss some of the best California high school basketball players they've seen.

Damian Lillard

6'1"   -   PG   -   2008

The guys go into depth on two specific California hoopers, Damian Lillard (Oakland High) and James Harden (Artesia High) with their high school coaches. Oakland High coach Orlando Watkins goes in-depth on when he first watched Dame play, his recruitment and how he developed into the player he is today.

James Harden

6'5"   -   SG   -   2007

Scott Pera, the current head coach at Rice University, joins to discuss coaching James Harden in high school. Pera breaks down what type of player Harden was as a freshman, how he had to urge him to be more aggressive offensively and when he started to develop some of the patented moves we see in the NBA today.

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In the eighth episode of our all-new In The Paint Show," hosts Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland touch up on the NFHS-sanctioned June Live period and the incredible scoring feats of the Houston Rockets' James Harden and go hard on the recent announcement of the 2019 McDonald's All-American Game rosters.

While some states have pulled out completely of the June Live Events, Arizona will host one live event sanctioned by the AIA and ran by the Arizona Basketball Coaches Association the first weekend (June 21-23). We break down this decision a bit further and discuss what it might mean in the bigger picture.

As far as Harden goes, he recently scored a career-high 61 points at Madison Square Garden and is on an incredible streak where none of his baskets are assisted by teammates. Is this simply an incredible offensive display or bad basketball? Does the NBA allow Harden certain offensive leeway or is the game just being called differently? Is isolation basketball the game's new wave for the foreseeable future?

Flores and Ugland break it down along with some flashbacks of Harden being selected for the McDonald's All-American Game back in 2007 out of Artesia (Lakewood, Calif.). Incredibly, he got little playing team on arguably the most loaded 12-man team ever assembled for the game.

The fellas take a deep dive at the rosters for this year's game (March 27 in Atlanta). For the first time ever, a program has three McDonald's All-Americans: FAB 50 No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.). What does this mean for the landscape of high school basketball as more state associations ban their member schools from playing academy-type programs such as IMG, Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), and La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.)?

After the rosters are announced, everyone loves to talk snubs, so Ron and Dev break down the process, talk remedies for the selection committee and the one snub everyone is talking about: Chino Hills (Calif.) big man and 2018 Cal-Hi Sports Mr. Basketball Onyeka Okongwu.

The fellas cover alot this week, so make sure to give it a listen below and share it with friends!

To learn more about our hosts, Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland, and to get more information about what "In The Paint" is all about, check out our intro below!

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"In The Paint" is hosted by Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland, two Ballislife writers and all-around basketball junkies who have been in and around the game for the majority of their lives. We’re confident in saying there are few people who watch more hoops than Ronnie and Devin.

In our very first episode of In The Paint, the guys discuss James Harden and his uncanny ability to draw foul calls and how that has trickled down to high school players. Another topic is the emergence of undrafted rookie Allonzo Trier and how his scoring prowess has helped him carve out a spot in the NBA. On the college side, Murray State’s Ja Morant is the headline topic as is how some talented players sometimes go under the recruiting radar. Finally, Ronnie and Devin touch on both the national and Southern California high school basketball scenes. Listen to the first episode below and please share with your fellow hoop heads!

To learn more about the show and about the hosts, take a minute to listen to our short podcast introduction below.

And please don’t forget to subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes

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Do you think this move by Harden is a travel? pic.twitter.com/g1yZ7ooUEk

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) October 10, 2018

For his ninth three of the night against "The Lonely Master" and his Shanghai Sharks, James Harden pulled off a viral-worthy, behind-the-back move that had the internet arguing if it was a travel and Golden State Warriors fans saying, "Steph did it first!"

Back in 2016, Steph Curry pulled it off during a practice and Mike Prada of SB Nation discussed the origin and purpose of the move with Steph's trainer, Brandon Payne. During their 20-minute conversation, Payne explained why it's not a travel if executed correctly.

How is it not a travel? Isn’t he picking up both pivot feet?

[Laughs]. So I only watched him once or twice last night, though it’s something I’ve seen a thousand times before.

If it was a right-to-left crossover, he’d sidestep off his left foot into the shot. If you watch closely when he’s crossing the ball over, as the ball hits the ground, his left foot is hitting the ground into his side step. That’s a dribble into the side step, so he leaves off one foot and lands on two. That’s like any other sidestep or any other Eurostep.

This is just off one leg and landing on two into his shot. He’s not going to travel because when he sidesteps, he’s sidestepping off a dribble.

When did you first think he could try this move?

We’re always looking for new ways to transfer the basketball from the floor into the shooting motion, and we’re always looking for ways to protect the basketball. That was something that was born out of moves he makes going to the basket, and we just expanded and build onto it on the perimeter as well.

It’s something that can be used when a man is guarding him really, really tightly, where he can switch from the left side of his body to the right side of his body in tight situation and still get a very good, clean shot off.

Steph at work ???? pic.twitter.com/UbGQ1oEqKF

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) September 27, 2016

So the genesis is more as he’s driving and changing direction, and not necessarily him stepping back for a three?

Sure. It certainly can be used in that way. But honestly, we’ve worked on this for a really long time. It’s taken him a little while to get really comfortable with it, and right now during training camp and during practices, it’s time for him to really test these things out and see how comfortable he is with it. Then, we have to make the decision whether or not he’s feeling comfortable enough to use it in a game.

But it’s just a part of the things we do in terms of ball-handling. It’s part of our shooting series. It’s part of our driving series. Again, it’s just a way to transfer the ball from one side of the body to the other side, get him off the floor, get him into his shot position as quickly as possible in terms of ball security. He makes it look easier than it really is.

Back to the behind-the-back move. How do you drill the footwork to make it work?

It’s something that we’ve done over the years, honestly. We do a lot of overloading his body. We overload the moves with a little bit of light resistance at different points on his body, and that helps his body learn new footwork and new spacing techniques a little bit quicker. Anytime you add resistance to anything, it really aids in muscle memory. So over the years, we’ve added resistance in different ways for different moves.

His body — once it’s in there, it’s locked in. He never forgets. He has impeccable footwork. He’s incredibly, incredibly efficient with the ball and with his feet. In the past, it was more “Hey, we’re going to teach this.” Now, it’s more about drilling him because it’s all recall for him. When your footwork is as good as his, you can get a little more creative and a little more aggressive with how you’re moving the basketball from side to side and getting from the floor to the shoot.

So a lot of that is just the result of a lot of hard work over all the offseason. Now, he’s able to get a little more aggressive and a little more creative.

You can read the full interview with Payne at SB Nation.

And here's the NBA explaining why it's NOT a travel.

This is a legal play. Although James puts the ball behind his back, he only takes two steps after the gather of the ball and therefore it is NOT a travel. https://t.co/i1hU3b4zuQ

— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) October 10, 2018

If you say so.

Here are a few clips of other people doing the move before Harden.

He did it first pic.twitter.com/AvWpjfcQ3G

— Michigan Playmakers (@PlaymakerHoops) October 10, 2018

Hmmm 6 YEARS AGO @RP3natural taught me a move....6 YEARS LATER Harden breaks the internet with this same move ????????????????. pic.twitter.com/YpNFJQKsKS

— Ty Perfect (@MrPerfect_Ty) October 10, 2018

The post Steph Curry's Trainer Explains Why The James Harden Behind-The-Back Move Isn't A Travel appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

The post YOU CAN'T GUARD JAMES HARDEN!!! The Most LETHAL Lefty EVER!? appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

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It was an OKC reunion in Houston on Sunday. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook made a surprise appearance at James Harden's 2nd annual JH-Town Weekend charity game to play alongside his former teammate from the 2010 Thunder team that went against LeBron in the 2012 NBA Finals.

The unstoppable duo were joined by current Rockets Gerald Green and P.J. Tucker and former Rocket Josh Smith. The opposing team featured new Spur DeMar DeRozan, the Morris Twins, Tyreke Evans and Harden's Drew League running mate Bobby Brown.

Westbrook provided two of the best highlights of the night: One was him catching an oop from Harden like they used to do during Harden's rookie season and the other was him savagely blocking rapper 21 Savage, who tried to do his best euro-step move that Westbrook and Harden have perfected.

Russell Westbrook with the savage block on 21 Savage!#JHTownweekend

(Via @lainiefritz) pic.twitter.com/nyKzzRLVzk

— David Astramskas (@redapples) August 19, 2018

For many, the most entertaining part of the game was the "match-up" between H-Town's Travis Scott and Meek Mill; The two rappers hilariously played defense like they were in a no blood, no foul jail league.

Scott's highlight of the night (which happened while Meek's former girlfriend, Nicki Minaj, was ranting on Twitter about her album being outsold by Travis Scott) was knocking down a three-pointer over Meek and celebrating by giving him the finger and then "shutting him down" on the other end.

? Travis Scott knocks down a 3 over Meek Mill then gives him the middle finger!

Full #JHTownWeekend game highlights: https://t.co/kkMECOo3Gw pic.twitter.com/Jl2OsCR3Cn

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) August 20, 2018

The basketball game was the final event of the three-day JH-Town Weekend, which also included a comedy show and a celebrity softball game. Like the basketball game, home run-hitting Travis Scott stole the show on the diamond, which is OK with the league MVP since all of the money raised during this weekend's event went to his 3 the Harden Way foundation.

Travis Scott hit a home run off James Harden! #JHTownWeekend

(Via @BenDuBose) pic.twitter.com/aa41Cihw3J

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) August 19, 2018

James Harden on his inside-the-park HR in Saturday’s #JHTownWeekend softball game: “I really wanted an outside-the-park home run.”

On Travis Scott: “He hit a home run and I didn’t!” #Rockets pic.twitter.com/tRmfenTUni

— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) August 19, 2018

James Harden explains why the now annual #JHTownWeekend is so important to him, starting with the happiness he’s seen around Houston at the events: pic.twitter.com/PAKK83BaAZ

— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) August 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/1031358770067243008

HARDEN AND WESTBROOK

Here's a few throwback clips from their early days in the NBA.

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James Harden The NBA MVP Back At It at UCLA Runs @JHarden13 @ricohinesbball pic.twitter.com/kmgYKgn9Sh

— Home Team Hoops (@HomeTeamHoops) July 11, 2018

Prince Ali, meet the NBA MVP!

I've never seen a player look so casual dropping 40 points or racking up a 30-point triple-double in a NBA game than James Harden. He looks even more chill in the summer, when the Beard torches defenders at the Drew League and runs like this UCLA one with Rico Hines.

Other players in the HomeTeamHoops video include UCLA's Jaylen Hands and Prince Ali, NBA player Pascal Siakam and Drew League star Antonio Biglow.

BONUS VIDS

BONUS: PRINCE ALI

The post James Harden Torching UCLA Player at Rico Hines Run appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

I went through James Harden's entire MVP-worthy season without cracking any jokes about his defense. But after watching the Warriors intentionally go at and roast Harden in Game 3, I had to drop the D for a tweet.

The play I posted was the above video of Shaun Livingston crossing Harden, blowing by him and throwing down a dunk to give the Warriors a 25-point lead in the 4th quarter. As expected, a few other people posted some hilarious tweets about the play.

In that moment harden knew he was cooked ??????? pic.twitter.com/qv79NLHztF

— Big Illinois (@Illmatic2) May 21, 2018

Replies to the above tweet:

"Is that Blind Al from Deadpool in the background?"
"Anyone else hear the Curb Your Enthusiasm theme in their head at this pic?"
"Why he look like Woody trying to be a toy when Andy walks in?"
"Livingston crossed up Harden so bad he crossed his eyes too."

My favorite tweet came from (Marvin Lee), who said, "Your MVP just got crossed up by a man with no knees."

If you don't get the Livingston knee joke, then go to YouTube, search "Shaun Livingston knee injury" and be prepared to cover your eyes or faint from the sight of the horrific injury.

So, how horrific was Harden's defense on Sunday? This tweet by ESPN's Chris Haynes answers that question.

The Warriors were 7-of-11 with James Harden as primary defender. That included a combined 6-of-7 by Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant. Golden State finished 8-of-14 (6-10 contested) against Harden.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 21, 2018

You can enjoy the highlights of Curry and KD scoring on Harden below. If you don't have time to watch the full videos, just go to the two-minute mark of the Curry one.

The post The Warriors & Internet Roasted James Haren & His Defense In GM3 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Without the help of refs, James Harden is one of the toughest defensive assignments in the league (history). With refs on the floor, he's unguardable. Not only has he mastered the art of getting away with illegal moves, he's mastered the art of selling fouls and getting to the line; Over the last 6 seasons, he has attempted over 1,200 more free throws than any other player. Since he shoots over 85% from the line, that's a very good thing for the Rockets.

During Game 2 against the Warriors, he showed off his sales skills by stumbling out of bounds and knocking down a ref after a "shove" in the back by Kevin Durant. Harden stumbled as if he was just pushed by JR Smith. His former OKC teammate wasn't too happy about the call, let the ref know about it and was hit with a tech.

In honor of the future MVP's gift for fooling refs, here's a video compilation of his best flops of the season and an interesting video of Jalen Rose and Dion Waiters discussing Harden slapping the phone of a heckler, calling Harden "the worst flopper in the NBA" during Game 2 of the Jazz series. And after those videos, is a hilarious compilation of tweets showing photos of Harden screaming from light contact.

pic.twitter.com/RsVymCW5j4

— Riley Gisseman (@rgiss11) May 7, 2018

pic.twitter.com/MSL7PQikn4

— Riley Gisseman (@rgiss11) May 8, 2018

pic.twitter.com/oyfbdQGZXt

— Riley Gisseman (@rgiss11) May 8, 2018

pic.twitter.com/RqUMHUj4MX

— Riley Gisseman (@rgiss11) May 8, 2018

pic.twitter.com/v9X3vksdfM

— Riley Gisseman (@rgiss11) May 8, 2018

pic.twitter.com/vgW5rDkOtw

— Riley Gisseman (@rgiss11) May 8, 2018

The post The Art Of Flopping By James Harden appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

The hardest job in basketball might be guarding James Harden (just ask Wesley Johnson). Runner-up to that painful and often embarrassing occupation is refereeing the ankle-breaking, step-back taking future MVP.

On his way to a game-high 44 points in the Rockets GM1 win over the Wolves, he pulled off a move on Andrew Wiggins (2nd clip in the above video) that had half of the internet saying Harden traveled to Dallas and the other half agreeing with the refs decision to not blow the whistle.

Later in the game, Karl-Anthony Towns had Chris Paul flipping out and screaming "Travel! Travel! Travel!" during a confusing moment after a missed free throw by James Harden that led to Andrew Wiggins (travelling?) throwing down an easy dunk.

A day earlier, the 76ers' Robert Covington got away with such a great "travel" before knocking down a three, this YouTuber titled the video "Robert Covington With The James Harden Illegal Travel."

BONUS: IS HARDEN'S STEPBACK A TRAVEL

Here's Tracy McGrady on The Jump discussing James Harden's stepback followed by Coach Nick of BBallBreakdown talking to NBA referee Ronnie Nunn about Harden's trademark move.

Here's what NBA impersonator Brandon Armstrong thought about Harden's step-back move on Wiggins.

[twit id="985733852927807489"]

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Chris Paul's game-winner (note: he's going right and off the glass) over Wade Baldwin IV was the biggest story from the Rockets and Blazers game on Thursday. But the best story was ironically the great defense of Baldwin on CP3 and James Harden, especially Harden.

With 4:37 remaining in the first half, Baldwin stripped Harden and threw down a dunk as The Beard stood on the other end of the court wondering what just happened. Harden then gave Baldwin a chest bump and a light push instead of paying attention to the inbounder, who threw the ball right into the hands of Baldwin. After a bucket by Nurkic, Harden delivered a cheap shot at Baldwin that none of the refs noticed. Wade responded by delivering a shot to Harden's nuts (or guts) that none of the refs noticed...or maybe they did and let it go because they are believers in karma. While Harden stood under the basket tending to the pain of the blow and a bruised ego, Baldwin knocked down a wide-open three.

“I think he showed that he can come in and impact the game,’’ Lillard said about Baldwin via NBC Sports Northwest. “Playing against two elite offensive players, two stars in this league and he comes in no fear, picking up full court – making them turn the ball over, frustrating them, impacting the game.

“And it wasn’t like he did it for a short period of time. He did it every minute he was on the floor. That’s something we can add to our team, something that can make us a better team. Now we have a guy on the perimeter who can really defend and lock up. He could really make us a better team.’’

In a season-high 32 minutes, Baldwin -- playing in just his fifth game with the Blazers this season -- finished with 14 points, 3 assists and 2 steals to go with the two turnovers he forced CP3 into.

“I’ve always been a defensive player, and given my circumstances – having an organization kind of, you know, throw me away, I just strive to be the hungriest person in the NBA and build my brand back up,’’ Baldwin said. “Defense is my ticket. Every time I go down the court, that’s my calling card. I’m just going to go hard with that.’

“I come in with a chip on my shoulder, and try to be a devil on defense, knowing in the back of my mind that an organization quit on me. A first round pick and I’m a converted two way player. I play with a chip on my shoulder every time out there and if my name is called I’m going to bring that intensity every time I play.’’

Coach Terry Stotts also raved about the former 1st round pick, who was waived by the Tanking Grizzlies after just one season.

“What he did tonight was exceptional,’’ Stotts said. “To be able to pick up like that is something we haven’t done and it’s something we can use going forward.’’

And going forward, I will only acknowledge Baldwin as "The Devil On Defense" or "The Harden Stopper (just to upset some people)."

Source: NBC Sports Northwest

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James Harden was snapping ankles as the Rockets snapped the Blazers 13-game winning streak on Tuesday night. Besides the numerous ankles (checklist below), The Beard racked up 41 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 5 threes in his latest spectacular performance during his I'm-not-getting-robbed-of-MVP-this-season campaign.

After feasting on Blazers of all sizes, Dennis (used to be L now he's a XXL) Scott asked him what he's thinking when he sees a big man switch on him. Harden responded the trademark quote of Scott's former Magic teammate: "BBQ chicken!"

Harden also discussed his trademark step-back with the media after the game.

"This doesn't just happen." Said Harden, who was booed on many of his touches. "I am constantly working on it every day, every single day. I am trying to get better and improve. I'm still doing that.

"I just try to wait for the defender to make his move. When he gets to where I want him to be, then I take my shot. It's all about rhythm, timing."

Here's how many servings Harden had off the Portland BBQ chicken menu:

• Lillard: 5
• Nurkic: 3
• Turner: 2
• Harkless: 1
• Aminu: 1
• Davis: 1
• McCollum: 0

LILLARD'S VOTE

Rockets killer Damian Lillard, who had his franchise-record of 52 games with a 3 end, also agreed Harden should be holding the MVP award after the season.

"They're the No. 1 team in the league for a reason. The find ways to win, they've got a lot of shooters out there. James is going to be the MVP of the league.

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On Tuesday night, James Harden became the first player in NBA history to record a 60-Point triple-double.

"I just gave it all I had tonight," Said Harden, who also broke Calvin Murphy's 40-year-old franchise-record of 57 during the 114-107 win over the Orlando Magic. "We all did. We all fought for 48 minutes, we got key stops when we needed to and we made big shots."

It figures Harden would try to make the historic performance about his teammates. And it's his Drew League and former Rockets teammate, Bobby Brown, who put the thought of dropping 60 in his Harden's head.

After the game, Brown -- who once scored 74 points and had a double-double of 64 points and 10 assists in China -- posted a screenshot of his conversation with Harden from earlier in the day. In it, the soon to be a Rocket again said, "Get 60 tonight, it's bout that time." Harden replied, "Right!!!"

So if you want something great to happen to you today, I suggest you ask Brown to text you what that is. Ex: I need a raise at my job or I need tickets to the 2018 NBA Finals between the Rockets and Celtics.

The post Bobby Brown Told James Harden To Get 60, Harden Agreed & Dropped A 60-Point Triple-Double! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

There's a good chance you hate flop master Marcus Smart. That is, unless he's on your favorite team. If he is, you probably love him, think he's a genius defender and get great joy watching him get under the skin of opposing players.

On Thursday, that frustrated opposing player was James Harden, who had 34 points and 10 assists on the night but shot 0-of-7 with Smart guarding him and committed two offensive fouls in the final 7.3 seconds of the Rockets meltdown against the Celtics. After the one-point loss, which saw the Rockets take a 62-38 lead at halftime, Harden voiced his frustration about the game only having two officials.

Via Jonathan Feigan of the Houston Chronicle.

“First of all, I wonder how you only have two officials on a national TV game. That’s the first question. But, a lot of grabbing, a lot of holding. How else am I supposed to get open? The guy has two arms wrapped around my whole body.

"You can’t have two officials in a professional game. There were a lot of no-calls that needed to be called because that changes the dynamic of the game. It’s a professional game, national TV. It can’t happen.”

Here's what Kyrie Irving, who scored a team-high 26 points, had to say about the ref situation.

"Obviously, both teams wished some calls could have gone either way. But it didn't make a difference having just two refs. When I saw both of them out there at the half court [before the game], and I was like, 'There's just two of y'all tonight?' They were like, 'Somebody's hurt.' I was like, 'Where's the backup?' I asked a legit question. I was like, 'Where's the backup?' Because I thought usually they have four refs. So there's one for backup or someone is watching in the back or something. I don't know the dynamic.

"But once the ref was hurt, I was like, 'Both of you guys are gonna do this?' I was like, 'All right, well, we're adjusting.' I told my teammates we were gonna have two refs out here, so use that to your advantage."

After the game, NBA defensive greats Gary Payton, Theo Ratliff and Ben Wallace, along with 2 x WNBA DPOY Teresa Weatherspoon, joined Kevin Garnett on TNT's 'Area 21' to discuss the officiating and Harden's offensive fouls.

The general consensus from the panel was it shouldn't have been called and the refs should let the players decide the game.

"You could make that call on every possession of the game." Said 4 X DPOY Ben Wallace.

Gary Payton thought a holding foul could have been called on Smart first but said Harden could have avoided his call by just running away from Smart instead of bulldozing through him. He then added "the reaction is always going to get called. That's the way the game goes. That's how our NBA is."

What the group of tough old school All-Stars really wanted to say is, "today's NBA is fucking soft!"

BONUS VIDEOS

Here's an amusing video of KG watching the final seconds of the game live.

And here's the greatest defensive player of all-time (I'm obviously joking) and the 'Inside the NBA' crew with their takes on the meltdown.

The post NBA Defensive Greats Break Down The Final Seconds Of The Rockets Meltdown Vs The Celtics appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Here's your daily dose of Chris Brickley's Black-Ops sessions in NYC. This one has Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo, Serge Ibaka and JaVala McGee going against a team with Hoodie Melo, beardless Chris Paul and the beard James Harden.  Iman Shumpert, Kenneth Faried, Lance Thomas, Dahntay Jones, David Lee, Joakim Noah and Tim Hardaway Jr also participated in the should-be-streamed-live-or-on-TV games.

Shout out to Chris, Victoria (@CountOnVic), Black Ops Basketball, Kevin Harrington and Joseph Sherman for all of the pics and clips from the sessions.

AND WE OUT pic.twitter.com/LRz3GIde9b

— Victoria (@CountOnVic) September 11, 2017

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By Erik Woods, Special to www.ebooksnet.com

What exists on the corner of 50th and Vermont in South Los Angeles?

Paradise.

For hundreds of kids this particular corner in the hood services daily, children of God, who are loved, nurtured, developed and inspired. NBA star James Harden found paradise, Russell Westbrook, too. In fact, you can find Russ' shoes in the front lobby, along with Shaq's size 22.

But what's real in Paradise? Only one percent of one percent of dreamers makes the NBA, but I'm trying to celebrate people like Deric Daniels. The former Pacific University and Manual Arts (Los Angeles) standout is a dope brotha who services young minds at this two-story building known as the Challengers Boys Club. Daniels and many other dedicated folks teach kids skills, SAT Prep and organize sports (not just basketball).

This club is an oasis of hope, in a community struggling with unemployment. As the great American poet Maya Angelou said:

"You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise."

When I taught around the corner from The Club in 1996 at Weemes Elementary School in 1996, I had 34 kids – 50 percent Latino, 50 percent African American. Four of the 16 black students had a dad. Where were they?

Are you ready to hear? Can you handle the truth?

Although black males make up six percent of the United States population, they are arrested at a crippling rate. According to USA Today, nearly 50 percent of black men have been arrested once by the age of 23. The point is, why is society so afraid? Who is left to raise children left behind?

Well, The Club tries its hardest to fill the void. It has tremendous role models such as Daniels and other staff members at The Challengers Club are primarily African American and Latino, as are the children it services.

It's that smile from a cafeteria worker giving food to a kid growing his or her mind. It's the gym supervisor taking the time to show volleyball. The Challengers Club is about the kids, and for the kids, while on its mission to serve the needs of a generation forgotten.

I could tell you how Russ and Harden balled up folks at the club, but this is not just about two great guys who came through the club. It's about hope, a place in the community where lives are shared, a smile given freely and a dream planted in the minds of impressionable youngsters.

Corey Dantzler, leader of this esteemed place, said, " This is where young minds grow, solid habits take root, and a sense of self determination is manifested in our kids hearts."

People see Harden and think "The Beard", the next NBA MVP, or see Russ as the next MVP. Yes, perhaps, but you know what I see? Just two youngsters from Los Angeles and the club that made good on their God- given talent.

If one of them had a turn of bad luck, like a severed leg, or messed up hand, maybe no NBA dreams fulfilled, but this special place still would've helped Westbrook and Harden become successful members of society...no matter if they are ballers or not. They are not NBA stars here; they are family.

Russ and James come back to 50th and Vermont, to volunteer, to help be that "real one " to kids. This could have been a story of how Russ learned to "triple double dudes" in his early years, but that's not real. This is a story of how two kids, along with thousands of others, have been cared for at the club.

How can you support The Club? Donate your time, be a mentor. Build trust with them in your kid. I would trust Dantzler with my own 16-year old daughter Giselle because he’s a genuinely good person. Corey, I'm just blessed to know him. I can't say you'll mentor the next Russ or Harden, but I can guarantee something even bigger -- you'll change someone's life for the better and they will in return thank you for it down the line.

In a country where we celebrate ballers, MVPs, NCAA and NBA chips, the real heroes reside at 50th & Vermont, because they're on the grind to all God's children who deserve a mentor. They'll thank you, even if they don't see you for 21 years, as is the case with Obie McCray, a student of mine at Weems in 1996 that I remember and think about often after all these years.

You'll actually thank yourself for being that person who found paradise in the form of a community filled with pride and love called The Challengers Boys Club.

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After a labor day workout with new Houston teammates James Harden and Bobby Brown, Chris Paul provided some funny commentary for a dunk contest won by Jay Cuddler aka Skitzel. The BIG(!) man from The Beard's entourage won the contest with a shocking 360 and a shirtless dunk.

After the win, Skitzel posted on his IG account he was "taking the show on the road" and his "patnas" Harden and CP3 "got whatever on me! #LineItUp"

The last time I saw a more shocking dunk contest end with a guy taking his shirt off it was in 2001, when David Lee upset James White in the McDonalds dunk contest. White had a shot at redemption in the 2013 NBA dunk contest but came up short in the very forgettable event, which happened to take place in Houston.

Back to the backcourt of the Houston Rockets, here's some footage of Harden and CP3 in a labor day pick-up game.

[twit id="904856325905055744"]

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By now, you have probably seen this photo of a shirtless and muscular James Harden from earlier this month. According to NBC Sports, the Beard added about 15 pounds of muscle to his listed 220-pound frame, which has never been known to be one of the fittest in the NBA -- especially in the summer.

Remember this photo from the summer of 2013?

In his defense (no pun intended), I think the photo was taken while he was sticking his gut out because he didn't look this way while playing in the Drew League. Or maybe this really was a case of a camera adding 10 pounds. Then again, in a 2015 article about his improved diet by SI, Harden said he does have a sweet tooth.

“Cookies, ice cream, brownies, hot fudge sundaes,” he says, listing a few special sweet treats. “I like cookies and cream ice cream, and vanilla too.”

So let's take a journey back to his senior days in high school and watch the transformation of his body and game go from a 185-pound teenager who wasn't even ranked in ESPN's Top 20 players in the nation to a 218 pound Sun Devil to a ripped MVP candidate.

(2007) HIGH SCHOOL

(2008) COLLEGE

(2009 - 2012) NBA

(2012) OLYMPICS

(2014) SUMMER

(2016) SUMMER

And this is how he's changed over the years in video games.

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A day after practicing catching alley-oop dunks from his son, Lil Chris, new Houston Rocket Chris Paul caught a lob from James Harden during the JH-Town charity game at Rice University on Sunday. The best play from one of the most exciting charity games I've ever been to caused the local crowd of Rocket fanatics and women looking for a NBA baby daddy to erupt. And it's a play we probably wont ever see during the upcoming CP3 & The Beard era.

What I do expect to see in the upcoming season that fans saw a lot of on Sunday was Paul and Harden battling (hopefully in a good way) for assists. Here's the full highlights from the game, which includes a great angle on the Harden to CP3 lob (11:35 mark).

You can check out more pics and clips from the event after this countdown video of CP3 dunks, which includes a surprising 1-hand alley-oop dunk (2:05 mark) during the 2007 NBA Rookie Challenge and a 2-hand alley-oop (2:19 mark) in the 2009 All-Star game.

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