Ime Udoka to James Harden: 'You want to win and we're not there yet'
Udoka had coached Harden as an assistant during their time together with the Brooklyn Nets and coached against him for years in San Antonio, Philadelphia and Boston. There was great respect for Harden and his game, but it just wasn’t the right fit. If the plan was to build a defensive juggernaut with a balanced offense — and it was — then adding a ball-dominant, all-time great who never has been known for defense wasn’t the way to go. “My main thing for us was, ‘What fits best with our young guys to continue to grow?’” Udoka said. “But also, out of respect for James, (I told him), ‘You’re at the stage where you want to win, and we’re not there yet.’ And it wasn’t just James. I had five, six veteran guys who went to championship-level teams who wanted to come (that summer), and I said the same thing to all of them.Source: New York Times What’s the buzz on Twitter? Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen Ime Udoka said he is still “not sure” if Dillon Brooks will be available. “He’s getting looked at.” – 7:03 PM Kelsey Russo @kelseyyrusso #Browns roster moves for today: Activated DT Mike Hall Jr. and CB Myles Harden from injured reserve Elevated K Riley Patterson and WR James Proche II from the practice squad – 12:31 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU Season-high NINE turnovers for Harden tonight in Denver – 11:08 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU Clippers first half free throw shooting Zubac: 1/3 Harden/Powell/Coffey/Porter Jr.: 1/2 each Game is likely going to come down to which one of these teams can fix their hideous uncontested shooting – 10:23 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU All four of James Harden, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Russell Westbrook had more turnovers than assists AND buckets in 1st half Harden: 5/10 FGs, 4:6 AST-TO Jokic: 3/4 FGs, 1:4 AST-TO Murray: 3/8 FGs, 3:4 AST-TO Westbrook: 0/4 FGs, 3:4 AST-TO – 10:18 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn Jamal just had a fantastic defensive play on Harden and then the most insane shot attempt at the rim lol – 9:52 PM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU Nuggets lead Clippers 29-22 through one quarter of play Aaron Gordon has 9 points on 3/3 FGs, 3/3 FTs. Clippers only 1/2 FTs as a team, and have missed TEN of 13 3s already. The power forward matchup looms large. Harden took on the early AG assignment and Gordon found money – 9:39 PM Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn James Harden just spent the last 30 seconds of the timeout yelling at Ed Malloy for not calling the three shot foul on MPJ. There was some contact. Jamal Murray came down the floor and hit a pull-up three. He’s 2/2 for 6 points now. – 9:22 PM Kelsey Russo @kelseyyrusso #Browns game status for Week 15 vs. Chiefs: David Njoku, Joel Bitonio, Mike Hall, Myles Harden and Khaleke Hudson – questionable Cedric Tillman – out – 1:39 PM Sam Amick @sam_amick Story on the Rockets includes… * Udoka’s reflections on the choice not to reunite with James Harden (and much more) * Perspective from GM Rafael Stone, Fred VanVleet, and Jeff Green * Intel on their long-term plan and the Jimmy Butler possibility nytimes.com/athletic/59907… – 1:24 PM Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears Houston #Rockets guard Jalen Green strives to be more than a scorer. The 2021 No. 2 pick takes coach Ime Udoka’s advice to have much more offensive and defensive impact for the rising Rockets who are in the #NBACup semis in Las Vegas. #nba bit.ly/4gw0uZf @andscape – 11:46 AM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU Been thinking about who the Clippers can/will play tonight in Denver I keep coming back to Bones Hyland as a complement to Kris Dunn (in the same way that Porter/Miller complement Harden/Powell) Coffey/Batum at 4. Bamba useful behind Zubac vs DEN Bones: 10/20 3s last two games – 11:40 AM StatMuse @statmuse Payton Pritchard has hit more threes than Steph Curry Jayson Tatum Damian Lillard Donovan Mitchell Luka Doncic Kyrie Irving Buddy Hield Jalen Brunson James Harden Trae Young Devin Booker Karl-Anthony Towns this season. pic.x.com/prC3b8ycjA – 10:41 AM Zach Kram @zachkram Best true shooting percentage in NBA history among guards with an above-average usage rate: 1. Steph 2. PAYTON PRITCHARD this season 3. Steph 4. Harden 5. Steph 6. Steph 7. Nash 8. Reggie Miller 9. tie among Reggie/Dame/Norm Powell this season – 8:17 AM Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU Clippers only dressing 11 players for Denver: Harden Powell Dunn Batum Zubac Porter Jr Hyland Miller Coffey Bamba Kai Jones – 7:05 PM Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA Steve Kerr basically single-handedly got the league to make like 3 rule changes centered around James Harden and he’s still complaining. Hell, the brother has Draymond Green on his team and we’re supposed to give him the benefit of the doubt on this subject? It’s remarkable. – 1:50 PM Adam Aaronson @SixersAdam New: Let’s use this layoff to check in on friends: • James Harden, still the ultimate floor raiser • Buddy Hie
Udoka had coached Harden as an assistant during their time together with the Brooklyn Nets and coached against him for years in San Antonio, Philadelphia and Boston. There was great respect for Harden and his game, but it just wasn’t the right fit. If the plan was to build a defensive juggernaut with a balanced offense — and it was — then adding a ball-dominant, all-time great who never has been known for defense wasn’t the way to go. “My main thing for us was, ‘What fits best with our young guys to continue to grow?’” Udoka said. “But also, out of respect for James, (I told him), ‘You’re at the stage where you want to win, and we’re not there yet.’ And it wasn’t just James. I had five, six veteran guys who went to championship-level teams who wanted to come (that summer), and I said the same thing to all of them.
Source: New York Times
Source: New York Times
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Ime Udoka said he is still “not sure” if Dillon Brooks will be available. “He’s getting looked at.” – 7:03 PM
Ime Udoka said he is still “not sure” if Dillon Brooks will be available. “He’s getting looked at.” – 7:03 PM
Kelsey Russo @kelseyyrusso
#Browns roster moves for today:
Activated DT Mike Hall Jr. and CB Myles Harden from injured reserve
Elevated K Riley Patterson and WR James Proche II from the practice squad – 12:31 PM
#Browns roster moves for today:
Activated DT Mike Hall Jr. and CB Myles Harden from injured reserve
Elevated K Riley Patterson and WR James Proche II from the practice squad – 12:31 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Clippers first half free throw shooting
Zubac: 1/3
Harden/Powell/Coffey/Porter Jr.: 1/2 each
Game is likely going to come down to which one of these teams can fix their hideous uncontested shooting – 10:23 PM
Clippers first half free throw shooting
Zubac: 1/3
Harden/Powell/Coffey/Porter Jr.: 1/2 each
Game is likely going to come down to which one of these teams can fix their hideous uncontested shooting – 10:23 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
All four of James Harden, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Russell Westbrook had more turnovers than assists AND buckets in 1st half
Harden: 5/10 FGs, 4:6 AST-TO
Jokic: 3/4 FGs, 1:4 AST-TO
Murray: 3/8 FGs, 3:4 AST-TO
Westbrook: 0/4 FGs, 3:4 AST-TO – 10:18 PM
All four of James Harden, Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Russell Westbrook had more turnovers than assists AND buckets in 1st half
Harden: 5/10 FGs, 4:6 AST-TO
Jokic: 3/4 FGs, 1:4 AST-TO
Murray: 3/8 FGs, 3:4 AST-TO
Westbrook: 0/4 FGs, 3:4 AST-TO – 10:18 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Jamal just had a fantastic defensive play on Harden and then the most insane shot attempt at the rim lol – 9:52 PM
Jamal just had a fantastic defensive play on Harden and then the most insane shot attempt at the rim lol – 9:52 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Nuggets lead Clippers 29-22 through one quarter of play
Aaron Gordon has 9 points on 3/3 FGs, 3/3 FTs. Clippers only 1/2 FTs as a team, and have missed TEN of 13 3s already.
The power forward matchup looms large. Harden took on the early AG assignment and Gordon found money – 9:39 PM
Nuggets lead Clippers 29-22 through one quarter of play
Aaron Gordon has 9 points on 3/3 FGs, 3/3 FTs. Clippers only 1/2 FTs as a team, and have missed TEN of 13 3s already.
The power forward matchup looms large. Harden took on the early AG assignment and Gordon found money – 9:39 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
James Harden just spent the last 30 seconds of the timeout yelling at Ed Malloy for not calling the three shot foul on MPJ. There was some contact.
Jamal Murray came down the floor and hit a pull-up three. He’s 2/2 for 6 points now. – 9:22 PM
James Harden just spent the last 30 seconds of the timeout yelling at Ed Malloy for not calling the three shot foul on MPJ. There was some contact.
Jamal Murray came down the floor and hit a pull-up three. He’s 2/2 for 6 points now. – 9:22 PM
Kelsey Russo @kelseyyrusso
#Browns game status for Week 15 vs. Chiefs:
David Njoku, Joel Bitonio, Mike Hall, Myles Harden and Khaleke Hudson – questionable
Cedric Tillman – out – 1:39 PM
#Browns game status for Week 15 vs. Chiefs:
David Njoku, Joel Bitonio, Mike Hall, Myles Harden and Khaleke Hudson – questionable
Cedric Tillman – out – 1:39 PM
Sam Amick @sam_amick
Story on the Rockets includes…
* Udoka’s reflections on the choice not to reunite with James Harden (and much more)
* Perspective from GM Rafael Stone, Fred VanVleet, and Jeff Green
* Intel on their long-term plan and the Jimmy Butler possibility
nytimes.com/athletic/59907… – 1:24 PM
Story on the Rockets includes…
* Udoka’s reflections on the choice not to reunite with James Harden (and much more)
* Perspective from GM Rafael Stone, Fred VanVleet, and Jeff Green
* Intel on their long-term plan and the Jimmy Butler possibility
nytimes.com/athletic/59907… – 1:24 PM
Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears
Houston #Rockets guard Jalen Green strives to be more than a scorer. The 2021 No. 2 pick takes coach Ime Udoka’s advice to have much more offensive and defensive impact for the rising Rockets who are in the #NBACup semis in Las Vegas. #nba bit.ly/4gw0uZf @andscape – 11:46 AM
Houston #Rockets guard Jalen Green strives to be more than a scorer. The 2021 No. 2 pick takes coach Ime Udoka’s advice to have much more offensive and defensive impact for the rising Rockets who are in the #NBACup semis in Las Vegas. #nba bit.ly/4gw0uZf @andscape – 11:46 AM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Been thinking about who the Clippers can/will play tonight in Denver
I keep coming back to Bones Hyland as a complement to Kris Dunn (in the same way that Porter/Miller complement Harden/Powell)
Coffey/Batum at 4. Bamba useful behind Zubac vs DEN
Bones: 10/20 3s last two games – 11:40 AM
Been thinking about who the Clippers can/will play tonight in Denver
I keep coming back to Bones Hyland as a complement to Kris Dunn (in the same way that Porter/Miller complement Harden/Powell)
Coffey/Batum at 4. Bamba useful behind Zubac vs DEN
Bones: 10/20 3s last two games – 11:40 AM
StatMuse @statmuse
Payton Pritchard has hit more threes than
Steph Curry
Jayson Tatum
Damian Lillard
Donovan Mitchell
Luka Doncic
Kyrie Irving
Buddy Hield
Jalen Brunson
James Harden
Trae Young
Devin Booker
Karl-Anthony Towns
this season. pic.x.com/prC3b8ycjA – 10:41 AM
Payton Pritchard has hit more threes than
Steph Curry
Jayson Tatum
Damian Lillard
Donovan Mitchell
Luka Doncic
Kyrie Irving
Buddy Hield
Jalen Brunson
James Harden
Trae Young
Devin Booker
Karl-Anthony Towns
this season. pic.x.com/prC3b8ycjA – 10:41 AM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Clippers only dressing 11 players for Denver:
Harden
Powell
Dunn
Batum
Zubac
Porter Jr
Hyland
Miller
Coffey
Bamba
Kai Jones – 7:05 PM
Clippers only dressing 11 players for Denver:
Harden
Powell
Dunn
Batum
Zubac
Porter Jr
Hyland
Miller
Coffey
Bamba
Kai Jones – 7:05 PM
Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
Steve Kerr basically single-handedly got the league to make like 3 rule changes centered around James Harden and he’s still complaining.
Hell, the brother has Draymond Green on his team and we’re supposed to give him the benefit of the doubt on this subject?
It’s remarkable. – 1:50 PM
Steve Kerr basically single-handedly got the league to make like 3 rule changes centered around James Harden and he’s still complaining.
Hell, the brother has Draymond Green on his team and we’re supposed to give him the benefit of the doubt on this subject?
It’s remarkable. – 1:50 PM
Adam Aaronson @SixersAdam
New: Let’s use this layoff to check in on friends:
• James Harden, still the ultimate floor raiser
• Buddy Hield: 6MOY?
• De’Anthony Melton can’t catch a break
• Tobias Harris is averaging fewer PPG in 2024-25 than he ever did as a Sixer?
• more
phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-an… – 11:18 AM
New: Let’s use this layoff to check in on friends:
• James Harden, still the ultimate floor raiser
• Buddy Hield: 6MOY?
• De’Anthony Melton can’t catch a break
• Tobias Harris is averaging fewer PPG in 2024-25 than he ever did as a Sixer?
• more
phillyvoice.com/sixers-news-an… – 11:18 AM
More on this storyline
Law Murray: James Harden says he will play Friday in Denver -via Twitter @LawMurrayTheNU / December 11, 2024
Norman Powell on James Harden: Then there’s just his care with his body. I see him getting his workouts in, getting his treatments, being really vocal about what he needs. After games, he’s lifting and doing all the things to make sure he’s ready to lead and play every single night. I think that’s been the biggest thing. Even in the locker room—before games, during games, halftime—he’s talking about what we need to do, the adjustments we need to make, keeping everyone’s heads up on tough nights when we let games slip away or get blown out. He’s been amazing with that. That’s what we need—seeing that side of him. When you’re an opposing player, you don’t really know what goes on behind the scenes. With all the articles and narratives about him leaving Philly, you only get one side. But being in the locker room with him, talking to him—our lockers are right next to each other—I’ve seen the other side. There’s so much dialogue about the game, his approach, and what we have to do. He’s a great dude, a great teammate, and it’s been an honor to play with him on the floor and learn from someone who’s accomplished so much in this league.” -via YouTube / December 11, 2024
A restaurant owned by NBA player James Harden in Houston, Texas, has been named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed this week. The lawsuit, filed in Harris County District Court on Monday, alleges that the restaurant, Thirteen by James Harden, caused Christian Daniel Herrera’s intoxication and provided him with alcohol in excess that led to a fatal car accident. -via ABC News / December 11, 2024
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