Confessions Of A Harden Hater
Confessions Of A Harden Hater
The Opening Tip
Hello & Happy Almost Weekend - It's the Corner Three!
THE PROCESS HALL OF FAME IS BACK!
As we mentioned, the Process Hall of Fame is back for 2023. The inductees will be Mike Muscala, the Ben Simmons Practice Photo, and the third one is up to you. Vote below before March 15th, and watch the induction at Live Ricky V in the building or on the video premier presented by MortgageCS.
The nominees are: The Paul Milsapp all-star story, booing Tony Snell, Morey on the Ricky from the bubble, Me and Kyrie by Tony T, Covington’s Lottery Party welcome, the Better Than Ben Simmons list, Jeopardy contestant is banned.
VOTE HERE.
Oh Yeah, The Sixers
Don't Look Now..
These dudes are GOOD, man. Idk if I'm all the way back but I'm damn close
This Week's Top 10! (Favorites to win the NCAA Tourney, edition)
10. Purdue
9. Arizona
8. Marquette
7. Gonzaga
6. Baylor
5. UCLA
4. Texas
3. Kansas
2. Miami (Believe!!!)
1. Houston
Best thing I ate this week
The Smash Burger from Urban Saloon. I used to be able to walk there, for quite a few years, my favorite place on that lovely strip in Fairmount. You won't go wrong with anything on that menu really, and be sure to ask for their drink menu too if that's your thing.
20% OFF ALL HOODIES AT KINETIC
Only for you, only till Sunday. All hoodies at Kinetic are 20% off with code RICKYHOODY at checkout. Spring time is hoodie time!
SPIKE'S CORNER... JAMES HARDEN HAS PROVED ME WRONG, SO FAR
New to the Corner Three Newsletter: every week Spike or Mike will write a section, aptly titled Spike's Corner or Mike's Corner. It's Spike's turn today and it's about being a James Harden hater.
I’ve gone through many phases in my life with James Harden. Anyone who would write a sentence like that without having ever met James Harden is either a complete loser or a psychopath. I’m just staring at it right now, 4:29am on Thursday, what am I even doing here? Anyway!
Houston James Harden was a guy I defended regularly. I’d watch him maybe five times a year, and it would always be such a wild thing to control the game the way he did, put up the numbers he did, and make people complain about his style of play. As a born contrarian, hearing everyone say the style he played was unwatchable simply made me like it more. When he became available, I badly wanted the Sixers to trade Ben Simmons for him (even though I thought a package centered around Tyler Herro to Houston was more valuable, which I was right about, so if you were a DICK to me about that, I’m just bringing it up here just in case).
Brooklyn Nets James Harden was a guy that I quite honestly barely paid attention to. He had that one good run in between hamstring injuries a couple of years ago, but I truly didn’t feel a thing about it.
The first, I don’t know, ten games of James Harden, I was in my glory. Harden knew how to play with Embiid, and the Sixers were instantly awesome. Harden did not look like Houston James Harden, but it was sort of a relief because I would have to admit to myself that it really wasn’t enjoyable to watch.
And then I fucking hated watching him. Boy was it a drag. I couldn’t think of a Sixers player that I liked watching less than I liked watching James Harden (probably Okafor). We hadn’t even gotten to the Miami series yet, and I was thinking maybe he’d leave. Privately hoping that I would never have to watch one of those STUPID fucking stepbacks ever in my life.
And boy oh boy, if I didn’t like watching him before, the Miami series was a revelation of hate. Watching him basically quit in Game 6 (I mean, he did quit. I think there’s like a 65% chance he actually wanted to lose), was one of the more enraging experiences of my sports watching life. Who the fuck does this guy think he is? It’s one thing to be slower than you used to be, but to stop trying was a new one. Especially a year after I had to watch Ben Simmons (who I was correct about!), quit against the Hawks. I was terrified of a new contract basically guaranteeing that both James Harden and I would grow old together, him richer and fatter with every year. I became a true James Harden hater.
I was pretty sure he’d suck this year.
I’ve got to be honest though, I was definitely wrong. Not only has he been great this year, he’s gotten better every week of the season. He hasn’t really been a drag to watch at all. Sure, there have been some unnecessary yet predictable stepbacks, but by and large he’s looked better physically, and sort of conceded that every play does not need to be centered around him dribbling in the same place for 17 seconds. Dare I say he has earned the sort of contract I feared (still fear it but he earned it!).
But like a true hater, I am still just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Whether it be in the first round against the Heat, or the second round against the Bucks or the Celtics, in my heart, I’m waiting for him to disappear again and shoot 5-18 in a deciding game or 8-29 in said game. I can’t decide which one would drive me more crazy. My eyes tell me that James Harden has been way better this season and with the offense resting more squarely on Embiid’s shoulders, this could be the year that Harden’s playoff performance is unassailable, but my heart tells me he’s going to disappear.
Peace, Love and Process
Stay Warm - Watch Selection Sunday
-Zo