It’s pretty much regarded as the best face curtain in the league. James Harden’s beard has pretty much taken over the NBA. Baron Davis used to sit atop the Beard Rankings, but Harden has stayed consistent with his face fur.
When the Thunder was in Canada playing the Raptors, The Basketball Jones talked to Harden about his scruff and also about the rise of the beard.
Harden Beard from The Basketball Jones on Vimeo.
I'm actually okay with rookies going to the D-League. Honestly, I'm a little surprised Ibaka didn't get a little time there.
Perhaps a breif stint in the D-League would boost Harden's confidence a bit?
Do we over-react to someone going to the D-League? I think if you polled most of us, the majority would like to see the NBADL to turn into more of a true farm system. Yeah, I'd like to see Mullens or Aldrich crack the rotation at some point, but if it turns out to be a positive thing, why not use it appropriately?
@Anonymous
Thanks, it's a small sample (9 shots) but Tibor is shooting 44.4 percent from three. That's better than Maynor or Harden (both 40.6%) but worse than Ivey's 66.7% (5-8 on the season).
In his last four games (where he is starting to get real minutes), he is averaging 10 rebounds in about 25 mins a game.
Tibor is also shooting 78% from the line, which is decent for a big man.
I hope they decide to bring him over soon....
@Anonymous
Thanks for sharing. Do you know the difference between Fv & Ag for blocks and Cm & Rv for fouls?
@Mark!
A good point Mark. But how much more time does Mullens need before he gets the fundamentals down?
I think I've heard praise for how studious Mullens has been. Then again, they said the same things about Swift.
Per NEWSOK: "The Thunder remains committed to the 7-foot center and views its D-League team as a vital resource for its young players."
@Thomas
He has lower BBIQ than Ibaka, which is really saying something. I think Presti underestimated how difficult it is to develop someone who doesn't have much feel for the game.
I remember a Mullens practice story from a season or two ago. He was defending Collison in the post when Nick had to stop and tell him he couldn't put his open hand on his back since that would be called as a foul. Mullens said he had never heard that before.
That's pretty basic stuff, and I wonder just how much "basic stuff" he missed out on. He's extremely athletic, and he had a good stroke, but I always wonder how many holes there are in his fundamentals like that. I don't think he has much feel for the game, for example. If you compare the on court activity of Mullens and Aldrich, it's pretty plain. Both are active and both set a lot of screens, but Aldrich's was able to set many productive off the ball screens. Mullens sets a lot of screens, but mostly for the ball handler and nothing is usually accomplished by them.
He just has a long way to go. I would count of Pleiss turning up and getting PT before Mullens, but that's just my opinion.
@Thomas
Overall, I agree. I guess they are trying to keep them in game shape??? Mullens and/or Aldrich needs to start getting more minutes.
DizzyDai :
According the KGOU Mullens was sent to Tulsa.
What's the point at this point? Seriously, how much more is he going to develop at that level. He needs playing time in the NBA to see if he's ever going to pan out or he needs to be traded for whatever nominal consideration you can get for him.
Hollinger: "If it weren't for that play where he spins out of the post for a lob, LaMarcus Aldridge would be shooting about 14% this year."
I lol'd
why are all the titles about jsmes harden make it sound like he is gay?
first there was james hardens coming out party, and now we are talking about his beard.
Royce Young :
Oh well color me embarrassed. I’m not hip to today’s lingo I guess.
Most of the Thunder players' Twitter accounts are like Greek to me.
They're "swagger jacking" his style. His beard isn't a swagger jacket. But hey maybe it'll catch on haha.
[...] Yesterday, the Oklahoma City Thunder advanced to the Western Conference Finals with a 105-90 victory in game seven over the Memphis Grizzlies. As a key reserve and generally the Thunder’s first player of the bench, James Harden’s beard scored 17 points (most of it via four three pointers he nailed), collected four rebounds, had four steals. And in the process throughout the series, he made it cool to have a beard again. For everything that Brawny paper towels tried to do by replacing the iconic “Brawny Man” and limiting his beard, James Harden’s beard is single handedly reversing the trend. [...]
[...] For everything that Brawny paper towels tried to do by replacing the iconic “Brawny Man” and limiting his beard, James Harden’s beard is single handedly reversing the trend. [...]