Daily Thunder.com Top 10 James Harden moments

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Even though the circumstances of James Harden’s departure were fairly ugly and have left quite the bitter taste in Thunder fans’ mouths, there were good times with The Beard. Three seasons of technically pure, surprisingly athletic and often gorgeous basketball.

Emotions still may be running hot for some about this, but it’s hard not to appreciate what Harden brought to OKC the last three years.

So let’s give one last slow clap for The Beard and remember his 10 greatest moments, according to me. And no, No. 1 isn’t going to be Metta World Peace trying to take Harden’s head off. Come on, I’m not that sad.

10: Bowtie

Amazing to think that James Harden was the first ever draft pick in official Thunder history. And he goes down in Thunder history with some serious style.

9: Arm in arm

At the time, this was an incredibly emotional and powerful scene. Now? It’s kind of awkward to watch.

8. Tear away

That’s tear as in rhymes with bear. But right now, it could be tear as in rhymes with beer. Which sounds pretty good right about now.

7. Flash oop

One of those plays only explained by the beard. How else could he pull that off?

6. Pizza rolls

In Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals in 2011, Harden showed his first real signs of being able to dominate a fourth quarter in a big spot. He handled the ball, hit big shots and took over when OKC needed him.

5. Talking

Remember when Harden drilled a dagger 3 against the Lakers and then talked smack with his boyhood idol? That was awesome.

4. 40

Not only did James Harden score a career-high 40 points against the Suns, he did it on like four shots. Or something like that.

3. Takeover

With the Thunder sputtering in a clinching Game 4 against Dallas, OKC needed a fourth quarter spark. And Harden completely took over. He scored 29 with 15 coming alone in the fourth as he owned the game and really punctuated it all with this awesome dunk.

2. Put it on his head

If I were to try and write James Harden’s reaction out in words, it would look like this I think: “Yeaaa heee hoo hoo hoo yeaaa.” Something like that.

1. The Dagger

No matter how you feel when Harden returns to Oklahoma City for the first time, you should give him a small little clap just for this shot alone.

It was just three years Thunder fans got to spend with that glorious beard, but there were certainly some great memories. A shame to see it end, but we’ll always have J.J. Hickson’s dignity.

booles

Think we'll hear one more shake up from Presti this afternoon or tomorrow?

Tronchaser

@booles No.

booles

@Tronchaser :( ok....

ou_sas

2 Like

@Tronchaser @booles According to Larry Coon's CBA FAQ, it's 60 days if he's part of a trade with another Thunder player, immediately if it's by himself. (See question 97 on that).

BlueLamp

@Bsooreal @Tronchaser @booles http://goo.gl/HDdz8

Tronchaser

1 Like

@Bsooreal @booles http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/attachment.php?s=6cb4fd511c1a81df5e653d070b9b759c&attachmentid=55242&stc=1&d=1142920093

KellOne

@booles @Tronchaser 90 days I read somewhere

Perk-Nightmares

@Tronchaser @booles

Fish

Tronchaser

@Lost Ones @booles @Tronchaser Thank you, LO. I knew it was somewhere in that timeframe, but I don't want to say something definitive when I'm ignorant.

Lost Ones

3 Like

@booles @Tronchaser 90 days

Tronchaser

1 Like

@booles Yes, there is. However, I would have to consult with our local rules_nazi (ou_sas) for the exact time. :)

booles

@Tronchaser isnt there a rule that we have to wait a certain amount of time before we flip martin?

Tronchaser

4 Like

@booles We're running out of players to deal. Think about it, half of our team from last year is gone.

Nazr (aka moobs)

Royal

The Beard

Daquan

Cole

Lazar

That's significant, even if they are all bench players.

THUNDERCATS

2 Like

@booles @Tronchaser

we should sign orton...or any big person we find off the street

962 comments

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ashar00f

Still my fav: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj2zP2W0Ha4

Fezzy/FreeAdamsKarasevSnell

http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/10/monday-bolts-10-29-12/

Lambchop

Three consecutive posts from a December 4th, 2008 blog here in Daily Thunder regarding Hollingers take that the Thunde rmay be the worst team ever. Some blogger called Royce comaprions ow westbrook and Royce back then, Asinine. Can we have atalk with this blogger?

lade the gay blade

Royce, your blog is excellent...keep up the good work. It's unfortunate that your comment section is infested with rodents.

SHAREFLAGReplyLikeAnonymous

Don't kid yourself. Your team is the worst. Your city is the worst. Your bloggers are the worst. Bush Leaguers!

OVER 4 YEARS AGOReplyLikeAnonymous

Here's a great column completely ripping apart Royce's asinine Westbrook-Rose comparison:

http://dberri.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/russell-westbrook-is-similar-to-derrick-rose/#comments

is Dberri. Dennis Berry?

D-MC (DT Heavyweight Champion)

@Lambchop Nerlens Noel And now, one can argue that Westbrook is better than Rose. Amazing how things change.

Jooseppi

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8566897/a-look-oklahoma-city-trade-james-harden-houston-rockets

desatt

@Jooseppi The thing about the Thunder playing small effectively might be the one of the silver linings of this trade. Small ball was Scott Brooks MO in the playoffs so with this trade I'd expect more of the same.

Beardadict Arnold

Hey guys, trying out my new marketing slogan: "Sacrifice means never accepting less than the max".

What do you think?

El Prez

I think James is a 23 year old who got some really shitty guidance from Rob Pelinka. I'll never hate James...he'll have a place in my heart. Not impressed with Pelinka--he's supposed to earn his commission by visualizing where his client's negotiating chip will be four years down the road.

@Beardadict Arnold I think its bitter and narrowminded

@Lambchop Nerlens Noel Don't hate.

@Lambchop Nerlens Noel Cordial? That's like one of those chocolate cherry things right? I'll have some of those with my bubbly on the yach

@Beardadict Arnold You should listen to your own advice. Im being cordial, and merely aswering a question you asked. If you dont want dissent with a question you ask, next time just add, "Please dont challenge, disagree or hate my questions that i ask of you." Ill oblige.

Im not sure how ong this option has been available, but I just discovered it: At teh bottom of teh page, you can hit "Last" and read the very first - and everthing after - Royce contribution. This should cause some interesting discussions. There is an artice, on about the 5th to last page or so, called, "I thought his Durant Kid was supposed to be good?" Which is not a Royce quote, but further down the article, Royce says that, "When Russ is on teh court, I just cant take my eyes off him. Theres something about him." Well doen, Royce.

You can read every commentary - ane even add comments - as well.

BrightFuture aka Presti do your magic

Now,I admit this was crossover lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oewKZOcH7fA

@No beard no fear If I remember correctly, everyone was slipping on that paint.

@Lambchop Nerlens Noel NO

G.O.S.

Plus, Lamb’s rookie-scale deal allows Presti the chance to toy with all kinds of cap scenarios next summer. The Thunder aren’t at all committed to any specific option at this point, and that’s precisely the purpose in passing up Harden’s substantial extension. Amnestying Perkins or letting Maynor walk in free agency now aren’t merely ways to ease the luxury-tax bill, but realistic possibilities with actual team-building benefits for a team that should be well below the tax line. - http://nba.si.com/2012/10/28/thunder-trade-james-harden-analysis/?sct=nba_t11_a7

Have a read, really good piece by Mahoney at SI. His rationale is sound and does a decent analysis of future impact for the team and chances this season.

MrRaysian

so people start talking just before i go sleep. great.

I just want to go on this note:

I just watched a documentary involving Yao Ming (Year of the Yao) and I think It's incredible what Ibaka has done over the years. it's not easy learning the highest level of basketball without knowing the language on the same level as others do. And then to learn all the offensive and defensive schemes which is a language in it's own for each NBA team.

If you question how hard it truly is to be placed in a new environment, then just fly to india and force your self to live there. You probably can't handle the workload

@MrRaysian Where are you MrRay?

@Tronchaser @MrRaysian He's another Aussie Tron.

Good time to visit, is what I'm sayin'. Swear. Pg13 all the way.

It's springtime here Tron, lovely warm days 30C (sorry don't do farehnheit). Views are lovely *hush voice* ifyaknowwati'msayin'... Aye aye?

@Tronchaser Lol, make sure you always say the whole word. *awkward whistling*

@Godofserenity I like the fact that there are international fans of the Thunder.

It warms my cockles. (or something) LOL

It's Raysian, Stringer Bell and myself I think.

@Godofserenity @Tronchaser @MrRaysian Ahh cool. Loved Aussieland, would like to go back. I get fairly close in Thailand, but not close enough. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMbibT7nhEg

@EatSleepThunder FEED THE LAMB!

Could K-Mart be sucessful? I mean in our system he will be playing against 2nd stringers. he will be the main option when KD and Russ are off the floor. Could our system be what made Harden so good. A catch n shot or catch and drive. If K-mart has any kind of drive n dish skill i fully expect him to be very effecient and average 16, 4 rbs , 2 ast per game. would that be that bad for a 25mpg bench player?

twistdov

@Bsooreal I agree with the notion that Harden's situation with the Thunder (coming off the bench, playing against 2nd stringers most of the time) was a big part of his success.

@Bsooreal No, it wouldn't be bad at all. I think the move will re-energize KMart. He's only been to the playoffs one time and now he's on a contender. I expect him to have a great year.

Don't worry guys, after restarting my 2K season, we will be ok. KD, Russ, and Martin all had over 20 in a signature opening day win versus the Spurs.

@D-MC now play association and see if we win

@No beard no fear Association is what I meant. Who else, besides me, is being a Positive Patty over this trade?

@D-MC @No beard no fear me

@D-MC @No beard no fear Positive Patty works I suppose.

@Tronchaser @No beard no fear I didn't know the opposite to Negative Nancy.

@D-MC @No beard no fear If you mean having a nice big dump, then yes, I am! :)

@D-MC That would be wild if that really happened!

@Tronchaser Even Thabeet got two points on a putback!

I hope Thabo or Martin takes Lamb under their wing like KD did with Perry. Both of them can teach him the NBA game (Thabo defensibly and Martin offensively)

@EatSleepThunder They can have joint custody of Lamb.

@FreeFezzyFel/BIG3little2 @EatSleepThunder Thabo and K-Mart do look a little alike...

They are twins separated!!!

http://goo.gl/4eCfL

@D-MC @EatSleepThunder I was hoping for something more like this

http://tinyurl.com/9uoxedj

Trackbacks

The Thunder traded James Harden and it really sucks… | The Lost Ogle says:

October 29, 2012 at 7:02 am

[...] Thunder made the right move and I’ll get kind of happy. Then I’ll go over to Daily Thunder and read stories like this and get all sad. Then I’ll check out a pre-draft scouting report on Jeremy Lamb and get all [...]
Daily Bullets | Pistols Firing says:

October 29, 2012 at 7:37 am

[...] First from Royce on his top 10 moments with the Thunder. (Daily Thunder) [...]

Top 10 James Harden moments

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