“I don’t think any system where you let one player just dribble and shoot EVERY SINGLE TIME…I don’t think that works,” says TNT NBA wise man Charles Barkley about the James Harden-led Houston Rockets. Barkley may be an old head, as they say, but the younger Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t help but chime in to Barkley’s monologue. Shaq repeated for emphasis: “Every time.”
Barkley repeated a claim he’s made before — that Harden is the “greatest offensive player we’ve ever had in the NBA.” Barkley says Harden’s ability to shoot threes and drive set him apart. Opposing defenses obviously agree, but is that enough for the Rockets to be successful?
Barkley indicates strongly that the other Rockets players won’t be content with their roles if the system continues to be all Harden all the time. Barkley, putting himself in Harden’s teammates’ shoes, says: “I am not gonna stand around like no damn idiot and watch him dribble the whole time… that would be no fun. I go over there and say coach, please trade…”
