Don’t count James Harden as concerned about Carmelo Anthony’s fit with the Houston Rockets.
“When you got that many high IQ guys around, who love to communicate and loves to figure things out, the job is easy.”@JHarden13 knows the combination of @CP3, @carmeloanthony and himself will be dangerous from the tip. pic.twitter.com/en3PqmuXBm
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) August 23, 2018
Harden was interviewed by The Players’ Tribune, where he said Carmelo would fit in “easy.”
“Coming off an MVP season, now you got to add Carmelo Anthony, it’s going to be easy,” the Beard said. “The transition is easy. When you got that many talented, high-IQ guys around who love to communicate and love to figure things out, the job is easy.”
“When you got that many high IQ guys around, who love to communicate and loves to figure things out, the job is easy.”
Harden’s optimism is cute, but let’s not forget how poorly Carmelo fit/played in OKC last season. Anthony singlehandedly screwed up the flow of the Thunder and had his worst NBA season because he tried to be a top option on the team. With Chris Paul and James Harden taking up plenty of shots, it’s hard to see Anthony fitting in without a much smaller role – which is hard to see happening. Melo would be perfect off the bench for the Rockets. But, his ego probably won’t allow that to happen.
Harden might think adding Anthony to a stacked team will be a sinch, but so did the Thunder. If he’s the same Melo who demands the ball and takes too many questionable shots, his presence in Houston’s lineup will be anything but “easy.”
[Complex]