Fansided

Report: Rockets players frustrated with James Harden

By John Buhler

Nov 16, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) comes off the floor after playing against the Boston Celtics at the end of the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) comes off the floor after playing against the Boston Celtics at the end of the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Houston Rockets have fired their head coach Kevin McHale and reports are now surfacing that the team is frustrated with its best player, James Harden

The Houston Rockets are having a rough Wednesday to say the least. General Manager Daryl Morey had to break the tough news to former head coach Kevin McHale that he was out of a job. This is a result of a players-only meeting held by the club who sits at an unthinkable 4-7 after reaching the Western Conference Finals only a few months ago.

Two things emerged from this meeting: Kevin McHale’s firing and many teammates are growing increasingly frustrated with superstar shooting guard and the team’s best player James Harden.

According to Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today, here’s what went down in Houston: “While players tried to keep details of the meeting private, two themes emerged, three people told USA Today Sports on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation. Harden’s play and aloofness have frustrated teammates, and McHale took the brunt of the blame for the team’s play. Practices were not resulting in improved play in games.”

While many questioned why the Oklahoma City Thunder were willing to trade James Harden to the Houston Rockets in what seemed like one of the more lopsided trades shortly before the start of the 2012-13 NBA season, perhaps the Thunder organization had an inkling that Harden may not mesh well with their two other stars in point guard Russell Westbrook and small forward Kevin Durant.

Though Harden finished second in the 2014-15 MVP race to Golden State’s Stephen Curry, it’s especially troubling to see one of the league’s better shooters and back court players in general to have caused this much friction in his own locker room.

Daryl Morey is opting to go with J.B. Bickerstaff as McHale’s interim replacement. For a team that many thought could win an NBA Finals in 2016, this Houston Rockets team couldn’t possibly be in worse shape in mid-November. Perhaps the McHale firing or the players-only meeting settles down the grease fire on the Gulf Coast. Who honestly could have seen this coming?

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