This year was supposed to be different.
This was the year Mike D’Antoni finally had full, organization and personal buy-in for his system. He’s so carefree and loose he’s sleeping better at night and leaving work early, and letting a reporter in on his private moments doing crossword puzzles with his wife. The league had confirmed his genius, and now was the time for him to ascend to his throne at the top of basketball.
This was the year James Harden got it. The self-sacrifice all superstars must learn so they can take their team beyond where a mere All-Star could go, to ascend to the level of giants and trade blows with them from the top of the mountain.