(CRAFT)[THE TALENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR JAMES HARDEN.]

Even though he was coming off the bench, James was the reason we lost the series to the Thunder in 2011. Russell and KD in the starting five, we could deal with those guys. But then you go to the bench and James was just coming in. We didn’t have anyone who could match up with him. In the fourth quarter, when they all played at the same time, we were always at a disadvantage. He was the key to that team.

James always had an innate ability to read pick-and-roll situations. He could get into the paint and draw fouls. He could shoot. He could use his mass to bully lighter guards. Ultimately, I don’t think Oklahoma realized exactly what they had. I knew, but I don’t think they did.