Harden's improvement

[BIG EDDIE]

I think Harden's improvement is very important for this year's success.
Whether starting or not, he will be playing between 25-30 minutes a game and he must be a strong 3rd or 4th scoring option for us.
What I have noticed so far is that in his first two preseason games he went a lot to the free throw line. First game 9/10 second game 8/8.
Im expecting to see a strong improvement in this category from James Harden.
He showed also already in training camp that he want to go more often to the basket and people will foul him a lot.
If he can keep that up and also shoot 40+% from beyond the arc, that will make him a leathal weapon and put his scoring average around 13-14 this season.

[wiff]

I think for the Thunder to take the next step and be a serious title contender, which at this point I just consider the Thunder a "good" team, they need two things to happen.

They need Harden to grow into the 2nd scoring option. Westbrook scores a fair amount but they need another "reliable" scoring threat other than Durant. Jeff Green is not going to turn into that guy.

Harden needs to be able to go flirt with 20ppg.

The 2nd thing the Thunder need to take it to the next level is they need someone who can score in the post. With Durant being a scoring freak they don't need a 20ppg post player but they need a guy who can get you a bucket in the half court offense.

I think Ibaka is currently the most likely who could grow into that role. But I wouldn't count out Durant on developing a reliable post game in time.

It could take this team another two years before they finally have a "reliable" scorer in the post. One, I don't think Ibaka is going to simply turn into Kevin McHale over night and I don't think Durant is strong enough to really play a lot of minutes in the post yet. But in time one or the other will happen.

This team is obviously crazy talented but they are still so young. This team still has so much room to grow.

[slick_watts]

I like James Harden a lot. I don't think he has it in him to be a 2nd option unless he can finish at the rim better and maybe get an in between game going. Almost all of his shot attempts are either 3PA or at the rim. A nice ~18ft step back jumper or something like that would make him a lot more dynamic. He's a 3rd option type right now, spotting up for threes and getting to the line. Sort of like a John Salmons level of offense. He draws a lot of fouls and hits his threes.

I agree with wiff that the team would be best served with a 2nd option in between Westbrook and Durant. Harden's got a shot to be that guy but we'll have to see some improvement in his finishing ability this year to keep that dream alive. I don't see anything with Ibaka that makes me believe he will ever have a legitimate post game; much less a 2nd option type of post game.

Even if Harden becomes a 2nd option type I think the team needs more offense from the PF/C positions. I'd like to see them go after one of the PF's next offseason, i.e. a David West or Nene. That'd really complete the team and make us contenders.

[Jimmy76]

Harden is going to have a tough time being a second or third option if Green keeps taking 13 shots a game

[Joel Embust]

What I have noticed so far is that in his first two preseason games he went a lot to the free throw line. First game 9/10 second game 8/8.

10 for 12 in game three.

[PerkinsFor3]

He cut down his to's too. Looking much better then the first two games.

[dream_catcher_9]

Harden is averaging 14.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3.8 steals, 3.5 turnovers per game in pre-season in 28 minutes, with 48/50/90 percentages.

I think we see Harden start to morph into our 2nd option type player. I think we can expect something around 14/4/3 with 2 steals, 2 turnovers and good percentages. 2011-2012 is the year I expect 18-20 PPG with good percentages. That's a great player when you combine that with his all-around game.

[BIG EDDIE]

I also expect his scoring to be around 13-14 this year, but what I see as very important, is that he comes off the bench.
Because if he starts along with KD,Westbrook, JGreen and Krstic, than who is going to be a scoring threat from the bench?
Either Green or Harden needs to come off the bench to give a scoring option from there.
I can see Thabo starting and getting 20-22 minutes and Harden from the bench getting 28-30 minutes.

[wiff]

I see Harden in the 16-17ppg. I hope he proves me wrong and shoots above my prediction though.

[slick_watts]

Harden doesn't really need to come off the bench. There are ways to stagger rotations so that you have the right people on the floor no matter who starts.

He should be starting. He's a lot more effective in the starting role and he makes our starting lineup a lot more dynamic. Our lack of offense in the front court requires us to have at least one decent shooter in the backcourt, and Thabo will never be that guy.

I don't care about his point totals but I'd like to see his TS in the 57-58% range and the turnovers down a little. I think that's possible if he's starting. I don't think he can be a second option yet, though, until he can develop an in between game.

[BIG EDDIE]

Ok, I agree maybe that he doesn't need to come off the bench neccesserly, but 1. it would be nice to have a strong scorer coming off the bench, like most top teams have and 2. I think Thabo would be much less effective coming off the bench, as he is supposed to defend against the top swing men in tis league and those are usually starters.

[slick_watts]

Harden's preseason #'s: 15.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.2 steals on 54% FG, 63% 3PT, 91% FT. That's 76.3% TS.

He's been excellent...

[miltk]

there was something out of sync while i was watching nba.tv on okc. they gave your D stats and you were very elite on every D stat except pts allowed, where you were something like 17th.

were your opponents getting second chance boards/pts? i think that's a problem

[slick_watts]

there was something out of sync while i was watching nba.tv on okc. they gave your D stats and you were very elite on every D stat except pts allowed, where you were something like 17th.

were your opponents getting second chance boards/pts? i think that's a problem

We had an above average pace (i.e. more points), and yes, opponents getting offensive rebounds was an issue most of the season.