Breaking: Harden traded from OKC to HOU

[Induveca]

Funny enough, Curry and Harden had damn near identical combine stats. It's nuts. For whatever reason though, you can just sense Curry is brittle. Curry actually did more 185 bench reps than Harden (albeit, only 1 but still he looks far weaker by the eye test...reasons forthcoming).

One thing that is crucial are squats, Harden looks like an overall far more fit athlete. I'm not clear of the full range of combine tests, but I would sincerely hope squats, wide grip pullups and dips are also part of the combine. Bench press is a joke. I bench 305 8 times which is damn impressive for a near 6'5 guy. But a 5'10 guy benching 305 is the equivalent of me benching 400. Shocking no one is taking this into account in the NBA "stat world". Earl Boykins pressed 185 25 times....so what? That's like me benching 185 60 times....which is a warmup.

Austin Rivers benched 185 "ONE" time. That means he literally can't bench 100 pounds 8 times. He's a broken arm/ripped ab/shoulder tear waiting to happen.

Same deal with Anthony Davis who passed on the combine as the obvious #1.

End of the day, the stat guys need to get in shape and apply their algorithms to the combine workouts. They are prehistoric. After reviewing last year's draft, the guy who far and away appears the best bet to compete athletically/strength wise from day one? NO SURPRISE.

Jae Crowder. 6'4, very strong for his age, body fat which can be shed, can pound inside and outside and is quick? GMs are measuring incorrectly at the combine. They need a variable defined for height/limb length on strength tests. Squats are important, it's obvious Crowder can squat 225+ no issue. Squats are far more important than bench. Look at the Barkleys/Millsaps/Farieds/Malones/Blairs of the world. Unfortunately all we have to go off of (to my knowledge) is bench/vert leap.

[sashae]

James Harden in his Rockets debut...

37pts 14-25, 12ast, 6reb, 4stl

[Upper Decker]

Worth every penny. I'd have easily given up beal/vesely/1st for harden.

[Induveca]

James Harden in his Rockets debut...

37pts 14-25, 12ast, 6reb, 4stl

Mother **** is no joke. Made a point tonight. OKC will regret this trade. Should have dumped Ibaka over him. Bad timing. Morey just passed Presti.

[miller31time]

Weren't some people saying just a few months ago that there was no way Harden would be traded?

shh, snitches get stitches. Ask millertime!

[DMVleGeND]

Jae Crowder. 6'4, very strong for his age, body fat which can be shed, can pound inside and outside and is quick? GMs are measuring incorrectly at the combine. They need a variable defined for height/limb length on strength tests. Squats are important, it's obvious Crowder can squat 225+ no issue. Squats are far more important than bench. Look at the Barkleys/Millsaps/Farieds/Malones/Blairs of the world. Unfortunately all we have to go off of (to my knowledge) is bench/vert leap.

This. Lower-body strength is far more important than upper body strength in sport of basketball.

[pancakes3]

pretty much in all sports.