The Official James Harden Thread

samueldestroyer · Post #261 » by **samueldestroyer** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:32 am

Lightning25 wrote:
samueldestroyer wrote:So.......why didn't OKC amnesty Perkins?

To guard the likes of Bynum, Howard, Duncan, etc. you do realize they have to go through the Lakers, Spurs, before heading off to face the Heat/whoever in the East right? It's Brooks fault for not using Perkins less in series where he is less useful. It's not Perkins fault for not transforming into a completely different player.

And you think he's more important than having James Harden? Interesting.

NeZoRiL · Post #262 » by **NeZoRiL** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:33 am

Lightning25 wrote:
samueldestroyer wrote:So.......why didn't OKC amnesty Perkins?

To guard the likes of Bynum, Howard, Duncan, etc. you do realize they have to go through the Lakers, Spurs, before heading off to face the Heat/whoever in the East right? It's Brooks fault for not using Perkins less in series where he is less useful. It's not Perkins fault for not transforming into a completely different player.

Perkins defended Bynum pretty well all time, in head to head matchups. At the time of the trade, Bynum was looking like the best big man in the league, so it made sense.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... =perkike01

Dupp · Post #263 » by **Dupp** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:33 am

Lightning25 wrote:
samueldestroyer wrote:So.......why didn't OKC amnesty Perkins?

To guard the likes of Bynum, Howard, Duncan, etc. you do realize they have to go through the Lakers, Spurs, before heading off to face the Heat/whoever in the East right? It's Brooks fault for not using Perkins less in series where he is less useful. It's not Perkins fault for not transforming into a completely different player.

Perkins is also so much easier to replace. Use amensety earlier go after a big last off season. Priority should have been big 4 first.

B-easy · Post #264 » by **B-easy** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:35 am

Can't believe some people are saying Harden is better than Westbrook. Please people, its only 2 games. If he goes like 30/5/5 the whole season then we can debate.

Lightning25 · Post #265 » by **Lightning25** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:36 am

Dutuctive Depp wrote:Perkins is also so much easier to replace. Use amensety earlier go after a big last off season. Priority should have been big 4 first.

I'm not sure if Perkins is that easy to replace. The only player I can think of that could replace him and his production is Tyson Chandler. He is the only player that guards elite bigs better than Perkins does. There aren't many post defenders better than him. My only problem with Perkins is that he thinks he can do something on offense when he is useless but he is still a great defensive player.

Harden's impact with OKC will be felt in the post-season. If they don't make it to the Finals again then chances are they made a mistake unless LA completely overmatches them but if they do make it again then they did nothing wrong.

NeZoRiL · Post #266 » by **NeZoRiL** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:36 am

One thing that we gotta keep in mind is off the court chemistry. Durant and Westbrook took significant pay cuts to build a squad, while Harden seemed to be a guy who just really wanted a fat payday, which is fine.

Kurby32 · Post #267 » by **Kurby32** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:39 am

They should have traded Westbrook or not given the contract to Perkins his stats are horrible he scored 0pts in 22mins. As a thunder fan sometimes it's unbearable to watch Westbrook and Perkins. Amnesty him and get and let collision start at 4

vincecarter4pres · Post #268 » by **vincecarter4pres** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:39 am

B-easy wrote:Can't believe some people are saying Harden is better than Westbrook. Please people, its only 2 games. If he goes like 30/5/5 the whole season then we can debate.

I've personally held to that Harden was OKC's 2nd best player all year last season until the Finals.

Frank Mulely · Post #269 » by **Frank Mulely** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:40 am

Listen I think everybody knows that OKC FO **** up on Harden. Shoulda kept him - what if RWB is injured? Nice to have another olympian around.

Dupp · Post #270 » by **Dupp** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:40 am

NeZoRiL wrote:One thing that we gotta keep in mind is off the court chemistry. Durant and Westbrook took significant pay cuts to build a squad, while Harden seemed to be a guy who just really wanted a fat payday, which is fine.

Did they? What where their contracts? What about ibaka, hes certainly didnt take a pay cut.

vincecarter4pres · Post #271 » by **vincecarter4pres** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:41 am

I see the perennial overrating of Perk is still going strong as well. He shouldn't even be a starter on most teams.

Ninjek · Post #272 » by **Ninjek** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:42 am

B-easy wrote:Can't believe some people are saying Harden is better than Westbrook. Please people, its only 2 games. If he goes like 30/5/5 the whole season then we can debate.

if he goes 30/5/5 for the whole season there's nothing to debate.

NeZoRiL · Post #273 » by **NeZoRiL** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:44 am

Durant, arguably the best player in the NBA is making 86 million over 5 years. Westbrook signed for 80 million, and I think he could get more then that in free agency. Harden looks great, but 80 million for a sixth man is a little steep.

samueldestroyer · Post #274 » by **samueldestroyer** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:45 am

Lightning25 wrote:
Dutuctive Depp wrote:Perkins is also so much easier to replace. Use amensety earlier go after a big last off season. Priority should have been big 4 first.

I'm not sure if Perkins is that easy to replace. The only player I can think of that could replace him and his production is Tyson Chandler. He is the only player that guards elite bigs better than Perkins does. There aren't many post defenders better than him. My only problem with Perkins is that he thinks he can do something on offense when he is useless but he is still a great defensive player.

Harden's impact with OKC will be felt in the post-season. If they don't make it to the Finals again then chances are they made a mistake unless LA completely overmatches them but if they do make it again then they did nothing wrong.

You sound like a very optimistic fan. If my team chose Perkins over Harden I would be ripping my hair out.

Lightning25 · Post #275 » by **Lightning25** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:48 am

samueldestroyer wrote:You sound like a very optimistic fan. If my team chose Perkins over Harden I would be ripping my hair out.

I'm not telling you what I would do and what the correct move was. I'm simply telling you the reasons why they kept Perkins over Harden.

Forbes · Post #276 » by **Forbes** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:49 am

Harden makes and creates plays. OKC will def be losing a lot of close games. Westbrook does not create shots for Durant and Durant doesnt create shots for himself. I feel bad that they really thought they didnt need Harden

B-Ball Freak · Post #277 » by **B-Ball Freak** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:51 am

NeZoRiL wrote:Durant, arguably the best player in the NBA is making 86 million over 5 years. Westbrook signed for 80 million, and I think he could get more then that in free agency. Harden looks great, but 80 million for a sixth man is a little steep.

He sure is not playing like a sixth man

NeZoRiL · Post #278 » by **NeZoRiL** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:52 am

B-Ball Freak wrote:
NeZoRiL wrote:Durant, arguably the best player in the NBA is making 86 million over 5 years. Westbrook signed for 80 million, and I think he could get more then that in free agency. Harden looks great, but 80 million for a sixth man is a little steep.

He sure is not playing like a sixth man

Big risk, big reward.

vincecarter4pres · Post #279 » by **vincecarter4pres** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:52 am

NeZoRiL wrote:Durant, arguably the best player in the NBA is making 86 million over 5 years. Westbrook signed for 80 million, and I think he could get more then that in free agency. Harden looks great, but 80 million for a sixth man is a little steep.

#6xthManSchtick

Come on, this guy is legit. Over simplifying things by just slapping him with the label bench player is completely disingenuous, he's a total stud, even before these first two games.

Harden couldn't have even gotten the 5 years from OKC, so until we see it reported that he forced his way out we have to go by what was reported, that he wanted 4 and 60 or if he took the 4 and 54 he wanted a 15% trade kicker.

I don't see what was wrong with that.

Simple fact is, this was a move likely out of immense greed by ownership, or there was behind the scenes beef, or Presti outsmarting himself with his young player and draft pick obsession, or Presti has heard the trade winds and wanted to reload with high value assets which he could still move this upcoming draft night while minimizing the on court distraction Harden's contract situation would cause this year.

OKC will still rack up a ton of wins this year and is still a very dangerous team, this is obvious. But they certainly took a step back this year and changed the overall dynamic they had and IMHO, went from contenders to a fringe dark horse variety.

You don't lose a player of Harden's level and fit to the team and not miss a beat by simply replacing him with a solid yet immensely flawed stopgap, some draft picks you haven't cashed in and Lamb, who no matter how good eventually will take 2 seasons minimum to truly provide huge impact if he does indeed become an excellent player.

vincecarter4pres · Post #280 » by **vincecarter4pres** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:54 am

Lightning25 wrote:
samueldestroyer wrote:You sound like a very optimistic fan. If my team chose Perkins over Harden I would be ripping my hair out.

I'm not telling you what I would do and what the correct move was. I'm simply telling you the reasons why they kept Perkins over Harden.

You're really gonna keep up with this spin lol?

You're really going to sit here and tell us they literally chose Perkins over Harden?

It's not even a given they keep Perk after the trade, they still might amnesty him.