James Harden is a superstar

[Doctor MJ]

Yes, I think that if the Rockets make the playoffs, Harden will struggle big time. What happened in the Finals last season with Harden was not just some inexplicable coincidence and something that will never happen again. His game is just not built for the playoffs, in tight situations, and against set defenses.

It is why I currently like Westbrook over Harden.

As I pointed out before, there are limits to how a player can be "shut down" in the playoffs. Dirk against Golden State for example still scored most of his points and kept most of his efficiency. By any standard with precedent, Harden's now reached the point where he'd have to be "shut down" for him to get anywhere near what Westbrook would call "a good day".

[TheChosen618]

By any standard with precedent, Harden's now reached the point where he'd have to be "shut down" for him to get anywhere near what Westbrook would call "a good day".

This only applies to scoring though and specifically scoring efficiency. Nevertheless, their FG% and EFG% is actually quite close. Harden breaks away from Westbrook by a good amount when it comes to TS% primarily because of Harden's ability to draw fouls and is a better FT shooter, but in the playoffs, in tight situations, etc. you can't expect to get bail out calls like that. It is why eFG% and FG% has its value. I believe one poster (fatal9?) also showed how players that get a lot of calls but have an unreliable game from the field tend to falter in the playoffs. I remember his examples were Bosh and Robinson.

Westbrook impacts the game in a numerous of other ways such as his passing ability, his defense, his rebounding, etc. Outside of scoring, there isn't really much that Harden does to help his team. Harden is a decent passer, a mediocre defender and an average rebounder. He doesn't impact those aspects as much or as well as Westbrook does.

I like Westbrook a bit more than Harden at the moment, but they are of the same tier.

[rrravenred]

What? Another definition change for superstar? I can't keep up.

That's why we should just stick to the one defined by Websters. It makes everyone's life easier

su·per·star noun \ˈsü-pər-ˌstär\
1
: a star (as in sports or the movies) who is considered extremely talented, has great public appeal, and can usually command a high salary
2
: one that is very prominent or is a prime attraction <a diplomatic superstar>

Just making sure we're not falling victim to the No True Scotsman fallacy.

And nowt wrong with Oxford:

noun
an extremely famous and successful performer or sports player:

Or Collins

a popular singer, film star, etc, who is idolized by fans and elevated to a position of importance in the entertainment industry

Macquarie

a singer, actor, or show-business personality who is very famous.

or even Spanish (given the nationality of the OP)

DEPORTES, ESPECTÁCULOS Persona que sobresale en una actividad relacionada con el mundo del deporte o del espectáculo .

(no responsibilities taken for regional or Dialect variations).

Point being that when we define a word in our own terms we cut across other people's definitions. I don't find the word superstar particularly helpful, just because it's such a fungible term.

[JordansBulls]

I think Harden needs someone else on this squad that can generate points for them otherwise he is going to wear himself out.

[lorak]

So after half season Harden looks like post rules change Iverson.

[abaka]

Hardens a product of the refs


manufactured star for sure

whats he gonna do w/o bailout calls, nothing.

[fallacy]

Hardens a product of the refs


manufactured star for sure

whats he gonna do w/o bailout calls, nothing.

Product of the refs? Hell no. He is heavily dependent on the refs but let's not pretend Harden would turn into Jordan Crawford without them.

[JordansBulls]

Hardens a product of the refs


manufactured star for sure

whats he gonna do w/o bailout calls, nothing.

How is he a product of the refs when he is aggressive going to the rim. Not like he just a jump shooter.

[Krodis]

I think Harden is trying to make up his entire TS% drop over the last two weeks in one night. 19 points on 5-6 from the field (2-2 from three) and 7-7 from the line so far.

7 Turnovers though.

[rrravenred]

30 points on 15 shots is efficient as nobody's business (Lin's 13 from 6 also damn good).

Pity about the TO, though.

[CKRT]

yikes those TOs are way too high.


I'm sure they'll drop down to the 2.5-3 range once Houston starts to build around him, but then again with his style of play of driving to the rim hard might keep his TOs up.

[rockmanslim]

yikes those TOs are way too high.


I'm sure they'll drop down to the 2.5-3 range once Houston starts to build around him, but then again with his style of play of driving to the rim hard might keep his TOs up.

a lot of those TO's have nothing to do with him driving to the rim. at times he'll get trapped on the PnR and doesn't have a good enough handle to get out of it with the dribble. he'll pick up his dribble and end up throwing it away. other times on iso's he'll just get his dribble poked away or just flat out lose his dribble unforced.

he's the rockets' best player by far, and he's putting up superstar stats but when i watch him i don't see superstar. on a championship level team he's a very good second option.

and i was one who during last season's playoffs was saying he was okc's best player, in the early rounds. upon closer examination, he has some warts.

[Krodis]

Honestly, I think Harden just got worn down. Looks better this game and last after a bit of a rest. Certainly conditioning is something he might have to work on going forward, but it was also a brutal schedule and McHale had him playing 40 minutes a night at a fast pace.

[Doctor MJ]

Hardens a product of the refs


manufactured star for sure

whats he gonna do w/o bailout calls, nothing.

Why the hell would anyone want to manufacture a star out of a 6th man? You suck at conspiracy theories.

[Vinsanity420]

Hardens a product of the refs


manufactured star for sure

whats he gonna do w/o bailout calls, nothing.

Why the hell would anyone want to manufacture a star out of a 6th man? You suck at conspiracy theories.

It's the power of the beard. The league was lacking one of those.

[LarsV8]

Another ridiculous line tonight:

29 points on 16 shots, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers.

[G35]

I have a feeling that players are affected by their stats also. Lebron and Wade are having their efficiency battle. I'm sure Harden is aware of what TS% is also......

[bbms]

I have a feeling that players are affected by their stats also. Lebron and Wade are having their efficiency battle. I'm sure Harden is aware of what TS% is also......

Well, now to use the ball possession wisely and not waste it with a bad shot, or attack in order to try getting a high percentage shot in the line is something ugly... Oh my god.

[Dr Positivity]

It's funny that he's on pace for almost exactly the same WS as last year (6.7 in 45 Gs extrapolates to 9.2 over 62 Gs, and last year he put up 9.3 in 62 Gs)

[Rapcity_11]

I have a feeling that players are affected by their stats also. Lebron and Wade are having their efficiency battle. I'm sure Harden is aware of what TS% is also......

What's more likely is he's aware of what's a good shot and what isn't. Which in turn, helps his team win.

But hey, spin your own narrative.