James Harden is a superstar

SideshowBob · Post #1281 » by **SideshowBob** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 9:33 pm

What I'm really looking forward to is how he takes the next step in 2014. We've seen most of the superstar wings make a jump around the age of 24 (Wade in 06, Kobe in 03, James in 09, Durant in 13, etc.) and then take another step forward around 27/28 and hit their extended peaks (Wade 09-11, Kobe 06-09, James 13-??).

My first thought is that I don't see clear separation between Harden at 23 and any of those other guys at 23 on the offensive end (in fact I think he's arguably a little better). The net offensive impact of the combination of skillset and athleticism is about the same for all of these guys in my book, though obviously you could make nuanced arguments for ranking one above the other (James dwarfs the rest in terms of production and is able to give you more minutes; Bryant and Durant's games were already far more refined; Wade's game already translated better to playoff defenses than the others), but they're all in the same realm (Harden included).

So, based on trends, I fully expect Harden to take the leap. Given a year to understand and build experience in a new role as well as develop chemistry, an offseason to continue to develop his game (jumpshooting tends to improve over time, I expect him to work on his mid-range game, he's going to be less turnover prone as he builds chemistry), playing experience usually helps develop game-management skills (an underrated aspect of lead wings' games), Rockets will probably look to improve spacing, etc. etc. The question is, how much can he be expected to improve? And where can he be expected to land, relative to those guys, at the age of 24?

CKRT · Post #1282 » by **CKRT** » Mon Feb 18, 2013 11:47 pm

I'm going to make a bold claim that Harden will have Nash-like effects on Houston's offense once he really adjusts to his new role next year. I don't think he's going to be leading all time great offenses like Nash was, but like I said, I think he's going to have a similar effect.

90sAllDecade · Post #1283 » by **90sAllDecade** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 3:35 am

New career high 46 points 8 rebounds 6 assists 2 TO and a clutch win over OKC.

CKRT · Post #1284 » by **CKRT** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 3:40 am

Harden was spectacular and a win like this was needed for Houston's confidence if they face OKC in the playoffs.

Mutnt · Post #1285 » by **Mutnt** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 3:42 am

Probably one of the best games this season against a really tough opponent. This guy is scary good.

JordansBulls · Post #1286 » by **JordansBulls** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 3:47 am

CKRT wrote:Harden was spectacular and a win like this was needed for Houston's confidence if they face OKC in the playoffs.

Every Houston win puts them closer to the playoffs. Want to see them vs OKC in round 1.

Blame Rasho · Post #1287 » by **Blame Rasho** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 3:56 am

This thread isn't likely to die, but you want to laugh...

Read this...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1064634

mademan · Post #1288 » by **mademan** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 3:57 am

Do people really think Wade or Bryant are still better than Harden? After a slow start to the season, Harden has been a legit superstar and the 4th/5th best player in the NBA.

CJ_18 · Post #1289 » by **CJ_18** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 4:06 am

Harden trying to prove that OKC made the wrong decision to give him up.. and he's doing a good job of it. He's definetly convincing me that if they had to make the choice this past summer between giving up harden or westrook.. they should've given up westbrook considering his maturity issues off/on the court and his occasional erratic play on the court

TheChosen618 · Post #1290 » by **TheChosen618** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:14 am

I'm on the verge of believing that Harden will end up being better than Durant and I'm not kidding nor do I think I'm going to far with this.

Durant never improves in anything in his game outside of his scoring. Harden on the other hand looks like has the potential to be a tremendous all-around player. If Durant ever gets Kobe's overall skillset (scoring arsenal, great passing, great defense, etc.), he would be scary, and he probably would be better than Lebron in all honesty, but I don't' see Durant ever being a special all-around player, I do with Harden.

NinjaSheppard · Post #1291 » by **NinjaSheppard** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:16 am

LeBron, Durant and Paul are pretty clearly the 1,2 and 3 players in the league but I think Harden has a legit case for number 4.

What he is doing this year is amazing

kaitanuva · Post #1292 » by **kaitanuva** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:21 am

In the next few seasons when Harden learns

-to limit his turnovers and plays even more under control
-add more moves like fadeaways and spin moves
-learns to play superstar defense

oh boy...what an exciting time to be a Rockets fan, which I am.

CBA · Post #1293 » by **CBA** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:42 am

Man, that trade is looking really dumb.

TheChosen618 · Post #1294 » by **TheChosen618** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 5:49 am

CBA wrote:Man, that trade is looking really dumb.

It was good in a financial standpoint. Plus, OKC is still great even without Harden, although they probably would have been even better with him since they would have a full training camp to get everything going unlike last season with the lockout.

Whoever compared Harden to the Nash situation in 2005 was on the money, although I'm 99% sure nobody thought Nash would dominate that much in Phoenix.

Keshavarzi · Post #1295 » by **Keshavarzi** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 8:45 am

It looks really bad in hindsight...traded a top 5 player for peanuts

therealbig3 · Post #1296 » by **therealbig3** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 9:31 am

OKC traded the wrong player...they picked both Westbrook and Ibaka over Harden, which was a big mistake imo, they should have kept one of them with Harden and then traded the other. It's not going to affect them in the regular season, because Durant kicked his game up to a whole other level...but last year in the playoffs, he kicked his game up to the same level he's been playing this whole season, and they don't get nearly as far as they did without Harden. Unless Durant plays even better than he is right now, I think there's a chance that OKC gets upset in the playoffs.

D.Brasco · Post #1297 » by **D.Brasco** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 10:42 am

There are not enough shots on any team for harden, durant and westbrook. It's obvious harden's a great talent and i can't see him being content as being the 2nd or 3rd scorer on a team.

GSP · Post #1298 » by **GSP** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 12:31 pm

February (7g): 30/8/7/2 3tos .73ts 139 Ortg

SweetTouch · Post #1299 » by **SweetTouch** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 3:18 pm

When the KING says you're a superstar, then it's fact

Funny how KD, HARDEN, and LBJ only have their own threads on here

Colbinii · Post #1300 » by **Colbinii** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 6:37 pm

kaitanuva wrote:In the next few seasons when Harden learns

-to limit his turnovers and plays even more under control
-add more moves like fadeaways and spin moves
-learns to play superstar defense

oh boy...what an exciting time to be a Rockets fan, which I am.

You can't magically learn superstar defense. I think Harden's peak on defense will be an above average defender, I don't see being 1st team all defense. That said, nothing Harden does surprises me anymore. If he were to become an elite defender, I wouldn't be shocked.
What I am most impressed with is his ability to carry a load for 40 minutes a game. That was his one question becoming the focal point of an offense, and boy has he answered.
I think that Kobe vs Harden Debate can go out the window for this year.