Harden, the under-the-radar bust

[Esohny]

at this thread.

[illiance]

Chemistry and glue guys are two of the most overrated and overused words by the media. You don't spend the #3 overall pick on a glue guy. Those are reserved for end of 1st rounders/second rounders. They should have taken Evans like any other team would have, if not trade down and acquire more pieces rather than wasting it on a career bench player.

[cokekong]

Number 3 overall picks: OJ Mayo, Al Horford, Adam Morrison, Deron Williams, Ben Gordon, Carmelo Anthony, Mike Dunleavy, Pau Gasol, Darius Miles, Baron Davis, Raef LaFrentz.

So by your definition half the number three picks in the last 12 years are busts? Mayo, Morrison, Gordon, Dunleavy, Miles, and LaFrentz are not All Star caliber players.

At worst, IMO, Harden will be a sixth man type long term who will score off the bench, defend, and do a bit of everything. Which isn't a bad thing to have.

Gordon is an all-league caliber player. There aren't many players in the nba with his shooting ability, especially in the clutch. he's already proven, as demonstrated by singlehandedly keeping the bulls in the series against the celtics.

Speaking of under-the-radar...how did this sig worth post slip under??? lmao at BEN GORDON being an all-league caliber player...KG and Charlie V are more likely to become best bros than ben gordon making even THIRD team all league.

[DRK]

Harden got no where near the same amount of minutes as Mayo and Gordon got in their rookie years. Its plain stupid to compare their stats. You have to look at their team situation, instead of just looking at stats.

The Tunder started Thabo ahead of Harden because of his defense. Thabo is the best on ball defender in the league, and compliemtns Westbrook and Durant very nicely.

Imagine if OKC had drafted Evans. It would be the most lethal back court of all time.

They would be worse..Now Curry or Jennings is a different story. Evans is too ball dominant to succeed on a team where 2 players are better than him by a wide margin. He's almost useless off-ball

Westbrook is not better than Evans. Durant is.

SMH at you. Do you even read before you post?

[KevinMcreynolds]

Harden = Mo Pete 2.0

[dream_catcher_9]

Chemistry and glue guys are two of the most overrated and overused words by the media. You don't spend the #3 overall pick on a glue guy. Those are reserved for end of 1st rounders/second rounders. They should have taken Evans like any other team would have, if not trade down and acquire more pieces rather than wasting it on a career bench player.

Evans is a terrible fit on this thunder team. OKC needed a player who can compliment Westbrook and Durant. Someone who doesn't need the ball in their hands all the time to be effective, someone who can spot up from the perimeter and shoot 3's and drive to the rim, and keep the ball moving. Harden with the proper development will become just that as well as a good defender. Pretty much a perfect fit if he develops right.

It's funny how so many people are writing off a player because of their rookie season. Lets wait 4 or 5 years and we should have a much better understanding of each player.

[shamu]

Harden = Mo Pete 2.0

If Harden can become a Motivated and consistent Mo-Pete and sustain that type of play for a long period, he would fit in perfectly with Durant and Westbrook. A bust at three, yes, but if that's his floor (imo it is), it's not too bad for the Thunder. I believe he will be a border line all star myself, perhaps a middle class mans Joe Johnson.

[kingkirk]

He needs to get out of OKC if he is ever to develop. Durant and Westbrook are getting 20 shots, Green 15, he wont be an offensive force at all if he stays in OKC.

He can be a good player, though im surprised that he hasnt lived up to the hype.

[gensu3k1]

So I guess Harden being such an awful finisher for over a year is because he's not getting enough minutes? When he lumbers through the lane and bricks runners and layups over and over, is it because he wishes he was starting for the Kings?

[KidDelicious]

tyreke evans is so overrated its ridiculous... that being said. once harden starts getting real minutes and stops being jerked around by brooks he will show everyone what he can do. hes a borderline all star second option type player imo..

[qianlong]

Harden is doing what OKC is asking him to do, that's way his stats are not on par with the common expectation for a 3rd pick. he could perfectly become what the thunder need but underdevelop from a league or personal point of view, if he is asked to become a good role player he won't become an all star.

If OKC decided that thabo is good enough for them, the Bulls would really like to trade for him

[SKR]

Harden will be just fine. Book it. He will be a servicable guard, either starting or a 6th man, but he will be just fine.

[draft]

If Harden played in GS last year, he would have put up similar numbers to Curry.
In OKC he's the 4th option and coming off the bench. He doesn't get a chance to showcase his skills. Thabo is starting because he fits in better with the starting unit.

[SKR]

If Harden played in GS last year, he would have put up similar numbers to Curry.

But he actually wouldn't have...
You are either seriously underestimating Curry or the situation in GSW last year.
I like Harden and I'm not trying to make him look bad or anything, but seriously :

Curry is MUCH better shooter than Harden. 44% from three is something else, come on. And Harden is indeed nice handling the ball and passing for that matter, BUT with him being the starting SG with Monta being the primary ballhandler, Harden wouldn't have been able to dribble and create and the assist number wouldn't be there.

[umopapisdn]

Chemistry and glue guys are two of the most overrated and overused words by the media. You don't spend the #3 overall pick on a glue guy. Those are reserved for end of 1st rounders/second rounders. They should have taken Evans like any other team would have, if not trade down and acquire more pieces rather than wasting it on a career bench player.

Most teams would consider it a success if their late 1st/2nd round pick was still in the NBA 3 years after draft day. Most lottery players are not stars- most of the time you are happy with getting a starter.

[GoLakers2011]

SMH at you. Do you even read before you post?

Do you? You have got to be on crack to think Westbrook > Evans.

[fallacy]

SMH at you. Do you even read before you post?

Do you? You have got to be on crack to think Westbrook > Evans.

Westbrook > Evans

Biggest difference:

Westbrook - 47 FT's attempted - 94% shooting
Evans - 27 FT's attempted - 70% shooting

Westbrook has shot the most FT's in the league so far
Westbrook is the best rebounding PG in the league. For people who say it's kidd:

Westbrook - 11% TRB%
Kidd - 8 TRB%

[slick_watts]

I don't see Westbrook continuing to score as efficiently as he has been. His TS is 55% which is great, but that's entirely due to his free throw shooting. I don't think he'll maintain his FTA rate that he has going right now, and he definitely won't shoot 94% from the line for the entire season. His eFG% is right in line with his career mark so he isn't really shooting any better from the field.

Westbrook at ~54-55% TS is better than Evans, though, in my opinion.

[Relentless88]

When you don't get consistent minutes, that's what you get. James Harder was great in pre-season and had the opportunity there. OKC has a ton of offense and so Thabo getting minutes at the 2 makes sense for them. That leaves Harden out getting garbage time.

He is not a bust, not even close.

[GswSucks4Ever]

Under average athlete at his position, no skills to impact a game, not making a lot of mistakes is not an impact. He is not discernibly better than Kelenna Azubuike, Anthony Morrow, or Reggie Williams, all competent swing men that we're undrafted that played for the Warriors. So yes, he's a bust. And no, he would have been nowhere near the ROY on the Warriors.