The Official James Harden Thread

[Trader_Joe]

Harden has looked amazing needless to say, but I'm not sure Houston is a playoff team. Neither Detroit or Atlanta are playoff teams IMO and have suspect defense. But, I think if Houston can add an offensive option at SF or PF they become one. A free agent next summer like Milsap or Jefferson and they'll be a force. I'm not sold on Parsons, Morris, Patterson or the rest of their forwards getting them to the next level, but they can always be good role players and trade assets.

[Lightning25]

"Horrendous" is an exaggeration. Harden has better ballhandling skills and doesn't look for the long 2 as much as Pierce does. Also Pierce was widely considered a terrible defender pre-2008.

No, Pierce was a decent defender before 2008 especially in the early 2000s when his team got to the ECF. Harden doesn't look for the long 2, probably because he doesn't have a mid-range game while Pierce was elite on that aspect.

Horrendous defense for Harden is not an exaggeration.

[UnderdogKnicks]

OKC should have traded Westbrook.

[Orange Mamba]

The best case scenario is Paul Pierce. They have similar body types and both can get to the rim at will despite looking slow. The only difference right now I would say is that Pierce has a post game and is a very good defender while Harden doesn't have a post-game yet and is a horrendous defender.

I still think we need to see how he does against an elite defense first though like the Heat, Knicks, Bulls, etc.

and Harden is a much better passer/pick & roll player

[WarDragon]

Harden has looked amazing needless to say, but I'm not sure Houston is a playoff team. Neither Detroit or Atlanta are playoff teams IMO and have suspect defense. But, I think if Houston can add an offensive option at SF or PF they become one. A free agent next summer like Milsap or Jefferson and they'll be a force. I'm not sold on Parsons, Morris, Patterson or the rest of their forwards getting them to the next level, but they can always be good role players and trade assets.

I like what Morey's doing there in Houston but as you said, they're not a playoff team yet. At BEST, they're 7-8th seed and first round fodder.

But with another max free agent, who knows?

[Trader_Joe]

The best case scenario is Paul Pierce. They have similar body types and both can get to the rim at will despite looking slow. The only difference right now I would say is that Pierce has a post game and is a very good defender while Harden doesn't have a post-game yet and is a horrendous defender.

I still think we need to see how he does against an elite defense first though like the Heat, Knicks, Bulls, etc.

Pierce was never known for his defense until KG came along and the team played defense as a unit. No reason to think Harden, with his skills and IQ cannot be a good defender....or more importantly his team be good defensively like OKC was. Personally I see nothing wrong with his D.

[Rapcity_11]

The best case scenario is Paul Pierce. They have similar body types and both can get to the rim at will despite looking slow. The only difference right now I would say is that Pierce has a post game and is a very good defender while Harden doesn't have a post-game yet and is a horrendous defender.

I still think we need to see how he does against an elite defense first though like the Heat, Knicks, Bulls, etc.

Your opinions are looking extremely stupid right now.

Still think I'm dreaming???

[BirdIsDaKing]

lol like someone before said, they should have made Harden the focal point on the thunder and have durant or westbrook come off the bench lol.

[Krodis]

I don't know where the Paul Pierce comparison ever came from. I don't really see it at all, other than the fact that they're both crafty.

[Z_Solidarity]

The best case scenario is Paul Pierce. They have similar body types and both can get to the rim at will despite looking slow. The only difference right now I would say is that Pierce has a post game and is a very good defender while Harden doesn't have a post-game yet and is a horrendous defender.

I still think we need to see how he does against an elite defense first though like the Heat, Knicks, Bulls, etc.

Shut up dude. Paul Pierce was never a scorer like Harden. You pulled Paul Pierce right out of your ass, simply on the basis of "body types"

[M4P]

No, Pierce was a decent defender before 2008 especially in the early 2000s when his team got to the ECF. Harden doesn't look for the long 2, probably because he doesn't have a mid-range game while Pierce was elite on that aspect.

Horrendous defense for Harden is not an exaggeration.

No, Harden doesn't look for the long 2 because he realizes that he can do more by taking it to the hole and trying to draw a foul. Long 2s are probably the worst shot in basketball. Despite this however, he still converts midrange shots when they're presented to him. Pierce was never regarded as a great defender before KG. Nice try though.

Yes, horrendous is a stretch. Kevin Martin or Jamal Crawford's D is horrendous. Harden is average at worst. He doesn't get lost in rotations and stays with his man.

[Rerisen]

Wow, Houston gave up pennies for Harden. Never knew he was THIS level of a player.

Well not sure he is THIS level of player. As in going to shoot 70%+ from the field and top MJ's best PPG season.

But watch ya don't get crucified for thinking he just might come back to earth a little.

[T-Ross the Boss]

Really, there's no need to be snide. I never meant he was a perennial 40 ppg type. I meant he's clearly showing signs of being a superstar.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

OKC should have traded Westbrook.

I think Harden is better (and thought so before the trade). Still, it changes the team a lot when you swap PGs. Tonight, Westbrook had 32 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists with 1 turnover and the Thunder crushed Portland. I don't think moving Westbrook was the move to make OKC could have done without Ibaka IMO and signed Harden first, but they're still okay IMO...

Martin got an efficient 19 ponts on 11 shots. Lamb hit his only shot, a three. Jones hit his first shot and looked very good off their bench.

OKC has a very deep bench and they've got picks, plural, coming via the draft. They look better defensively and have more threats who can score. They can STILL win it all this season.

[Trader_Joe]

Harden has looked amazing needless to say, but I'm not sure Houston is a playoff team. Neither Detroit or Atlanta are playoff teams IMO and have suspect defense. But, I think if Houston can add an offensive option at SF or PF they become one. A free agent next summer like Milsap or Jefferson and they'll be a force. I'm not sold on Parsons, Morris, Patterson or the rest of their forwards getting them to the next level, but they can always be good role players and trade assets.

I like what Morey's doing there in Houston but as you said, they're not a playoff team yet. At BEST, they're 7-8th seed and first round fodder.

But with another max free agent, who knows?

I like the Harden move and his collection of assets that got him Harden, but if I were him I wait until next summer before I make another major move. See how the youth fit and who has value. Get what you can out of the draft and free agency...after that is when I would move assets in trade. Free agents should want to play with Harden and Lin's popularity.

[XcalibuR]

Harden is just such a smart offensive player. One thing I've noticed is his shot selection. He always take the best available shots and the type of shot. Whether its a runner, step back, ball fake and shot etc, he is able to make the right decision instinctively making it much harder for the defender to stop

[East_Coast]

OKC has a very deep bench and they've got picks, plural, coming via the draft. They look better defensively and have more threats who can score. They can STILL win it all this season.

Yup. That's the key. They didn't take themselves out of championship contention.

The perception is that OKC took a step backward, but I don't think that's the case.

[Pharmcat]

presti should be fired....harden is just making this trade look awful

[Rerisen]

Really, there's no need to be snide. I never meant he was a perennial 40 ppg type. I meant he's clearly showing signs of being a superstar.

No offense intended. Rather was enjoying the super hot and cold that runs around here. Not much more than a week ago, Harden went 2-17 vs the Bulls in preseason. So he is human.

But yeah the 80 million is looking a lot safer bet now than when it was inked.

[Dupp]

They should of kept all 4 and used amensity on perkins before the season and gone after a cheaper 5