The Official James Harden Thread

[Super_Lintendo]

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 is 2 inch taller, and longer than harden. harden is quicker player.

i would say harden is bigger prime gilbert arenas.

[Dupp]

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

I think its a pretty solid contract. Hes not gonna put up these numbers for ever but even if he ended up being a 20-5-5 guy its a fine contract. He will have better numbers than that this year, maybe 24-25ppg. But compared to some contracts in this leauge, especially post lock out, its more than fair.

[Dupp]

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

Well to be fair it was about money and that comes from above him...

[Lightning25]

Pierce was never regarded as a great defender before KG. Nice try though.

I didn't say great, it was good though and it surely was much better than whatever the hell Harden's is.

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.

Uh no, Harden is average at best, lol at average at worst. He is horrendous, it's not my fault you don't know what defense is.

[UGA Hayes]

Anyone who watched the Hou/ATL game, can you tell me who was guarding Harden tonight. Tell me it wasn't Kyle Korver, because I saw he started.

Not that his performance wasn't great either way, but Korver is real bad on D.

Atlanta was actually running a ton of traps/doubles on Harden (he did turn it over 5 times), but most times Harden was able to beat the trap. Houston is kind of hard to guard b/c most of their guards either drive hard to the basket or shoot from 3 and then their fours are face up fours, so their is a lot of spacing on the floor. Harden is especially good at finding 3 point shooters off the dribble. His ability to create I think is going to be a g-dsend for a team that before the trade was really going to struggle to create.

[Pharmcat]

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

Well to be fair it was about money and that comes from above him...

no point in giving long term deals to role players like perkins and serge when you dont have the stars locked up first

[Lightning25]

Your opinions are looking extremely stupid right now.

What was my opinion? Harden is like Pierce, he is like Pierce, both look unathletic and slow when they both can get to the rim at will and are more explosive then giving credit for.

Still think I'm dreaming???

I think you are usually wrong and don't know what you're talking about, so yes. Wait until Harden plays an elite team/defense like the Heat, Bulls, Knicks, etc. then talk to me.

[JWiLL02]

It's nice to see there's a young SG in the league who will be capable of multiple 25-5-5 seasons. Seems like awhile since one has entered the league...10 years ago we had Kobe, TMac, Pierce and Carter all at once.

[Dupp]

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

Well to be fair it was about money and that comes from above him...

no point in giving long term deals to role players like perkins and serge when you dont have the stars locked up first

Yeah i agree. Perkins contract is just bad and looks liek they chose ibaka over harden ( i would have gone teh other way) They should have just used amensity on perk and kept all four. Of course shoulda coulda wouldas would tell you dont give perk tht money to begin with.

[Lightning25]

Perkins is useful against the Duncan's, Howard's Bynum's, but he was a straight up liability in the Heat series. I think that has more to do with Brooks being an idiot with his substitutions/rotations than it does with Perkins being bad though. Perkins role is simply to be the post-defender, set tough screens, intangibles, etc. He is not worth the money but lets not act like he is useless.

[inquisitive]

Harden is a beast....no other words, but just beastly

[SFour]

I don't follow Harden much and I thought he was just hyped up a bit too much but he has played really well in his first 2 games with Houston. I got to give him props on that.

[B-easy]

OKC still made the right decision of letting him go, he just wouldn't fulfill his potential behind durant and westbrook Plus he asked too much money for being the third wheel (and don't say harden is better than westbrook or Durant, because he is not).

I do, however, think he will be a top 3 SG this season. Just not superstar level like Westbrook and Durant.

[Bank Shot]

Choosing to extend Ibaka over Harden was lolable before now it's just...damn

[jrmaxino]

45 big ones. 3 more consistent games and i think thats enough proof tat he is for realz

[Charsace]

Harden looks like a rich man's Manu. Physical slasher that's runs the pick and roll really good looks to drive or shoot the 3.

[StitchJones]

I would honestly consider keeping Harden over westbrook for the pure fact that Harden has been a very efficient scorer for the last two years and he's showing that with increased attempts he can still be efficient. There is a chance he will be considered better than Westbrook by season's end.

[M4P]

Uh no, Harden is average at best, lol at average at worst. He is horrendous, it's not my fault you don't know what defense is.

When has Harden shown that he has been a "horrendous" defender? Because honestly it just seems like you're making whatever BS you can so that you can discredit Harden as a player. I've watched Kevin Martin for 2 years now and I can say with confidence that Harden is better defender.

[Lightning25]

When has Harden shown that he has been a horrendous defender? Because honestly it just seems like you're making whatever BS you can so that you can discredit Harden as a player. I've watched Kevin Martin for 2 years now and I can say with confidence that Harden is better defender.

Saying one bad defender is better than another bad defender doesn't make him a good defender or an average defender at worst, it means he is better defender than another bad defender.

But if you want evidence, every heard of the stat called RAPM? Because Harden's defensive RAPM last season was -1.6 which is horrible.

It's essentially plus minus when it comes to defense. Harden is shown to be statistically terrible defensively and even the eye test shows his defense sucks.

What else you want?

[thamadkant]

Harden looks like a rich man's Manu. Physical slasher that's runs the pick and roll really good looks to drive or shoot the 3.

no i disagree..

Harden and Ginobili are same tier still... I think.

Both star SGs, Harden happens to be first option at the moment.
When Ginobili was younger he had many great games all around.

There are many aspects of their games that are similar and their impact are similar too....

Harden is NOT a rich man's Ginobili... he is a african american younger version of Ginobili (current). Thats all.