The Official James Harden Thread

[Rapcity_11]

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.

I'm talking about your clownish post in the Harden/Westbrook thread. Let me remind you:

Name me one thing Harden does better than Westbrook besides shooting 3s and decision making.

I can't think of anything. He is a worse at just about everything.

Lets start with this, have you ever seen Harden get to the rim without a screener? Cause I haven't and I watched about 50+ OKC regular season games last season and I watched all of their playoff games.

Westbrook can get to the rim at will regardless of whether or not he has someone setting a screen/pick for him.

It is why Miami shut down Harden as bad as they did along with the fact that Harden wet the bed. Miami is the best PnR defense in the league and they took away Harden's best/only ability to get to the rim. All Harden had left to fall back on was his 3 point shot. Harden doesn't even have a mid-range shot either. While people might say mid-range shot is inefficient shot, the mid-range shot provides extra scoring versatility so it has benefits. Westbrook is a very good mid-range shooter while Harden doesn't have a mid-range game.

I shouldn't need to compare their defenses. Anyone who watched both of these guys play on defense knows Westbrook is better and better by a lot. Harden is arguably the worst defender in the league while Westbrook is a solid defensive PG and he showcased more of his defensive potential in the 2012 Olympics.

Again, aside from advanced numbers which can be deceiving without context, Harden doesn't have much of an argument over Westbrook. It is deceiving in this case because Harden is a bench player that plays against a team's 2nd unit and he is also a 3rd option so he doesn't get the defensive attention that Westbrook and Durant receive.

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.

So you still think Harden isn't going to be outstanding in Houston?

[Lightning25]

I'm talking about your clownish post in the Harden/Westbrook thread. Let me remind you:

So I said Westbrook was better than Harden which is what most people think anyways.

What is so clownish about that?

The only thing that I shouldn't have said was Harden can't get to the rim without a screen because he can get their regardless like Pierce. It doesn't look like he can though because he looks slow but he is quick and has decent explosiveness.

I don't take back anything else. He is still worse than Westbrook, he is still a much worse defender despite Westbrook's stupid defensive play last night, he is still less talented, and so fourth. He might be a better fit for the Thunder but I'm not sure if I ever disagreed with that anyways.

:rofl:

So you still think Harden isn't going to be outstanding in Houston?

He might but since you said it and usually everything you say is wrong, it made me not believe it.

[Promezclan]

LOL, I was looking at Harden's draft, and I was happy to discover that Thabeet has been inducted into the Hall of Fame: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_NBA_Draft

[Rapcity_11]

So I said Westbrook was better than Harden which is what most people think anyways.

What is so clownish about that?

The fact that you also think Westbrook is better at everything except 3 point shooting and decision making. When the reality is that he's better at:

1. Everything to do with passing.
2. Drawing fouls. (flopping included)
3. Finishing at the rim
4. PnR ball handling
5. FT shooting
6. Protecting the ball

He might but since you said it and usually everything you say is wrong, it made me not believe it.

You criticize my opinion yet base yours off the opposite of somebody else?

Also, what have I been wrong about?

[Vindicater]

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.

2 games and he is suddenly a rich mans Manu?

Ahh RGM, you never disappoint.

[Trader_Joe]

If they really had to move one, I think they should have moved RW. They are as close as you can get talent wise and I think RW could have gotten you more in return (his larger salary alone helps) and PG is rather loaded these days. SG on the other hand is not. Harden is the best SG under 30 by a mile, and may be the best SG in the game for part of his contract. RW is a score first PG who will never be the best PG in the game and certainly not during his contract with Paul, Rose, Rondo around.

[Lightning25]

The fact that you also think Westbrook is better at everything except 3 point shooting and decision making. When the reality is that he's better at:

1. Everything to do with passing.

This isn't necessarily true. Westbrook averaged 8+ assists in 2010 and 2011. He has shown he can pass, it's his decision making that's the problem, not the passing. Westbrook is a very good passer and probably better than Harden at it in terms of skill.

2. Drawing fouls. (flopping included)
3. Finishing at the rim

5. FT shooting
6. Protecting the ball

Ok, you do realize that I was pretty much generalizing when I said he was better than him at everything right?

Westbrook is still the better player and the better talent.

4. PnR ball handling

Cherry pick much? What do you even base this on?

Also, what have I been wrong about?

[Trader_Joe]

Random thought but it would have been amazing to see Harden play with prime Amare. I hope Houston can get him a forward to run the pick and roll with. Milsap would be nice.

[Mr. E]

We already got Harden.

...hoping you didn't mean that you hope that Houston can get Amar'e

[Promezclan]

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.

2 games and he is suddenly a rich mans Manu?

Ahh RGM, you never disappoint.

Seriously.

Harden as 6th man: 1 season of 21 PER
Ginobili as 6th man: 8 seasons in a row of 22+ PER, including 3 of 24+, 3 NBA championships

Harden as 1st option: 2 games, beat 2 East lottery teams
GInobili as 1st option: Gold medal, silver medal, beat United States Olympic Team twice.

[Rapcity_11]

This isn't necessarily true. Westbrook averaged 8+ assists in 2010 and 2011. He has shown he can pass, it's his decision making that's the problem, not the passing. Westbrook is a very good passer and probably better than Harden at it in terms of skill.

Don't get me wrong, Westbrook is a good passer, I just think Harden is better. He has superior vision and simply makes passes that RW can't make. (Like some of those off the dribble bounce passes and pin-point diagonal passes cross-court perfectly timed)

Ok, you do realize that I was pretty much generalizing when I said he was better than him at everything right?

How could I realize that? There are too many major areas that Harden is better at, for a generalization to even be an excuse for your clownish comment.

Cherry pick much? What do you even base this on?

I guess I meant to say PnR's as the ball handler.

[Lightning25]

Don't get me wrong, Westbrook is a good passer, I just think Harden is better. He has superior vision and simply makes passes that RW can't make. (Like some of those off the dribble bounce passes and pin-point diagonal passes cross-court perfectly timed)

So because Harden's passes are more aesthetic, that means he is a better passer? Right....

You don't even have proof that Harden is a better passer than Westbrook since it was just your worthless opinion, yet you come in here and try to tell me Harden is better than Westbrook at everything in passing and saying my statement was clownish.

Yeah, nice try.

[Woodsanity]

James Harden is a beast but man is Westbrook getting underrated around here.

[NeZoRiL]

Watching Harden perform tonight against my Hawks was nothing short of spectacular. He was on fire, showed incredible chemistry with Lin, yet isolated himself, almost as if the Hawks played 5 on 1, it was insane. Great game by him, twice in a row we've seen him going on a scoring barrage.

[Mr. E]

Over on the Rockets board my boy, Vator, pointed out something pretty cool:

Jeremy Lin is #7

James Harden is #13

The original - and most common - area code in Houston is "713"


Sometimes people try too hard to come up with nicknames or handles...times like this, the fates work in your favor!

713!!!

[Rapcity_11]

So because Harden's passes are more aesthetic, that means he is a better passer? Right....

Where the **** did I say anything about aesthetics?

You don't even have proof that Harden is a better passer than Westbrook

Passing is a skill that is assessed with a lot subjectivity. Due to it generally being hard to quantify.

[vincecarter4pres]

It's pretty obvious Harden is a better passer and playmaker then Westbrook and it's not even debatable that he's world's better running the pick and roll.

This stuff goes back to his Sun Devil days when he was more or less their pseudo point guard next to Glasser.

Really good on drive and kick and the pick and roll. Nice court vision and feel for the game, crisp passer, underrated handle and similar level first step. Much higher BBIQ.

[samueldestroyer]

So.......why didn't OKC amnesty Perkins?

[Lightning25]

So.......why didn't OKC amnesty Perkins?

To guard the likes of Bynum, Howard, Duncan, etc. you do realize they have to go through the Lakers, Spurs, before heading off to face the Heat/whoever in the East right? It's Brooks fault for not using Perkins less in series where he is less useful. It's not Perkins fault for not transforming into a completely different player.

[Br0ken_Sp0ke]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC99ji34hNg&feature=g-all-u[/youtube]