James Harden at 80mil over 5 years

Bran Fast Hands · Post #141 » by **Bran Fast Hands** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 7:33 am

Grinditout wrote:
MaseInYourFace wrote:Very nice backcourt combo.im happy for Lin. Its looking like things are going to end up well for both knicks and Lin. Btw I like Lin more than lowry. I think he has more upside.

Yeah, Lin really got himself into a good situation with his contract plus playing alongside Harden. Although I still think the Rockets are no where near contention and probably a first round exit at this point.

I don't think they'll make the playoffs.

knicksnyk · Post #142 » by **knicksnyk** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 8:01 am

They won't make the playoffs at all. but Lin/ harden remind me of a parker manu tandem. Lin reminds me of a young Tony Parker in that they both drive to the basket & either get caught in the air w/out a shot/pass option. When Parker was young he would take bad angles either beginning his jump to far away from the rim or to close to the rim It drove Pop crazy. lin uses his side & athleticms to get to the rim & finish thrugh contact where as parker uses quick changes in direction. neither are particularly great perimeter shooters lin has the upperhand on him in terms of defense & his learning curve appears to be steeper.

MaseInYourFace · Post #143 » by **MaseInYourFace** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 11:07 am

Harden is playing amazing but lets simmer down some. Lets see him play like this half a season before bringing out the "e" word.

Also a poster made a good point about their thin bench. That worries me for both these dudes. Especially Lin. Most coaches in the NBA will play young players heavy mins and wont bat an eye over it.

earthmansurfer · Post #144 » by **earthmansurfer** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 11:39 am

Great backcourt in Houston and I love Lin, but I don't see that team getting far. They need someone special at F and then let's talk.

Never Wrong · Post #145 » by **Never Wrong** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 12:57 pm

Finally got my power back and just logged on to say I told you so! kbye

Marty McFly · Post #146 » by **Marty McFly** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 1:36 pm

I've loved harden's game since i saw him in college.

the only thing that isn't elite about him is his athleticism, and even then he's a decent athlete.

Bill Bradley · Post #147 » by **Bill Bradley** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 1:50 pm

LOL first it was "the Rockets will be the worst team in the league". Now it's "there is no way they make the playoffs". Soon it will be "they are first round fodder".

Even before the Harden trade, I said that the Rockets could have as good a record as the Knicks this season. And unless one of Harden or Lin breaks down and gets injured, they are only going to get better. Consider that Harden joined the team a day or two before the season started and they are the youngest team in the league.

So now the Rockets have two glaring holes: they desperately need a better back up PG (Douglas sucks and McHale won't play Machado because he's a moron) and they need a starting caliber PF. Morey made a mistake in letting Livingston go and keeping Douglas. But Morey is great at getting role players and he has 4-5 good young PFs who can (a) be traded for a backup PG and (b) fill the PF role if given a chance by moron McHale. Marcus Morris and Patterson both played well last night as well so that only ups their trade value and lessens the need at PF.

knicksnyk · Post #148 » by **knicksnyk** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 2:03 pm

pretty much on your first paragraph bill bradley. people were saying that lin would regret leaving NY. well that doesn't seem to b the case. playing alongside harden in houston has turned out well for him on the national stage and in basketball.

cgmw · Post #149 » by **cgmw** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 2:04 pm

OT: Morey doin werk!

viewtopic.php?f=24&t=1190187&start=405

Told. You. So. 8-)

Rasho Brezec · Post #150 » by **Rasho Brezec** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 2:49 pm

How about we do the sensible thing and not jump to conclusions after two games.

Bill Bradley · Post #151 » by **Bill Bradley** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 2:54 pm

Rasho Brezec wrote:How about we do the sensible thing and not jump to conclusions after two games.

But people had no problems offering plenty of strong opinions before the season even started. I'm just glad the games have begun so we have something to base opinions on now, and not just merely speculate.

postcall · Post #152 » by **postcall** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 3:02 pm

2012 Salary 5,820,416
5 year contract 80.000.000

So it averages to <14.5 million a year over the six year length of the deal. I dont see why anyone could argue that this was a terrible signing. There are benefits for teams willing to invest in young players one of which is lower more controlled salary.

knicksnyk · Post #153 » by **knicksnyk** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 3:28 pm

Bill Bradley wrote:
Rasho Brezec wrote:How about we do the sensible thing and not jump to conclusions after two games.

But people had no problems offering plenty of strong opinions before the season even started. I'm just glad the games have begun so we have something to base opinions on now, and not just merely speculate.

LOL tell that to the people that are calling Damian Llilard the truth after two games. please cut the hypocrisy. players don't put up 40+ points or 20 + points unless they have significant talent. doesn't matter who the opposition is. it isn't easy to do what harden & lin are doing right now. and the funny thing is that they have yet to play there best. Harden has been making some sloppy passes. Lin makes some dumb decisions. they are going to look bad sometimes but the scary thing is aht they are going to only get better.

MaseInYourFace · Post #154 » by **MaseInYourFace** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 3:38 pm

Marty McFly wrote:I've loved harden's game since i saw him in college.

the only thing that isn't elite about him is his athleticism, and even then he's a decent athlete.

The book on Harden coming out was that he was not a great athlete and that he was a good at everything excels at nothing type of player. Many thought he was picked too high. Harden has improved every year since coming out so that is what has gotten him to this point. I don't think anyone thought he had as much upside as he has shown.

earthmansurfer · Post #155 » by **earthmansurfer** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 7:54 pm

Bill Bradley wrote:LOL first it was "the Rockets will be the worst team in the league". Now it's "there is no way they make the playoffs". Soon it will be "they are first round fodder".

Even before the Harden trade, I said that the Rockets could have as good a record as the Knicks this season. And unless one of Harden or Lin breaks down and gets injured, they are only going to get better. Consider that Harden joined the team a day or two before the season started and they are the youngest team in the league.

So now the Rockets have two glaring holes: they desperately need a better back up PG (Douglas sucks and McHale won't play Machado because he's a moron) and they need a starting caliber PF. Morey made a mistake in letting Livingston go and keeping Douglas. But Morey is great at getting role players and he has 4-5 good young PFs who can (a) be traded for a backup PG and (b) fill the PF role if given a chance by moron McHale. Marcus Morris and Patterson both played well last night as well so that only ups their trade value and lessens the need at PF.

They really have an exciting team. They need to play Machado as you said. I forgot about Morris - he is playing well. They still need more of a bench. Where ever Lin goes teams are just going to play well imo. Funny, as I predicted, Lin detractors are saying Harden is making things easier for Lin (to succeed) - which is true. But they totally miss how the team falls apart once Lin leaves the game - just like what happened here.

thebuzzardman · Post #156 » by **thebuzzardman** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 9:04 pm

Ah, this is the new Lin is a god thread. I was wondering where it was.

Fury · Post #157 » by **Fury** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 9:07 pm

thebuzzardman wrote:Ah, this is the new Lin is a god thread. I was wondering where it was.

Ah, the sarcastic hater comment. Was wondering where that post was

thebuzzardman · Post #158 » by **thebuzzardman** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 9:08 pm

Fury wrote:
thebuzzardman wrote:Ah, this is the new Lin is a god thread. I was wondering where it was.

Ah, the sarcastic hater comment. Was wondering where that post was

Not hating, rather the topic stay on Harden though. There's enough to talk about with that guy alone.

TwelvePac · Post #159 » by **TwelvePac** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 9:27 pm

I want to see Harden play against good competition before judging how well the Rockets did in the trade.

GettinitDone · Post #160 » by **GettinitDone** » Sun Nov 4, 2012 1:10 am

Bill Bradley wrote:
Rasho Brezec wrote:How about we do the sensible thing and not jump to conclusions after two games.

But people had no problems offering plenty of strong opinions before the season even started. I'm just glad the games have begun so we have something to base opinions on now, and not just merely speculate.

It's not "speculate" but rather "analyze".

Ability to pull up from anywhere (mid-range/ 3s/ deep 3s), that effortless flick of a wrist shooting motion, ability to freeze you with hesitation, change of directions, and Euro step dribbles, ability to read defense perfectly: when to pass, when to score, court vision to see open teammates, ability to draw fouls and go to FT line. He has fundamentals (dribbling, shooting, passing) checked at a very high/ elite level... it's what makes him so good. He has speed of Tony Parker with the ball, he has Manu Euro step, he changes directions and finishes around the rim like Wade, he has strength, he has vision of LeBron and passing skill to match, he shoots like Nash in his prime. He's virtually unguardable.

Speculating is primarily looking at boxcore/ numbers and "guessing" what's his stats are in the next game. Analyzing is watching the game, and watching his game without necessarily looking at his numbers.