The Official James Harden Thread

MalikJoakim24 · Post #361 » by **MalikJoakim24** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 3:22 pm

tsherkin wrote:
LakerFanMan wrote:Houston really needs an interior scorer though. A Boozer type would be perfect.

Scola would have been great, heh.

Boozer would have been a fine PnR partner for Harden/Lin. Maybe once he gets amnestied?

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Don't think the Booz will be amnestied.

LakerFanMan · Post #362 » by **LakerFanMan** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 3:24 pm

MnM24 wrote:
tsherkin wrote:
LakerFanMan wrote:Houston really needs an interior scorer though. A Boozer type would be perfect.

Scola would have been great, heh.

Boozer would have been a fine PnR partner for Harden/Lin. Maybe once he gets amnestied?

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Don't think the Booz will be amnestied.

You might be right. I guess it really depends on how well he and Gibson play. If Gibson is playing well and growing, losing Boozer might not be as big of a blow.

Charsace · Post #363 » by **Charsace** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 3:27 pm

Z_Solidarity wrote:
tsherkin wrote:
Johnlac1 wrote:While tos, like missed shots, are inherently bad, things have to be analyzed in context. Players who risk more will have more tos. Magic Johnson averaged 4.6 pg in 1984, (4 for his career), and the Lakers still almost won the title that year.

Yes, but he posted 13.1 apg that year. 19.5% USG against 24.6% TOV... But also 42.5% AST.

Totally different scenarios; Lin isn't a volume assist producer and high-volume shooters aren't usually high-TOV% players if they're good because they get a shot up. Most of Lin's TOVs come from mishandling coverage out of PnRs or charging the rim in transition.

It would be revisionist history to suggest Lin hasn't had well-documented issues protecting the ball, and they are still happening.

Given health and games played, it's fair to suggest he'll adapt and develop, but let's call a spade a spade here, shall we?

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Lin just doesn't have good handles. His FT and 3 pt shooting look improved, but he's a combo guard, not a PG. Poor man's Westbrook

Lin being a combo guard is why him and Harden look good right now and dynamic. OKC did the combo guard/sg thing to great effect the last 2 seasons. This year the cavs are trying for the same thing with Kyrie and Waiters. More teams should try mixing things up instead of going with the conventional pg/sg back court.

Tave · Post #364 » by **Tave** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 3:33 pm

RoyalWun wrote:
Tave wrote:
RoyalWun wrote:Don't get me wrong, what he has done in the past 2 games are amazing for any player.

But until he does this against a playoff team I'm not going to be that impressed.

It's the Pistons and Hawks who both are bottom 5-8 teams this season.

He put up 29/5/5/3/1 against Dallas last year in the playoffs.
He put up 30/7/4/2 against San Antonio last year in the playoffs.

Ok? I'm happy for him but what does that have to do with this season where he is on a different team and now the main focus of opposing defenses?

Those are his 3rd option numbers last year against good teams. Post his numbers this year against a good team.

Don't worry, I'll wait...

If you don't think Harden will have big games against good teams, then you haven't been following the kid's career, because he already has, and not just as a third option. He took over plenty of games last year. I assure you teams were focused on stopping him just as much as the other two, if not more (that's how Miami won the title: let Durant and Westbrook get theirs but stop Harden at all costs).

Obviously the guy won't average 40ppg on the season. He'll have ups and downs just like anyone else. But this "THIRD OPTION!!!!" nonsense is ridiculous. There's a reason why every team with cap space in the league was salivating over the guy and why so many people think OKC made a terrible decision. Harden just had a breakout year and should have made the All-Star team. He's going to ball out for a long time barring injury or personal issues, heaven forbid.

You should already be impressed, not for the last two games, forget them. What he accomplished over the entirety of last season was extremely impressive, and so his "2 games" should come as no surprise to anyone.

Harden being the third option had nothing, I repeat, NOTHING to do with his ability. It was purely situational. OKC had the luxury of playing the guy as a third option because they were smart/lucky enough to draft three All-Star caliber players.

3gbrrrfkyt · Post #365 » by **3gbrrrfkyt** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:00 pm

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_8jNazpVds[/youtube]

Niko23 · Post #366 » by **Niko23** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:05 pm

My new favorite non Cavs player........

kombayn · Post #367 » by **kombayn** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:09 pm

Benas360 wrote:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_8jNazpVds[/youtube]

Attack, attack, attack the basket. Points in the paint, high percentage shot selection, Lin look super comfortable playing with Harden. I'm telling you, these guys are a good team.

Sasaki · Post #368 » by **Sasaki** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 4:50 pm

kombayn wrote:
Benas360 wrote:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_8jNazpVds[/youtube]

Attack, attack, attack the basket. Points in the paint, high percentage shot selection, Lin look super comfortable playing with Harden. I'm telling you, these guys are a good team.

The backcourt is great, but I'll be surprised if Houston actually makes the playoffs. They have an awful bench led by freaking Toney Douglas and I'm not really super confident in any front court player aside from Asik. Houston has got a lot of young PFs, and no doubt at least one of them will end up being a pretty good player. It's a matter of development and cohesion this season for them really.

Post #369 » by **slick_watts** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 5:28 pm

Not surprised. James is doing the same things he did for OKC just with higher volume. He'll obviously come down to Earth a little bit but he'll be among the lead leaders in scoring if his USG stays at or around 30%, and he will be worth that contract. Could have had him at 4/60.

inquisitive · Post #370 » by **inquisitive** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 5:36 pm

best duo backcourt !!!...haha

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball- ... --nba.html

Bball Reasons · Post #371 » by **Bball Reasons** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 5:37 pm

Houston will have depth issues until the rookies are ready to be taken out of the oven.

Lightning25 · Post #372 » by **Lightning25** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 5:44 pm

Harden and Lin compliment each other well and I do think Harden has taken the pressure off of Lin. It's not a matter if Lin performs well or not night in and night out anymore, it's now a matter of if James Harden will.

MisterWestside · Post #373 » by **MisterWestside** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 5:45 pm

slick_watts wrote:Not surprised. James is doing the same things he did for OKC just with higher volume.

And as defenses game plan for him, he'll be forced to take more midrange shots and shots under duress.

Massamba · Post #374 » by **Massamba** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 5:49 pm

It would be funny that the Rockets make the playoffs and Harden hvave better stats than KD.

Archerbro · Post #375 » by **Archerbro** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 5:53 pm

Last season I came to the conclusion Harden could be a #2 type player meaning he could be the 2nd best player on a contending team. (he just happened to be a in #3 positon),

but I wonder if he's gonig to make the leap this season from a #2 type guy to a #1 type guy. He's in a #1 option type role, but can he be the best player on a contending team? We'll have to wait and see. But I'm glad this guy is shutting all the haters up.

Archerbro · Post #376 » by **Archerbro** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 6:01 pm

NeZoRiL wrote:With all due respect, some players are made for the bench, in short bursts, like most sixth men in the NBA. Harden played with Durant and Westbrook, so his assist numbers would automatically go up, as he's an amazing facilitator, and I can't question that. Kevin Martin can't at all be as good as Harden in OKC, that much is true. I don't think they're darkhorses, I have a feeling Westbrook will improve as a passer, just as Harden is improving overall. Will you agree with me that giving a great bench player an 80 million dollar contract is a risk? I think so.

not with the efficiency he's shown over the years. HIS Per 36 min numbers have always been good.
Reason's he didn't start were, okc's bench would've been miserable without him and if there's a star wing You're having Harden or Durant guard them, better off just starting with Sefolosha.

Durant Durant · Post #377 » by **Durant Durant** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 6:10 pm

inquisitive wrote:best duo backcourt !!!...haha

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball- ... --nba.html

sometimes the stars align at the right time to make a perfect fit. you can see even with the small sample size that they belong together. no confusion, no tentativeness. push the ball attack, ill pass you the ball if not open ill take it or others will.

East_Coast · Post #378 » by **East_Coast** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 6:29 pm

Major Tom wrote:sometimes the stars align at the right time to make a perfect fit. you can see even with the small sample size that they belong together. no confusion, no tentativeness. push the ball attack, ill pass you the ball if not open ill take it or others will.

It looks good so far, but as you said its a very small sample size. What going to happen when adversity hits? Will Harden be able to assume not only on-court leadership in tough times, but off the court as well?

Portland tonight should be an interesting test.

Ayt · Post #379 » by **Ayt** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 6:39 pm

slick_watts wrote:Not surprised. James is doing the same things he did for OKC just with higher volume. He'll obviously come down to Earth a little bit but he'll be among the lead leaders in scoring if his USG stays at or around 30%, and he will be worth that contract. Could have had him at 4/60.

Yeah. People should not be surprised he's capable of huge games.

MisterWestside wrote:
slick_watts wrote:Not surprised. James is doing the same things he did for OKC just with higher volume.

And as defenses game plan for him, he'll be forced to take more midrange shots and shots under duress.

You think teams didn't know who Harden was already? "Gee, we should guard this Harden guy."

Bball Reasons · Post #380 » by **Bball Reasons** » Sat Nov 3, 2012 7:11 pm

East_Coast wrote:
Major Tom wrote:sometimes the stars align at the right time to make a perfect fit. you can see even with the small sample size that they belong together. no confusion, no tentativeness. push the ball attack, ill pass you the ball if not open ill take it or others will.

It looks good so far, but as you said its a very small sample size. What going to happen when adversity hits? Will Harden be able to assume not only on-court leadership in tough times, but off the court as well?

Portland tonight should be an interesting test.

Harden and Lin are two of the most humble, unselfish, religious, and all around easy going players in the NBA. I wouldn't worry about their relationship off the court.