James Harden is a superstar

[E-Balla]

He's been great. But players that heavily rely on freethrows to score are at the mercy of the bipolar refs at times. Still he's been a monster and so far has been top 10.

[Rapcity_11]

His strength is working more off ball, and the Rockets have finally figured out that they should distribute on ball responsibilities between Lin and Harden, instead of making Lin work like Derek Fisher off Kobe. Should be interesting to see how this works out (they've already won 4 in a row using this new style).

I think it has less to do with what the Rockets' have done strategy-wise (although staggering Harden and Lin's minutes is good), and more to do with Lin being healthy and aggressive. Plus Morris starting instead of Patterson, Asik actually dunking the ball, and more minutes for Greg Smith have relieved a LOT of pressure off of Harden.

Exactly. Lin has figured out that when he catches the ball on a swing, instead of being forced to take a jumper, he can attack the rotating defense off the bounce.

And Greg Smith looks pretty freakin solid out there. Never even heard of the guy before the season started.

I hope Patterson goes to the bench when he gets back. Not a fan of his game. Morris is a better starter with his actual 3 point range and better work on the defensive boards.

Houston is up to a 3.76 SRS and the 6th best offense in the league. Impressive stuff.

Also glad the moronic haters have shut up now.

[OptimusOne6]

Harden just closed the 4th quarter against the Wolves although the Wolves can still send it to OT and win it, but Harden took over tonight.

He is an elite scorer, probably top 5 in the game. I'm iffy about the rest of his game though especially his defense because his defense looked like trash.

[SideshowBob]

Didn't even need to parade to the line tonight. 30 on 61% TS with only 6 FTs.

[Krodis]

Really struggled through 3 quarters too. Wasn't getting calls in the first half and was barely there in the 3rd. HUGE 4th quarter though including totally taking the game over the last 6 minutes or so. 15 points in the last 6:18

[90sAllDecade]

*cough* superstar *cough*

[Dr Positivity]

Top 10 player in the league. Maybe top 5

[OptimusOne6]

Top 10 player in the league. Maybe top 5

Top 10 is possible, but certainly not top 5.

Here are players that are either better or arguably better than Harden, I'm not just listing for this year either, just overall.

Lebron
Durant
Paul
Howard
Kobe
Melo
Love
Randolph
Aldridge
Wade
Westbrook
Duncan
Garnett
Rondo

Then the likes of Dirk and Rose when they come back from injury.

Harden is closer to top 10 then top 20 though so I was definitely incorrect about that.

[ReleaseTwill]

That was a superstar like 4th Q.

[tsherkin]

Top 10 player in the league. Maybe top 5

Top 10 is possible, but certainly not top 5.

Here are players that are either better or arguably better than Harden, I'm not just listing for this year either, just overall.

Lebron
Durant
Paul
Howard
Kobe

With you so far, I can get behind any of these guys being better than Harden.

Melo
Love
Randolph
Aldridge
Wade
Westbrook
Duncan
Garnett
Rondo

Lost me.

Melo is playing at Harden's level right now, he's having a fantastic season. Basically nothing suggests that he's better. Love is easily worse because he's not actually a dominant offensive force, blows on D as a frontcourt player (he's actually merely mediocre, but positionally, that's more damaging) and his rebounding is not sufficient compensation.

Randolph isn't better, has many of the same issues as Love only he's actually less effective on O. Aldridge is most certainly not better than Harden, especially this year when he kind of blows on offense. Westbrook isn't better, though like Melo he's certainly right in the same range. Duncan and Garnett are too old and limited in minutes to be counted as better, though both are playing exceptionally well for their age (and Duncan's minutes will probably come down over the remainder of the season, though he's only at 30 mpg, so maybe not). Garnett hasn't been great this season; solid, but not great.

Rondo, I don't think is a better player. Like Westbrook and Melo, certainly in the same tier, just not better.

[CBA]

Top 10 player in the league. Maybe top 5

Top 10 is possible, but certainly not top 5.

Here are players that are either better or arguably better than Harden, I'm not just listing for this year either, just overall.

Lebron
Durant
Paul
Howard
Kobe
Melo
Love
Randolph
Aldridge
Wade
Westbrook
Duncan
Garnett
Rondo

Then the likes of Dirk and Rose when they come back from injury.

Harden is closer to top 10 then top 20 though so I was definitely incorrect about that.

Those four are better without question (at least from me). But everyone below Howard is pretty much floating around where Harden is. In fact, laid out like that, Harden could arguably be a Top 5 player which I never had even considered a possibility.

[Doormatt]

Ok serious question time, how good do people think harden can be at this rate? I know there's those who think he's already proven he's good enough to be a superstar, and those who question it, but you can't deny how good he is offensively. If he can keep playing at this level consistently (in my mind at least a full season) and actually play respectable defense whose to say he isn't on the level of Durant or dare I say *gasp* better (how ironic would that be)? do you think were witnessing the rise of the next great player, or something close (ie someone who deserves to be in discussion with Lebron/Paul/Durant/Howard)?

[tsherkin]

That's a question that should wait until at least the All-Star break.

Hypothetically, though, a 25/5/5 type player with that sort of diversity in scoring repertoire would be a highly effective player, certainly. He's working well with Lin, the Rockets are improving... Kevin, of course, is a three-time scoring champion who continuously raises the bar on his seasonal efficiency, so I don't know if Harden can be quite that good, but a really solid second-tier star seems pretty much guaranteed at this point.

[ardee]

Ok serious question time, how good do people think harden can be at this rate? I know there's those who think he's already proven he's good enough to be a superstar, and those who question it, but you can't deny how good he is offensively. If he can keep playing at this level consistently (in my mind at least a full season) and actually play respectable defense whose to say he isn't on the level of Durant or dare I say *gasp* better (how ironic would that be)? do you think were witnessing the rise of the next great player, or something close (ie someone who deserves to be in discussion with Lebron/Paul/Durant/Howard)?

I say yes. If his supporting cast turns out to be decent enough that he doesn't have to do TOO much, I see a career as good as Wade's in the offing.

[Krodis]

Houston will want a big game out of Harden tonight if they want to maintain their momentum, because I don't like their chances of beating OKC on their 4th game in 5 days.

[Zeitgeister]

I have to give Bastillion credit for having the balls to give this take and to stand by it. Most people here wouldn't do that, and obviously it's all the better that he may very well be a superstar. He's on the cusp, in the very least.

[tsherkin]

Well, bast made a stand earlier, when Harden wasn't actually a superstar by basically any definition that makes sense. Still, he extrapolated that into a belief about Harden's talent that has so far come true.

[Doctor MJ]

I have to give Bastillion credit for having the balls to give this take and to stand by it. Most people here wouldn't do that, and obviously it's all the better that he may very well be a superstar. He's on the cusp, in the very least.

Yup, got to give the man props. He made a thread that could have gone down in history like "Flip is the new MJ", but instead the thread title seems like an obvious statement now.

[Krodis]

The Rockets are gassed in the 4th, I don't think it spells well for tomorrow's game, which will be their 4th in 5 days.

[OptimusOne6]

Melo is playing at Harden's level right now, he's having a fantastic season. Basically nothing suggests that he's better.

Melo is the better overall player. I don't see many advantages Harden truly has over Melo. He gets to the line more and is a slightly better passer, but that's about it. Melo is better than Harden at every other aspect and by a good margin too.

Westbrook isn't better, though like Melo he's certainly right in the same range.

I'll take Westbrook. I think Harden may very well be the better scorer, but a person brought up a great post regarding the two. Harden has a harder time scoring in the 4th quarter/clutch situations because defenses are usually set. Westbrook's scoring doesn't really change against elite defenses, bad defenses, and whether defenses are set or not.

Harden has been playing well recently because the Rockets have been pushing the pace. When the games slows down, Harden tends to struggle and not shoot so well from the field. He still gets to the line a ton and that's obviously good, but it's not very reliable at the end of games and certainly not in last possessions when the refs pretty much swallow their whistle.

Outside of scoring, Westbrook is quite clearly better than Harden at every other aspect so the all-around game and versatility goes to Westbrook.

Rondo, I don't think is a better player. Like Westbrook and Melo, certainly in the same tier, just not better.

Of the players I listed, I only thought the guys you agreed with and Westbrook and Melo are actually better than Harden. I do think Harden was better than the rest, but those guys do have a slight debate over Harden.