Imagine if OKC had Harden right now

[Im Still Ballin]

That offense late in games would write itself. Harden, Westbrook, Durant all on the court at once? Less Westbrook hail mary drives...

Goddamn OKC ****ed up. I don't care about "Too many ball dominant players"

We saw it worked amazingly well in 2012... Especially now with Westbrook being more of a distributor...

Simply put, you put three uber MVP talents like that together... It would figure itself out.

This one's on them OKC management dummies. Could have had it all.

[Out_In_Utah]

Westbrook and KD struggle enough to co-exist. Harden wouldn't make things any easier. He wants to get rid of the 1 guy on his team who is willing to play defense.

[Im Still Ballin]

Westbrook and KD struggle enough to co-exist. Harden wouldn't make things any easier. He wants to get rid of the 1 guy on his team who is willing to play defense.
And he wouldn't make the chemistry any worse. We've seen how Harden fits. Rather well might I add. Please do not sleep on Harden. His shooting, playmaking, and slashing ability would fit in anywhere. All you have to think about is the threat of Durant/Westbrook/Harden all on the floor at once late in the 4th. As stagnant as their offense is right now, Harden wouldn't make it any worse, yet he'd make it a hell of a lot better. They'd probably still play hero ball, but it worked in 2012 and it would most definitely work now.

[Fallen Angel]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6_KYulzT4M

King.

[Im Still Ballin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sChRD7ZOaFo

You can talk about ball dominance and fits all you want

You can even do a DMAVS and talk about how great the 2013 OKC Thunder were

But the bottom line is they have nothing left to show from that trade

Just watch that Harden footage

Talent makes it work

As much as people shit on Harden, he's still putting up hella numbers

[Im Still Ballin]

Durant-Westbrook-Harden was by far their best 3-man combo lineup in 2012

[Grey Dawn]

Would make things worse.

Also, Harden 100% relies on being a league-manufactured dogterd superstar, which probably wouldn't have happened (being Houston's 'franchise' star) if he stayed with OKC.

[Im Still Ballin]

Would make things worse.

Also, Harden 100% relies on being a league-manufactured dogterd superstar, which probably wouldn't have happened (being Houston's 'franchise' star) if he stayed with OKC.
:facepalm

[Mike smith]

The talent on okc would be ridiculous and also curry couldn't hide on Roberson or waiters he would have to guard either Russ or harden

[Showtime80']

In my opinion Harden developed into the perfect 2nd/3rd option in his last season in OKC, he also played smarter and more under control than he does in Houston, sort of a Manu "pick your spots" style of play which is quietly devastating and keeps the defense on their toes giving them different looks.

The problem the NBA has had since the early 90's ti'll now and for the foreseeable future is that there are two many teams in the league and a lot of them look to make splashes in the offseason throwing superstar money at free agents that really are not suitable to be first options and cornerstones for a franchise. The Warriors will experience this with Harrison Barnes.

In a vacuum, OKC did things the right way. They got Harden, Durant, Ibaka and Westbrook by drafting smart and in another era they should've stayed together for at least 7-8 years and challenged for a few titles.

As it is the OKC system is predictable and they're not that good defensively to overcome their deficiencies on the offensive end. 1st or 2nd round is their ceiling.

[warriorfan]

Harden/Westbrook/KD would work and it would be one of the best lineups in the league.

Harden and Westbrook trading off ball handling duties would be good for both of them. Even though Harden isn't the greatest off the ball he will still be able to warp and space the defense. It's not for sure but hopefully Westbrook's out of control and desperate decisions get reduced.

I said earlier around here that fit is overrated and talent is underrated. A trio of Harden/Westbrook/KD would be able to build chemistry easier than a lesser line up all of a sudden developing into very talented superstars.

[Im Still Ballin]

In my opinion Harden developed into the perfect 2nd/3rd option in his last season in OKC, he also played smarter and more under control than he does in Houston, sort of a Manu "pick your spots" style of play which is quietly devastating and keeps the defense on their toes giving them different looks.

The problem the NBA has had since the early 90's ti'll now and for the foreseeable future is that there are two many teams in the league and a lot of them look to make splashes in the offseason throwing superstar money at free agents that really are not suitable to be first options and cornerstones for a franchise. The Warriors will experience this with Harrison Barnes.

In a vacuum, OKC did things the right way. They got Harden, Durant, Ibaka and Westbrook by drafting smart and in another era they should've stayed together for at least 7-8 years and challenged for a few titles.

As it is the OKC system is predictable and they're not that good defensively to overcome their deficiencies on the offensive end. 1st or 2nd round is their ceiling.
Agreed

Too much is being made of recent about team fit and good role players. The bold truth in the NBA is that you pick talent 9/10 times. Hell it's not rocket science. When Harden-Westbrook-Durant were on the floor together, because Durant is more of an off-ball shooter than the other two, they played very much like a dribble drive offense, kicking out as the defense collapses.

There's some footage of this perfectly illustrated in that video I linked earlier. Westbrook beats his man off the dribble, drives to the rack, draws all 5 defenders in, kicks out to Harden, who in this position is absolutely lethal. Either he knocks down the 3 or he fakes, drives and gets to the line.

I don't think too much about people talking about ball dominant players and bad fit, because that talent amount of talent will simply figure it out. It's easier to find the right roleplayers to surround talent than to find the talent. the NBA has always been about talent.

[red1]

Harden is legit the GOAT 6th man. If OKC kept him they would be legend status. KD and westbrook are amazing. Add harden to that equation? Game over for the league.

[Spurs5Rings2014]

Harden is legit the GOAT 6th man.

:facepalm :facepalm :facepalm

[Zach LaVine]

Imagine the Warriors with Durant right now. :eek:

[Bankaii]

Why are some people acting like Harden doesn't have a great scoring skill set?
The free throws are wack, but dude can still flat out score. And his 3 point shooting would allow him to be a spot up shooter at worst.

OKC could really use him late in the 3rd/early 4th. That's when Durant and Westbrook both sit and the team looks clueless because there's no system.
Any solid scorer that can take the ball out of Westbrooks hands in the 4th would help.

[red1]

:facepalm :facepalm :facepalm
He is bro. You are a spurs fan so I assume that you are saying that ginobli is better? Manu is legit too but harden is better. IMO of course. I can't think of a better 6th option. Harden is a legit all-star and top 10 player in the league.

[ralph_i_el]

Harden and Westbrook both need the ball to be effective.

OKC would be better off with Klay Thompson instead of Harden, even though Harden is a better player.

Durant ISO > Harden ISO......so what's the point of having Harden?

A team with KD just needs good role players, one sidekick offensive creator, and a good coach and they are a contender.

KD needs to team up with John Wall. That would be perfect synergy.

[Im Still Ballin]

Harden and Westbrook both need the ball to be effective.

OKC would be better off with Klay Thompson instead of Harden, even though Harden is a better player.

Durant ISO > Harden ISO......so what's the point of having Harden?

A team with KD just needs good role players, one sidekick offensive creator, and a good coach and they are a contender.

KD needs to team up with John Wall. That would be perfect synergy.
:facepalm

This is the new age reddit pseudo-basketball expert

The bold part just summarizes it perfectly. You are a complete moron.

[Zach LaVine]

The talent on okc would be ridiculous and also curry couldn't hide on Roberson or waiters he would have to guard either Russ or harden
Who are the Rockets going to hide Harden on? Can't expect him to guard Klay.

[JohnnySic]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394829

[Young X]

It amazes me how people think Harden wouldn't have made them a better team.

Like this team wasn't a couple games away from winning a championship with Harden and haven't even come close to it since they gave him away for peanuts. Just stupid.

Harden is the one that took that 2012 team to another level. Their offense skyrocketed when he entered the games. Go look at the Thunder's point differential with Harden on the floor that year.

OKC f*cked up. Simple as that. Stop defending them.