Drexler, Westbrook, Harden, Booker - who do you pick with the objective win a ring?:

[hiphopanonymous]

You're the GM - this is an NBA draft with all these characters in mind but you need to pick one of them to build your backcourt around and your objective is strictly championship basketball. Who do you pick and why?

Do you go with Drexler who actually won one? But whom many feel can't dribble without looking at the ball? Or do you go with Westbrook, Harden, or Booker who are modern players that haven't proven they can win?

[NBAGOAT]

harden is the best player of the 4 clearly. drexler's not exactly the guy who elevates his play in the playoff so his ring doesnt matter that much

[Turbo Slayer]

Harden.

[LoneyROY7]

OP desperately wants you to choose Drexler. :oldlol: :oldlol:

[tpols]

easily clyde.

[Turbo Slayer]

easily clyde. No. And saying "easily" invalidates your statement because you are simply brushing away everything that Harden done.

[warriorfan]

Clyde “Big Dick” Drexler.

[LoneyROY7]

Holy shit. I just watched three consecutive Drexler highlight clips...this man really has some of the most amatuerish handles I've seen for star player. Straight right-handed dribbling, patting the ball cautiously out in front of himself with no rhythm.

Shit is cringey as hell.

[Phoenix]

Well....Clyde won one as a 2nd option to Hakeem, which is something that could have been fulfilled by a number of great off-guards, Harden included. So Glide winning one doesn't say much of anything in this context. i would say all/most of the top 10 shooting guards win a title in 95 next to Dream.

Booker hasn't even been on on a team with a winning record yet so that's a non starter. I have no data on what he would be like as a playoff performer.

Westbrook 'as the man' took the Thunder to 3 straight first round losses. I'm voting him off the island.

Harden is probably the best floor raiser and really, while his playoffs have never quite lived up to his regular seasons, losing to the Warriors is a best case scenario for the vast majority of players sooo.... I'm gonna roll with him.

[BigShotBob]

None of them. I'd rather draft Samaki Walker. Not even kidding. I'll take my chances.

But if I had to choose one then Drexler since he actually made it to the Finals even though he did get outplayed by his teammate Terry Porter in multiple series.

Harden playing the way he plays will never win anything though ever.

[Whoah10115]

Harden is the best at his best, and I pick him if he plays like his 14/15 season, his 16/17 season (should have been MVP), and maybe a couple others.

Last two seasons I think the numbers stand out above bis play. So besides ugly, he needs to just play basketball. If so, him, then Drexler. Westbrook no.

Booker last, tho Westnrook could maybe be ahead of Drexler if he's playing the two.

[ralph_i_el]

Holy shit. I just watched three consecutive Drexler highlight clips...this man really has some of the most amatuerish handles I've seen for star player. Straight right-handed dribbling, patting the ball cautiously out in front of himself with no rhythm.

Shit is cringey as hell.

You literally wouldn't be allowed to do what Harden does back then.

As for OP's question, Harden. I just have a low opinion of the other guys. I've seen Harden get completely gassed in the playoffs before though, costing his team games, which is disappointing. The 2017 series against the Spurs comes to mind. I vividly remember him jacking up lazy 3's at the end of a close game, because he was drained. That's less of a problem if you run a team offense.

[Roundball_Rock]

Harden sticks out among the group. He has the highest ceiling and all you need is it for click during one run to pay off (like Dirk in 11').

Drexler was a great player but his record suggests he didn't have much team impact. For example (posted this in another thread):

1994 Blazers with Drexler: 39-29 (47 win pace)
1994 Blazers w/out Drexler: 8-6 (47 win pace)

1993 Blazers with Drexler: 30-19 (50 win pace)
1993 Blazers w/out Drexler: 21-12 (52 win pace)

Backpicks on Drexler:


The regression studies of Drexler’s overall game-level impact place him in the top-30 historically (+5.1). But his impact on some of those teams was questionable. In 1993, he missed 26 games and the Blazers played at the exact same 51-win pace without him. In ’94, Portland again played at the same pace (49-win clip) in 14 games without Drexler. His Augmented plus-minus (AuPM) in 1994 was 79th in the league (+1.9), although he turned in better finishes in 1996 (12th) and in APM in ’97 (22nd) at around +4 per game. The ’95 Blazers also had one of the strangest results in league history, playing at a ridiculous 67-win pace with Drexler (10.1 SRS) in 32 full-strength games, and then trading him to Houston as if things weren’t going well!

Overall, his mixed signals imply inconsistency or some fit issues, and I peg his peak somewhere in between the big-value metrics and the aforementioned low points. Some of his defensive shortcomings bring his value on that end close to neutral while his offense never crested too high either — notice he’s closer to the second notch on the scaled Big 3 numbers above, which is medium-level scoring and efficiency for an offensive centerpiece that lags behind other non-megastars like Ray Allen (see above) and Manu Ginobili. Like Allen, Drexler logged a dozen All-Star level seasons in my book, enough for this spot.

So the same conclusion: he doesn't move the needle much. One note: the "win pace" Backpicks' refers to is SRS-based; the data I posted earlier is actual W-L data.

https://backpicks.com/2018/03/08/goat-36-40/#Drexler

In his defense, regarding the 95' finals, Drexler played very well in the finals (22/10/7) and in the playoffs in absolute terms and relative to the other star guards Houston faced. He outplayed Penny in the finals and Stockton in the first round (remember, Houston was the 6 seed). Kevin Johnson outplayed him in the second round, though.

Westbrook is a quandary but it is easy to slot him in 3rd. Booker is tiers below the other three, at least at this point of his career.

[Phoenix]

Harden's next step at this point is to be able to generate scoring easier within the confines of a team offense. That's on coaching to put him in that position and on him to diversity his offensive attack and find different areas on the floor to attack than isoing at the top of the key in front of the defense. We know what he can do as an iso scorer. I feel like the ceiling on this team is about as high as its gonna be under D'Antoni.

The question is how many changes can/will he make to his game as he ages into his 30s.

[hiphopanonymous]

Holy shit. I just watched three consecutive Drexler highlight clips...this man really has some of the most amatuerish handles I've seen for star player. Straight right-handed dribbling, patting the ball cautiously out in front of himself with no rhythm.

Shit is cringey as hell.

So Clydes game is "cringey as hell"?

How do you feel Westbrooks and Harden's game will stand the test of time in 25 years? Just curious

[LoneyROY7]

So Clydes game is "cringey as hell"?

How do you feel Westbrooks and Harden's game will stand the test of time in 25 years? Just curious

Reading comprehension? I said his dribbling prowess was cringey, not his entire game.

And obviously Harden and Russ' game will stand the test of time, they are record setters whether you like them or not.

[hiphopanonymous]

Reading comprehension? I said his dribbling prowess was cringey, not his entire game.

And obviously Harden and Russ' game will stand the test of time, they are record setters whether you like them or not.
I mean visually. Do you think the movements they do on the floor now, will translate in 25 years when rules change? Or will you be forced to explain to people how what they used to do used to work? I don't have a problem with how they dribble or play. I just find it funny that you have a problem with how Drexler dribbled. Also any records they set will likely be stricken off in the future as "era", just be prepared for that.

[LoneyROY7]

I mean visually. Do you think the movements they do on the floor now, will translate in 25 years when rules change? Or will you be forced to explain to people how what they used to do used to work? I don't have a problem with how they dribble or play. I just find it funny that you have a problem with how Drexler dribbled. Also any records they set will likely be stricken off in the future as "era", just be prepared for that.

Do I think their movements will translate? Huh?

Westbrook is arguably the most athletic point guard of ALL-TIME. One of the fastest players with the ball the game has seen. Harden's combination of strength, quickness, handles, footwork, and overall shiftiness is quite a rarity in it of itself. Yes, their movements will very easily translate across eras.

[hiphopanonymous]

Do I think their movements will translate? Huh?

Westbrook is arguably the most athletic point guard of ALL-TIME. One of the fastest players with the ball the game has seen. Harden's combination of strength, quickness, handles, footwork, and overall shiftiness is quite a rarity in it of itself. Yes, their movements will very easily translate across eras.
I mean their ball handling movements - because athletically Drexler is a lot more athletic than Harden for example but you seem unimpressed how he moves with the ball in his hand. I'm curious if you think people will feel the same about say, Harden in 25 years? Westbrook too, as I said Drexler is athletic but that didn't stop you from calling how he dribbles cringey. Do you think fans will think Westbrook or Harden look cringey in 25 years?

[LoneyROY7]

I mean their ball handling movements - because athletically Drexler is a lot more athletic than Harden for example but you seem unimpressed how he moves with the ball in his hand. I'm curious if you think people will feel the same about say, Harden in 25 years? Westbrook too, as I said Drexler is athletic but that didn't stop you from calling how he dribbles cringey. Do you think fans will think Westbrook or Harden look cringey in 25 years?

Uhh, Harden has some of the best handles in basketball. :oldlol: And Russ is no slouch either when it comes to handles.

So no, I'm about worried about their handles looking cringey...because they don't. Drexler's does. I'm sorry that bothers you so much.

[BigShotBob]

Harden carries the ball like every other possession so his dribbling wouldn't translate backwards, only forwards (where more carrying is allowed).

[Whoah10115]

Uhh, Harden has some of the best handles in basketball. :oldlol: And Russ is no slouch either when it comes to handles.

So no, I'm about worried about their handles looking cringey...because they don't. Drexler's does. I'm sorry that bothers you so much.

You're really struggling with that comprehension you criticized him over.

He asked you something very simple. You're looking back at Drexler and saying cringey.

He asks if you think that in 20 years others will find something in Harden's or Westbrook's game to be cringey.

You responded with Russ is maybe the most athletic PG ever.

He responded and said Drexler is a great athlete, considerably more athletic than Harden, and you respond with Harden has great handles.

You're not really interested in knowing about anything. And you'd get laughed out of any non-message board group of actual basketball watchers.

But continue on.

[LoneyROY7]

You're really struggling with that comprehension you criticized him over.

He asked you something very simple. You're looking back at Drexler and saying cringey.

He asks if you think that in 20 years others will find something in Harden's or Westbrook's game to be cringey.

You responded with Russ is maybe the most athletic PG ever.

He responded and said Drexler is a great athlete, considerably more athletic than Harden, and you respond with Harden has great handles.

You're not really interested in knowing about anything. And you'd get laughed out of any non-message board group of actual basketball watchers.

But continue on.

Are you legitimately retarded? Re-read the posts and recognize how you stupid are. I mentioned Russ' athleticism and then he said he was talking specifically about handles.

But you're not very smart though. Continue on.

[Whoah10115]

Are you legitimately retarded? Re-read the posts and recognize how you stupid are. I mentioned Russ' athleticism and then he said he was talking specifically about handles.

But you're not very smart though. Continue on.

Uh huh.

Thanks for answering his question.

[LoneyROY7]

Uh huh.

Thanks for answering his question.

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/FormalGreedyArrowana-small.gif

[Smoke117]

Drexler >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Haren

/thread

[Whoah10115]

https://thumbs.gfycat.com/FormalGreedyArrowana-small.gif

Since Smoke ended the thread, let's make plans to have sex later.

[LoneyROY7]

Since Smoke ended the thread, let's make plans to have sex later.

Whoah.

You're gonna make smokey jealous though.

[Whoah10115]

Whoah.

You're gonna make smokey jealous though.

He's too rough.

[light]

You're the GM - this is an NBA draft with all these characters in mind but you need to pick one of them to build your backcourt around and your objective is strictly championship basketball. Who do you pick and why?

Do you go with Drexler who actually won one? But whom many feel can't dribble without looking at the ball? Or do you go with Westbrook, Harden, or Booker who are modern players that haven't proven they can win?

Well isn't Drexler the only one of the four to lead a team to the Finals?

I'll go with him.

[KissMySwag]

Half y'all don't talk ball to begin with but i'll give my picks and if anyone wants to question it i'll let you know why I think the way I think.

1. Harden

2. Clyde

3. Westbrook

4. D. Book

[light]

Half y'all don't talk ball to begin with but i'll give my picks and if anyone wants to question it i'll let you know why I think the way I think.

1. Harden

2. Clyde

3. Westbrook

4. D. Book

So you're trying to win a championship and you go with James Harden over the proven playoff leader. Why is that?

And how do you justify it after you get bounced by Drexler's team?

[Rico2016]

James Big Dong Harden

[Overdrive]

footwork

:lol


Reading comprehension? I said his dribbling prowess was cringey, not his entire game.

And obviously Harden and Russ' game will stand the test of time, they are record setters whether you like them or not.

Harden holds two records IIRC. Most taken threes not made that's Curry, and most turnovers in a season.

[Sulico]

So you comparing MVP and finalist, another MVP and finalist, NBA champion and Hall-of-famer ... and Devin Booker???
Are you a Devin Booker crazy stan?