Could James Harden lead a playoff caliber team as the lead player/scorer?

[QUOTE=daily]That's a bunch of BS. Google before you type. from looking at it it's safe to say that it;s closer to 95% of the time Harden was on the floor with Durant and Westbrook

Number one most seen combination on the floor for 688 minutes last season, Westbrook-Sefolosha-Durant-Ibaka-Perkins

Number two most seen combination on the floor last year 408 minutes, Westbrook-[B]Harden[/B]-Durant-Ibaka-Perkins

#5 Westbrook-Harden-Durant-Ibaka-Collison
#6 Westbrook-Harden-Durant-Collison-Perkins
#7 Westbrook-Harden-Sefolosha-Durant
*8 Westbrook-Harden-Durant-Collison

Number one offensive combination on the floor last year, Westbrook-[B]Harden[/B]-Durant-Ibaka-Perkins

Of the top 10 win% of player combos (OKC used 20 different variations last season) Harden is in 8 of the top 10 combinations[/QUOTE]

You misunderstood my post. I'm not saying Harden didn't play with Durant/Westbrook. The guy I quoted was saying Harden's stats were good/better while he was on the floor alone (ie running the offense with Durant and Westbrook on the bench) than while he was playing alongside them.

My point was in those situations (Harden on the floor, Durant/Westbrook on the bench) he was usually playing against the other teams' 2nd unit.

Harden's gonna have a lot of 6-25 nights with 5 TO's where the team loses by 24 type of nights. That's all I'm sayin.

[QUOTE=liquidrage]Harden's gonna have a lot of 6-25 nights with 5 TO's where the team loses by 24 type of nights. That's all I'm sayin.[/QUOTE]

Even if he averages great numbers as the best player, the Rockets are still a borderline playoff team. Bad nights and good nights are going to happen. From an outsider looking in, Harden, Lin, and Asik isn't exactly a scary foundation (but it is a start). Kind of reminds me of the mid-2000's Bulls (Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Tyson Chandler, etc). Good enough to make the playoffs (and lose early) with 40-47 wins in the weak eastern conference. But in the west right now it's going to be tougher.

As of now, it would have to be a team like the 2004 Pistons for Harden to be the top player. Or a becoming a missing piece for a very deep team like Denver. When u look at SG's like MJ, Kobe, West, Wade, T-Mac, and Drexler, they were all great scorers AND great all around players. Harden as of now is a very good scorer and very good all around. So as taletned as he is, he's a tier or likely two below these kind of guys right now.

U also have dominate weapons like Pete, Monroe, Iverson, and Gervin. Harden hasn't proven he can totally dominate a game like these guys scoring the rock. AI and Pete can also swing to PG and play it better than Harden does when he swings to PG. And let's not forget guys like Thompson, Mitch, etc.

I name all of these legends because they are ALL DOMINANT PLAYERS. They are true alpha dogs and the standard in that regard for the position. If anything, Harden is more line with a Dumars, Joe Johnson or Ginobli kind of impact. Which is being an elite multiple time All Star kind of player who can even accumulate an HOF resume or close. But all guys who aren't as dominant as the epic SG's in terms of dominance.

He is only 23 years old. I think he can be lead player in a playoff caliber team. He doesn't need to be as good as some of the legends to carry a team in playoffs.

However, I don't think he'll be lead player in Rockets after couple of seasons. I think he'll be option b or side kick for franchise player.

[QUOTE=AK47DR91]This thread is now the James Harden Statistics Tracker thread. :applause:

My prediction is 24 PPG to lead the Rockets for 2012-13 season.[/QUOTE]
Game 1 (W):
37 points on 14-25 shooting(4-10 from 3's), 6 boards, 12 dimes, 4 steals and a block.

:bowdown:

[QUOTE=maybeshewill13]I personally don't think so. I think his game style is much more suited to coming off the bench/being a complimentary player.. like Manu.[/QUOTE]


He can easily out score westbrook. harden is a starter. It was a good move for basketball for him to go to rockets and i think hell be in the chase for leading scorer this year.

Um... yes.. :pimp:

[QUOTE=AK47DR91]Game 1 (W):
37 points on 14-25 shooting(4-10 from 3's), 6 boards, 12 dimes, 4 steals and a block.

:bowdown:[/QUOTE]
Game 2 (W):
45 points on 14-19 shooting(2-4 from 3's), 7 boards, 2 assists.

[QUOTE=AK47DR91]This thread is now the James Harden Statistics Tracker thread. :applause:

My prediction is 24 PPG to lead the Rockets for 2012-13 season.[/QUOTE]
:facepalm @ me.... I'm way off with 24 PPG.

lol @ the first posts...

I wanna see him vs Bulls/Heat defense. But he has games vs Denver/Memphis soon, lets see if Tony Allen or Iggy can stop him.

[QUOTE=AK47DR91]Game 2 (W):
45 points on 14-19 shooting(2-4 from 3's), 7 boards, 2 assists.[/QUOTE]
Game 3 (L) Houston home opener vs Blazers:
24 points on 8-24 shooting(1-6 from 3's), 6 boards, 5 dimes and 5 TO's.

Harden's hot start reminds me of Brandon Jennings a few years ago opening with 25, 32, and 55 point games. Big difference is Harden isn't a rookie, but it's reminiscent because every team is rusty and some players start off like they're in mid-season form (Harden played ball all summer pretty much). Like Jennings though, Harden will come down to earth. Especially as the team realizes he won't be able to carry the team to wins to the extent of 30-40+ points a game. Rockets tonight shot .35% as a team and didn't break the 85 point mark, despite Harden totaling a respectable 24 points. I like Harden's playing style though (seeing as Manu is my fav player), looking forward to him embracing the role.

It looked like he was gonna get it done before he rolled his ankle.

As long as he keeps shooting. I know it isn't the same, but I twisted my ankle playing ball recently and it's amazing how much of a sprain you can continue to play on. Then you wake up the next day and can't even put pressure on it.

So, take that into account.

-Smak

27 games so far:

[B]25.8 PPG[/B] on 44.9% shooting (incl. 35.9% from 3's) and 8.6/10 at the FT line
[B]4.5 boards/game[/B], [B]5.3 dimes/game[/B] and [B]1.8 stl/game[/B]
3.6 to/game isn't good but that seem like the average for many #1 option players

And the Rockets are 16-12 (Harden missed 1 game, the one where Lin scored 38 vs SAS)

And everybody wants to call Morey insane. He got us a young stud. Just so happen to be one of my favorite players. All we gotta do now is get Dwight.

[QUOTE=DMV2]27 games so far:

[B]25.8 PPG[/B] on 44.9% shooting (incl. 35.9% from 3's) and 8.6/10 at the FT line
[B]4.5 boards/game[/B], [B]5.3 dimes/game[/B] and [B]1.8 stl/game[/B]
3.6 to/game isn't good but that seem like the average for many #1 option players

And the Rockets are 16-12 (Harden missed 1 game, the one where Lin scored 38 vs SAS)[/QUOTE]
Actually is kinda 2, Visited Utah and got sick, played 1 half gazillion TO.s and 3 pts something, could not come back sec half. I wish he did not play that game.

This is a guy that's basically 26, 5,5. with 60% TS and only can improve. Smart and low key. great leader. The rockets culture is getting amazing, everyone is likable no ego, play unselfish teamball, work hard go about business,no boneheaded play, no showboating yelling, demanding of certain things. Hopefully it can keep it that way. Professional and mature like the spurs.

This guy can kill as first option in regular season with good cast. We'll see in off season.

[QUOTE=Mr Exlax]And everybody wants to call Morey insane. He got us a young stud. Just so happen to be one of my favorite players. All we gotta do now is get Dwight.[/QUOTE]

**** no. That man-child has the potential to be poison for our young guys and locker room.

[QUOTE=EnoughSaid]Noooope. He's not THAT good. He'd at most average 20 points on 45% shooting and fail as a lead dog.[/QUOTE]
:oldlol: :oldlol:

[QUOTE=EnoughSaid]Noooope. He's not THAT good. He'd at most average 20 points on 45% shooting and fail as a lead dog.[/QUOTE]
Hehe

[QUOTE=DMV2]27 games so far:

[B]25.8 PPG[/B] on 44.9% shooting (incl. 35.9% from 3's) and 8.6/10 at the FT line
[B]4.5 boards/game[/B], [B]5.3 dimes/game[/B] and [B]1.8 stl/game[/B]
3.6 to/game isn't good but that seem like the average for many #1 option players

And the Rockets are 16-12 (Harden missed 1 game, the one where Lin scored 38 vs SAS)[/QUOTE]
UPDATE: 49 games, 47 full games played (missed 1 game, played half a game due to injury) | Rockets 26-23, holding on the 8th seed, while also battling for 7th.

25.8 PPG on 44% shooting (incl. 32.8% from 3's).
4.5 RPG and 5.5 APG
1.8 STL, 0.5 BLK and a high 3.8 TO/game

He is a legit #1 option! Now gotta see if he's a #1 option for a playoff team.

Looks like he'll finish with 25.9 or 26 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 5.9 APG on a #7 or #8 seed playoff team. Still has 14 minutes of game play vs Lakers.

AK47DR91 was nearly on spot. :pimp:
[QUOTE]Originally Posted by AK47DR91
This thread is now the James Harden Statistics Tracker thread.

My prediction is 24 PPG to lead the Rockets for 2012-13 season.
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=AK47DR91]Not a caliber playoff team, but I think he's capable of leading a team into the playoffs(1st Round exit) a couple of seasons. And maybe one surprising playoff run, like 1st Round upset or CF series appearance.

I think Harden's ceiling as the lead dog would be similar to Glenn Robinson in Milwaukee or Glen Rice in Miami and Charlotte. 2 or 3 playoff appearances and 1 surprising playoff run.[/QUOTE]