Daryl Morey says Harden may be the best ISO player EVER... True or false?

KD Game 6 + blowing 3-1 lead ~ Harden game 6

 

On the broadcast last night, they talked about teams not yet doubling James on a perimeter iso. The idea of teams trapping Harden, leaving Chris Paul to exploit a recovering defense makes me really happy.

 

DM is a combination of (1) slight bias, and (2) just facts about what has happened on the court, not what would happen if you did a non-basketball 1 on 1 possession tournament with a bunch of all time greats.

That said, I wonder where Kareem would sit? I think he still has the most unstoppable move in NBA history.

 

"It depends upon what the meaning of the word 'iso' is. If the—if 'iso' means iso and never switching, that is not—that is one thing. If it means there is switching, that was a completely true statement."

--Bill Clinton

 

MJ, Kobe, Dream, Kareem, T-Mac, KG, Duncan, Dirk, Durant, Lebron, Westbrook maybe even Curry. And there’s probably others from the 50-90s era and a handful from recent times in contention for best iso player ever. @FTW Rockets FTW and definitely not @Nook

 

Sorry man but I'll take Jordan 1 on 1 vs anybody to ever play this game.

 

Harden is a great ISO player and probably one of the most efficient, since ISO ball is historically inefficient. But the best? Put Jordan where Harden is now, and I think he would also be efficient in ISO plays.

 

One of my fav commercials.

 

LOL WB? you still don't know the secret to beat OKC?

 

In last 3 seasons, Harden has led the league in points scored off isolation. Here are the top per-game seasons the last 3 years (min. 5 points per game scored on isolation):

Code:

Season     Player       PPG        PPP
17/18      J Harden     12.2       1.27
16/17      J Harden     6.6        0.97
17/18      L James      6.4        0.97
16/17      R Westbrook  6.4        0.94
15/16      J Harden     6.4        0.93
17/18      C Paul       6.2        1.18
16/17      K Irving     5.7        1.12
16/17      C Anthony    5.2        0.99
15/16      C Anthony    5.2        0.95
16/17      L James      5.0        0.97

Harden is on another stratosphere this season, and Chris Paul is arguably putting up the second best ISO-scoring season this year.

 

In the top 10, I'm surprised to see Austin Rivers, Jrue Holiday, and Dennis Shrooder

In the bottom 10, the surprises are Devin Booker, Mike Conley, and Blake Griffin as the worst volume isolation player in the NBA.

 

Anytime people play the "best EVER" game in sports, I get wary. It's just convoluted and disrespectful to many of the guys who came before. The fact that he's probably the best ISO player in his era (Jalen argues for Durant, which is valid), should be enough.

 

Adrian Dantley was an awesome iso player in his day.
You either fouled him, gave him a layup or his jumper.
At only 6'4'' as well.

 

Yeah there’s no best ever ever since you cannot compare but let’s not kid ourselves. Harden takes advantage of the referees bias and today’s rules and there’s plenty ot great iso players in league history. People here act like there’s only a Harden and an MJ who should be considered...

 

how exactly does Harden take advantage of the referees bias (against him & the rockets)

 

For all the great isolation players today, yes they deal with a far tighter hand-check rule than the 90s, but back then, you could move all your teammates to the opposite side of the court and none of them could provide help if you beat your man. Could you imagine lineups with at least 4 shooters back in the 90s? All of those double teams would provide endless open 3s.

In fact, we don't have to. The Clutch City Rockets won two championships while leading the league in 3PA and 3PM, providing a look into the future of basketball.

 

I don't know about iso but I think he is the top offensive player in decades. Jordan may be a better all around because of defense but Harden exploits the rules and is crazy efficient. They keep changing the rules and he keeps adapting.

Who has led the league in assists and then the very next year in scoring? We are watching some quietly amazing stuff.

 

This guy Morey just creates more unnecessary attention for the media to poke at and throw in our face.

 

Bernard King laughs at this post.

 

Good morning Columbuses, I claimed this several years ago...