After checking basketball-reference.com, I'd have to say I don't think that's true. His Assist to turnover ratio is better than most on our team especially who handle the ball and set up others to score. And he's top 3 in steals per game. So, based on stats, we could do better with him. He just sucks at shooting. Plus we're at 21-21, so we're not doing so well anyway.
agree in part, disagree in part. A lot of Harden's turnovers are born of laziness--it's like Worrell and Clyde were saying in the broadcast last night, "you can't be casual bringing the ball up." James is way too casual at times--i.e. lazy. I actually think he is a fine ball handler and distributor (look at last night's assists), he just doesn't stay awake enough for an entire game. And that's rooted in his fundamental lack of commitment to excellence at all moments he's on the floor. He's gotten the message somewhere along the line (and I do NOT blame McHale) that he can just coast. That's on him. And he's got to want to improve in that area, nobody can make him do it. Not McHale, not JB, not Morey. It's all on him.
Rubio would be soooooo bad next to Harden. Besides, if you think we are doing bad, have you seen the Timberpuppies?
Not saying he would fit with Harden if Harden is the primary ballhandler, but that has to change or again, we'll be stuck with what we have which is a mediocre team.
what would a Jordan Clarkson look like next to Harden? he's already used to playing next to a ball-dominant Kobe, and they are developing Russell. What kind of trade could make something like that happen?
Also, if Harden is willing to let the PG handle playmaking and actually move his lazy ass when playing off ball, it wouldn't matter who our PG is. The problem is that Harden wants both, but is unwilling to move around off ball, meaning any PG we get has to be able to play D and shoot. Rubio can play D, but he is a historically poor shooter.
The overwhelming majority of Harden's turnovers come from Harden forcing things. He forces the shot at the rim, trying to get the call and doesn't get it, or he tries to go 2 on 4 and throws a pass to the opponent. Lackadaisical getting the ball over half-court after a made basket against us? Absolutely. Does it lead to some crappy turnovers? Yes. But it simply adds to the already huge pile of turnovers Harden has already created because he got called for a hook, or he threw the ball away or he got stripped forcing it to the rim and banging around with multiple defenders with no call. Harden OVERPLAYS on offense. That's why his turnover count is high. And that's why 3.3 of his turnovers a game are direct steals, either strips or he throws the ball to the opponent who then has an ignited break against us.
Morey needs to tell Harden to learn to play without a freakin ball in his hand. Go around screens use his team mates... if he wants help he needs to learn a few things.
He knows how to, he's just too lazy/tired to do so. He did it very well in OKC, but he wasn't top dog at the time. On the Rockets, Harden is the top dog. We need another player who is willing to choke Harden if he doesn't put in effort.
well, that may be. But my thinking is that he's young and athletic, seemingly has a good attitude, and likely not yet very set in his ways. I think he could be taught to be an above-average defender. plus I bet the Lakers would consider it, maybe throw Swaggy P into the mix for laughs and giggles. Just thinking out loud here. There aren't a whole lot of PGs out there that fit the job description.
hes actually the lakers best player at this point. Him and Russell will be a very solid backcourt in a few years as they develop together.
Yeah, I like Rubio a lot. But he's not the only answer. But Rubio is a player that could be had for the right pile of assets. And he makes so much sense because he's an ace defender up top. What doesn't make sense is trying to "outshoot" other teams and sucking on defense. We're not going to be able to outshoot the Warriors for example. Nobody is going to be able to do that. Whoever takes down the Warriors will do it with defense, length, and size on offense to post them up and work over their small ball lineup. Bottom line with Harden is: 1. He's not good enough to be the #1 playmaker. 2. He sucks on defense so you've got to have a top notch-defensive team around him with a great defensive center and 2 book end plus defenders on the perimeter to cover for how bad he is on that end. When you put 1 and 2 together, you see that at least either the 1 or the 3 on this team has to be a very, very good 2-way player that is a primary playmaker. Maybe perhaps Evan Turner fits that role. He's a good playmaker, can't shoot, but he's a great defender as well. Marcus Smart is another quality, young 2-way player who is over 2:1 in (ORBs + Steals)/TO's. Look, a quick and dirty formula to partially evaluate playmakers is: (ORBs + Steals)/TO's. Why? Well because this measures how many possessions a player creates or chews up with their turnovers. When a player has more offensive rebounds and steals than they do turnovers, they are essentially helping their team get extra shots at the basket. That's huge for playmakers. In Marcus Smart's case that ratio is over 2. For every turnover Smart commits he gets over 2 steals and offensive rebounds to offset those turnovers. (And we're not even including offensive fouls drawn which is another meaty possession creator that goes unnoticed unless you're like me and you actually analyze that stuff.) When you look at Harden's (ORBs + Steals)/TO's, he's at .48. Guys that's like 1/4th of what a guy like Smart is at. That means Harden give up 2 turnovers for every steal and offensive rebound he gets. That means he's chewing up possessions. And the more he's on the ball making plays the more possessions he chews up getting nothing out of them. You say, well, he offsets all those turnovers by being ultra efficient with his scoring. And my answer to that is he's not ultra efficient enough to offset all those turnovers. He's just not. He's not ultra efficient enough with his scoring to offset being awful handling the basketball and making plays. He's not ultra efficient enough with his scoring to make up for half the turnovers he shouldn't have to just get him back to being a neutral possession user and not a possession waster.
I don't care what formula you use bballholic. Smart is NOT a good playmaker. How can you think he is? I'm amazed by it. Seriously for all the rest here, just ask any Boston fan "is smart a good playmaker" and see what they tell you...that Evan Turner has had to be the primary ballhandler and playmaker because when I.T sits there's noone else...
Smart is not an ideal playmaker. Smart is a lot more efficient playmaker than Harden is. And Smart is a 2-way player that can score the ball, get fouled, get to the line as well. If we can acquire him we need to acquire him and put him at point beside Harden and let him run the offense for large chunks of the game with Harden on the weak side.
he's not a two way he's more of an one way guard who can't shoot well that is destined to be a defensive specialist off the bench...or to be a starter next to someone like Harden only. (a ball dominant sg with horrible defence I mean). I don't think the Rockets have the assets to convince Boston to trade Smart when what Ainge wants to do is do a consolidation trade. Unless you want to trade Dwight.
We need to pursue this type of player now. And I'd settle for Rubio provided we can clear out Ariza/Brewer/Bev's salaries.
Rubio is more easy to get than Smart. The Wolves just love Lavine too much. They are possibly going to trade Rubio for an upgrade to pf their biggest hole. Perhaps if DMO was healthy that would have been possible.
