[Jalen Rose] Kevin Durant Will Join Harden and Howard In Houston

omg. it's a sign. KD is a rocket in the ad!!!

 

Did it ever occur to you that it was a dream? Pipedream.

 

No, he's not. I thought that at one point, but what Russel did during the playoffs proved to me that he is a legit top 5 player in the entire league. He also plays solid defense (and at times, great).

 

I can understand saying Harden needs to prove his worth in the playoffs by taking this team to at least the finals. However, Harden is our #1 guy and Westbrook is OKC's #2 guy. By leaving OKC, Harden shares a greater responsibility.

Harden is a better teammate for sure. Westbrook can be overly aggressive when his teammates make mistakes and Harden is a far better distributer of the ball. He can score without taking 20+ shots due to his efficiency and get teammates involved. This type of play is second nature for Harden but an unnatural way for Westbrook to play as he oftens ends up taking more shots than Durant.

On defense it is a wash. You could easily get a 12 minute clip of Westbrook losing his man on defense but you could also put together 12 minutes of Westbrook using his athletisicm to make freak defensive plays. He has that athletic edge on Harden but the fundamental flaws are the same.

For example, it is easier for Westbrook to chase Reddick around screens because he is faster, and more explosive. He could lose his man, then still make up for that lost distance using his athletic gifts.

Westbrook wasn't the huge factor for OKC against the Spurs...Ibaka was. The series changes when that defense came back...but Pop made an adjustment to counter that, and Brooks was left in lala land with no counter.

Harden didn't fold when the pressure was on...he obvious doesn't have the gas tank to defend and maintaing the scoring load. That is why Portland went at him so hard, not just because he is poor on defense but because he doesn't have the gas tank. Harden needs to show up next season ripped and ready to share more of a defensive load. Look at Paul George for Indiana. He did nothing in the Conference Finals...except when Lebron was in foul trouble and George didn't have to defend him all game.

The hustle and heart of Westbrook can quickly become errattic and destructful. He can play with his heart and totally ignore his brain.

 

Russel is legit but him having a perimeter MVP teammate eases the defense on him a lot.