James Harden having best Offensive Season of All Time!

This is amazing. The fact that this isn't more talked about in the media is...dare i say it....a #mediaconspiracy

 

The difference between Harden and Westbrook, statistically, the the media is focused on basically, is the rebounding.

Because it gives him the triple double average.

Which is fine and all. But I've always viewed guard rebounding as a PLUS, but way down the list of things I want my guard/lead guard to be able to do. Scoring, playmaking, leading the team, defense... all more important.

Which is why Kawhi's defense should get way more credit than Westbrook's 10+ rpg.

The difference between Westbrooks rebounding and Harden's, when Harden is still at close to 8 rpg anyway, is not enough to make up the gap in offensive performance where Harden leads, and most importantly team record, which might not be something Westbrook can control, but also has to be noted, since if Westbrook was on a better team record wise, it is unlikely he'd be averaging a triple double and we'd be having this conversation.

The follow-up becomes does Kawhi's defense and Spurs record then "make up" for Harden's playmaking ability as a creator for others... something Kawhi does relatively little of, but of course he's a way better defender. And honestly that's a closer argument, to, me.

Anyway, pretty crazy amazing offensive stat!

 

great... he's the best at doing half his job...

 

It's not like harden doesn't play defense. Just not as well, and he has gotten so much sht from everyone cause he has to carry his heavy ass team

 

Harden is one of the 10 best offensive players of alltime.

He's way better than Oscar Robertson and Westbrook who he was compared too.

He should be compared to Lebron that's it.

 

Haterade

 

enlighten us who has been the best at offense at the same time defense?

 

Harden's defense hasn't been a real problem for the Rockets this season. Harden guards 3's in a lot of cases, and that isn't a problem.

Since you brought up defense, I would point out that Westbrook hasn't guarded anyone in years. Defensively he has been and is worse than Harden. Steph Curry is an easily exploited defender that relies strongly on having good defenders around him.

Hell even the last man to average a triple double, Oscar Robertson, he wasn't a good defender.... neither was Elvin Hayes, Rick Barry or a number of other players that are elite. Dominique Wilkins was a bad defender and even the great Magic Johnson was a mediocre to bad defender. A number of Larry Bird's contemporaries don't think that Larry Bird was a good defender either.

 

You and old peterx or whatever the **** his name is should hang out.

Y'all would have a great time together.

 

cnn intl sports yesterday: westbrick w/ another triple dub, will become only 2nd player in nba history to average that after oscar rob, definitely gives him the edge over james harden for mvp

 

Figured I'd put a face to your comments.

 

Not to take away from a fantastic season by Harden but let's not get too wrapped up in historical comparisons. CLEARLY the game is being played in a more efficient way now that the league understands where the most valuable shots are on the court. The crazy stats lines you see across the board are a direct reflection of that. Curry statistically is the greatest 3pt shooter of all time but is it really fair to compare him to Reggie Miller or Ray Allen when those guys would have been pulled if they tried to take a shot 5-10 feet behind the 3pt line - not because they couldn't make it but because the game wasn't played that way. Certainly they didn't have the opportunity to shoot at the volume that today's shooters are allowed so those stats all have a context.

Praise Harden for how well he is playing compared to everyone else this season/in the last few seasons but don't get mad that he isn't getting the benefit of praise for those historical comparisons because I think smart basketball people realize that those stats aren't really comparable.

 

you know BSPN still gave Curry the praise but not Harden right?

 

Harden's D has been decent this year - even had times it was even good...

But how long are we gonna push this 'has to carry the team' offensively narrative?

I mean we've pretty much overhauled the team to build around harden... Got a stretch 4 (Ryno) instead of a banger, adding shooters without any thought to D (EG), adding playermakers (Lou).... this whole team has been built to propel Harden's offense...

I wish folks weren't so obsessed with stats and using them as the end all evaluation of players...

and btw... i think it's totally unfair to compare stats now with back in the day... You don't have huge goons patrolling the lane that are gonna take someone down with a forearm rather than give up an easy bucket... a flagrant foul nowadays was just good D back in the day - lol! Defense on the whole has vastly diminished over the years so to compare stats is really unfair... jus sayin...