Steph Curry is very clearly the best 3-point shooter to ever play in the NBA. His shooting opens up his whole game and gives him driving and passing lanes as opponents try to close out on him on the perimeter. James Harden is one of the very best penetrator/finishers to ever play in the NBA. His penetration opens up his whole game and gives him passing targets and wide open 3-point shots as opponents collapse down low against him to try to thwart his penetration. In these first 8 games it sure feels like Harden is trying to mimmick Curry's game of pulling up outside as soon as he thinks he has a sliver of daylight. But Harden simply isn't the shooter that Curry is in order to be able to pull that off efficiently. Right now it's very clear that Curry is the MVP of the league. Harden has to play his game and forget about that MVP competition. Wins will earn him MVP consideration. But chasing the MVP and trying to mimmick the MVP's game will get us a lot of bad losses.
Has Harden lost the bid for MVP? Not trying to be hyperbolic but this 4-4 start and his recent play of late, considering the Association's fanfare with the GSW, does this significantly impact his MVP candidacy once Harden does turn it around and resume to the form we all know he's capable of?
No, it does matter. the starting lineup never needed Lawson, because it was top notch the way it was.
100% SPOT on... Both Harden and Lawson need the ball to succeed and there is only one ball, we saw with Lin how this was going to work, it won't.... Harden dominates the ball, has to, that is how he plays, Lawson too - so now we are unbalanced, we lost a great 3 and D player in Bev that compliments Harden's terrible defense and we added a guy who is now out of his element and sucks at D. You want to know why our D is bad, that is reason 1, the other is no DMO. And yes, Mchale is the donkey's ass as a coach, bottom of the league terrible, you would think he could figure out what a lot of us can see right in front of us...but he has proven time and time again he is incapable as a leader of men....(clap clap, play harder - clap clap). HELLO!!!! Men, you aren't playing hard, let me introduce you to my little friend....the bench. DD
so they should just let terry start then. Beverley is not going to solve anything. His defense is no longer a plus and not near what many thought would be back at this point. he has lost that competitive edge on the defensive end thus far and quite frankly has grown quite an ego when playing defense now. And that is not a good thing as he commits the dumbest fouls and mistakes as a result
And that is false. Just absolute nonsense. Get over your nonsensical hatred of Patrick Beverley Defensive plus minus past three years: Terry 13: -1.3 14: -2.8 15: -0.7 Lawson 13: -1.2 14: -2.1 15: -1.7 Beverley 13: +1.4 14: +0.6 15: +0.3 Beverley is a plus defender. Even if he is a neutral defender, it is still far superior to Lawson or Terry.
Bevs defense is light years better than any other guard on our team - especially Harden and Lawson. That alone makes us more balanced. Right now, our perimeter defense is more holy than the pope. DD
Terry starting was in response to your claim the starting lineup was top notch the way it was cause obviously Bev wasn't playing for a good chunk of the time. What were talking about is this season right now. Bev is not a significant defender thus far. If anyone thinks he is, has not watched anything in the games he has played to this point.
if we were talking about the past seasons I'd agree but sorry not in the games this season. Rockets playing small ball also doesn't help either if you want to base it on numbers which doesn't tell the entire story. not even close.
Bev is still a lot better THIS season - he may not be the super pest he was but he is not the swinging gate that Harden and Lawson are... DD
The main issue I have with sitting Lawson is that we concede that he doesn't work with Harden. Reminds me of all this time where we had to ask if Harden/Dwight had chemistry. Why can't we get our best players on the floor working together? Yeah Harden and Lawson are not the best defensively but they are supposed to make up for that offensively. It's like if we got Kyrie or Curry in some insane situation. Do we then say "Well, We can't keep the ball out of Harden's hand so we need to bring Kyrie/Curry off the bench..." no, you roll with that and think that they'll make it work and in the end their offensive output would outweigh any defensive lapses they have. Eventually Harden HAS to work with Lawson on the floor. If not then it's just a one year rental.
sure keep believing that. perfect example of boneheaded plays on defense hes done all season last night if you actually watched.
McHale has to find a way to make Harden and Lawson mesh.. if not bring in a coach who can.. I'm tired of watching Harden dribble for 12 seconds then jack up a three. Stupid basketball and over relying on 1 guy to do it all. But i seriously wonder if he would be any good with a coach like popovich who demands effort and attention on defense while moving around on offense instead of standing at the top of the key asking for the ball just to dribble and jack it up. Is Harden coachable? thats my serious answer. hes had scott brooks and kevin mchale so far in his career.. yikes
Look, I'm really just not interested in your amateur scouting report of Patrick Beverley. We have three years of data showing he is a plus defender who can be in the starting lineup alongside Harden and produce an elite offense with a passable defense. What we have now is a team reeling and not producing a passable offense or defense. Logic dictates you go back to what works. To blanketly dismiss 3 years of data because you believe Beverley "has not been a significant defender thus far" is just plain idiotic. No offense to you, but it does not make sense. Don't agree at all. All you are saying is "this should work". How long do you put off what we absolutely know works, with what should work? How many wins are you willing to sacrifice for "should"? This the same thing as Howard/Asik. They just don't fit alongside each other. Thats not to take away anything from either player, its just about fit and balance. Ugghhh
I just don't understand why Harden & Lawson can't mimic the style of play of Parker & Ginobili. Two guys that move around and attack the rim, breaking down the defense and creating havoc. And then have shooters (Ariza, Thornton) at the wings to nail open shots and Dwight at the baseline to clean up.
