KJ at point? Harrell starting PF? No, not happening. If we got both Batum & Horford, that's a successful off-season. Getting Lou Williams does not make the offense less Harden dependent, you fail to realize Harden kind of sucks the life out of the offense when he doesn't have the ball. For all we b**** about Howard's weak picks, lack of hard rolls, and openness to do anything to get himself open you got to take a look at James and see what he does off ball. Just hang around 5ft behind the 3pt line waiting for the ball to come to him. What we really need is two Beverely's at PG. Two good defensive, 20-25mpg PGs, that can hit 35-40% from deep. If we get Batum, trade something to get Brewer out of there. Ariza/Batum/Harden is a fine swingman combo. Upfront I'd go Horford and Capela with DMo backing them up & finishing games, spot minutes goes to Harrell and a stretch 4(find one). We need to sell Harden on an offense geared around him(i.e. offense that lets him do his thing in his post--a real strong spot), not too fast of a pace(dude never gets back), and defensively keeps him around the bucket. The only thing he does okay on defensive-wise, is if you post him up he's chunky enough to hold his ground. Having a p&r defender like Capela and Horford makes things easier. Batum on the other's best player, Bev on the PG. Offense is essentially a strong-side post up, every time down. Harden, Horford, Dmo, Batum(yes, Batum, the weaker defender usually would guard him and he can take on those guys in the post). Weak side wise, have our shooters primed. We shot a **** ton of contested 3s last year(don't give a **** about the stat that disproves or proves this because "contested" is a gray area of metric analysis). Weak side shooters will be open, we'll be fine with Batum, Dmo, Harden, Ariza, Bev, backup PG, and even horford occasionally.
Probably not Harrell at starting PF. As for KJ, he would guard PGs, not play as a PG because that's Harden role. No doubt, but I don't think that will automatically make us a contender. We need a secondary scorer and ball handler, why not grab one that fits that role who has playoff experience, 6th man experience, and is on a good contract? We need someone to adequately run the offense when Harden is off the floor and someone who can adequately coexst with Harden. Harden has shown he can defer to DMo and Beasley (players who are talented enough to score) just not someone like Lawson he simply has regressed in all aspects of the game. KJ could possibly fill that role, although it would be optimistic to think he would be a +35% from 3pt by the end of next season. Coaching from a JVG or Vogel type would do wonders for a player like KJ who has the size, strength, and athleticism to guard the 1-3 spots but doesn't have it down mentally yet. I love Harrell but I think if we get Horford, our frontcourt becomes (in no particular order) Beasley, DMo, Capela, and Horford. Package Brewer and Harrell to get a pick as Beasley would be a better gamble. Harrell is very intriguing but the guy is a terribly hot headed and Beasley is a gunner who can probably extend his range to the 3 point line next season as a stretch 4. Agreed. A versatile big and wing paired with Harden is the best way forward, hopefully we can make it happen.
My ideal version of Harden, is a Harden that averages 21 pts and 11 dimes. Having versatile players like Horford and Batum supported by a scorers like Lou Williams and Beasley would help with that transition to my ideal Harden.
LOL. This is stupid thinking. Harden is good at scoring. Why do you want him to give up what he is good at??? Plus, Durant will easily make his dimes over 10!!! Brewer or Ariza???? ****ing no!!!!
Harden "has" been good at defense at times. I would gladly see him average only 21 a game if it meant that Houston was a better all around team. Would you prefer James Harden averaging 28 ppg / 7 apg / 5 turn overs per game and plays no defense with a team that just kind of stands around and watches him in the last 2 minutes? Or would you prefer a James Harden that averages 21 to 24 ppg / 11 apg / 3 turnovers per game while playing good defense on team that has multiple players contributing points in the last few minutes on a team that is a serious contender?
How does the 2nd scenario have 4 more assist but 2 less TOs? How does that math work exactly. Just because he average less points and plays defense he's gonna be able to increase his assist/to ratio? Also, do you really see Harden as a selfless player at this point in his career, willing to give up 7 ppg? lol
I don't know how anyone could listen to this podcast and NOT think JVG is the man for the job. BBIQ off the charts, tons of experience, commands respect, willing to work with assistant coaches to buttress his weaknesses (offense), stats friendly, rapport with Morey... It's happening, folks
You know I was thinking his defense always had in anchor in the middle, even his work as in assistant.
One takeaway that was interesting from that podcast is how sometimes as a coach you can't stay "rigid" to rotation changes. He was talking about KD/Westbrook and when they go in/come out of the game. JVG said, if KD is hot, have to keep riding him. The reason I bring this up, is I recall in JVG's initial stint in Houston, he was VERY rigid with lineups. And this was really frustrating. So, again, it appears over time JVG has adapted his approach. I am sure he has adapted in other ways too.
Mr. Van Gundy does not change. When he came to the Rockets, despite his promises and glad-handing, he did EXACTLY what he did on the Knicks. The Finals appearance in a strike-shortened season was a fluke. What was consistent about his era (in either place) was whining, playoff losses (sometimes blowouts) and unwatchable "deflate the basketball" offense. Now he wants MORE power?
I suggested Batum earlier in the season for trade talks but no one cared. I'm afraid he's too expensive now. He's worth Max, but no longer a bargain at his salary now.
Crash was clearly (clear to me, anyway) responding to a post by dmoneybangbang a couple of posts before his about dmoney's "ideal Harden," who he describes as scoring 21 a game, with 11 dimes. He (crash) is postulating about Harden playing with other cats who can actually make shots, taking part of the scoring burden from James, while giving him more assists. How many times did we see Rocket players wide open from behind the arc because of Harden then proceed to clank their shots? I lost count early on. Reduce his minutes, improve the supporting cast, and hire a coach who's been thinking about how to improve the Rocks. A guy with an system that makes sense, who provides structure, has deep experience, who won't put up with a lack of effort from anyone, and who knows defense backwards and forward. I can dream. One of the "drivers" behind the high turnovers from Harden, and I'm certainly not the first to mention it, is that he led the league in minutes played, a full minute ahead of Kyle Lowry, who was second. That has to have a negative impact on his game, and it didn't help that he managed not to put in the amount of off-season work that he typically does, so he spent a chunk of the early season playing himself into NBA shape, in my humble opinion.
Because it involves others in the game. If others are involved in the game, they will hustle more and play better defense.
