Looking beyond the Harden vs Curry comparison here, just thought that this conversation is relevant to some of our fans who are doubting Harden's talent and potential.. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Yup RT @<a href="https://twitter.com/khaoboy">khaoboy</a>: @<a href="https://twitter.com/jonesonthenba">jonesonthenba</a> you still taking harden over curry?</p>— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/329275022403334144">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Fans on here are super fickle. Everyone tweeting me about Harden because he's slumping a lil bit. Where were ya when he was killin all year?</p>— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/329276195088789504">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>For a lot of em RT @<a href="https://twitter.com/thunderobsessed">thunderobsessed</a>: @<a href="https://twitter.com/jonesonthenba">jonesonthenba</a> So, you're saying fans are saying it's all about what did you do your last game?</p>— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/329276479085088768">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Yup RT @<a href="https://twitter.com/j8bomaye">j8bomaye</a>: @<a href="https://twitter.com/jonesonthenba">jonesonthenba</a> @<a href="https://twitter.com/khaoboy">khaoboy</a> dude had one bad game against a team that knows him very well...Harden > curry</p>— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/329276631086678017">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Harden's not efficient now? lmao RT @<a href="https://twitter.com/jnothstein">jnothstein</a>: @<a href="https://twitter.com/jonesonthenba">jonesonthenba</a> long run ill still take curry over harden.Harden isn't efficient.</p>— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/329276856316612609">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/jonesonthenba">jonesonthenba</a> Seems Harden's been hurting since a Feb. injury. Significantly less explosive since then. Likely won't be 100% til next year.</p>— David(@DHYLNP) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHYLNP/status/329277642866044928">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/jonesonthenba">jonesonthenba</a> Harden just chewed the NBA up all season, boys getting shook by his couple game slump..chill. Harden still more complete</p>— Eric Swihart (@EWitness) <a href="https://twitter.com/EWitness/status/329277346291019776">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/jonesonthenba">jonesonthenba</a> People love bright shiny objects. Can't concentrate anything for more than a week.</p>— Matt Bilinsky (@mattbilinsky) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattbilinsky/status/329277552822730754">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>"I don't like Harden because his game relies on foul calls". Y'all realize getting to the line like he does is an elite skill?</p>— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/329278253137272833">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>No, @<a href="https://twitter.com/leedurdahl">leedurdahl</a>, Harden hasn't "faded, in the playoffs 2 years in a row". Was incredible in the Western Conference playoffs last year.</p>— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/329278515541327872">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/jonesonthenba">jonesonthenba</a> spurs fans sure as hell don't forget James Harden in the WCF's, dude is elite</p>— Keon Vasquez (@KeonV87) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeonV87/status/329278889161527296">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Facepalm">#Facepalm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23SMH">#SMH</a> RT @<a href="https://twitter.com/jnothstein">jnothstein</a>:Harden and KD are refs best friend. They get calls no other players get. Has all to do with acting skills.</p>— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/329279578747068416">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/aminespn">aminespn</a> Harden game still hasn't fully developed. Will learn how to be an impact player on both ends and improve mid-range attack.</p>— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/329279940887445506">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>When guys go to the line a ton, it's because they are tough to defend without fouling. If it was easy to draw fouls, every player would</p>— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/329280435844706304">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Well, @<a href="https://twitter.com/targetfixation">targetfixation</a>, Harden has had to carry the rockets all year. He's probably burnt/hurt. Look at Hou compared to other playoff teams</p>— Nate Jones (@JonesOnTheNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonesOnTheNBA/status/329283335631294464">April 30, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This guy has explained everything perfectly. If this still creates a debate about harden, then some people just don't get this sport and need to pick another source of entertainment
Saying that a team "knows" Harden well is a straight up excuse. Plus he's been slumping for a while now, not just in these playoffs. Curry has been exceptional, but I'd still take Harden at the moment. Only time will tell if Harden will continue slumping like this as the "main guy". One thing that not even Harden supporters can deny is that Curry turns it up when the stage is the brightest while Harden chokes.
Obviously Harden is not playing at 100%. That doesn't mean he's terrible. That does mean I wish we would call less ISOs for him, as those clearly are not working. (Or he needs to call his own number less often).
Curry is great, but I would still take Harden to build a team around. We will see who works on their game more this offseason and comes out next year as a more complete player. Both have a lot of areas to improve on so lets see who the hardest worker is.
Like last year's Western Conference Finals, when Harden basically put OKC on his back (49% shooting, 61% from 3) and led the Thunder past a Spurs team that had won 20 in a row and was presumed by everyone to be the inevitable NBA champion? If only that stage were as bright as Golden State's first four games against Denver in the first round.
Curry and Harden have both reached their ceilings I'd say. Both are skill players who don't rely on their athleticism. The only thing they can do is become more consistent or more efficient. Curry has always been pretty consistent though.
One thing I guess I will never understand is why people have to compare players. Why can't people let Harden be Harden and Curry be Curry? Both of them are great players in their own rights. It's like Lin situation. He has been compared to pretty much every PG in the entire league.
What a bulls**t statement....hardens 1st year starting, 23 years old, and he's reached his ceiling?? Hes 4 years away from his physical prime dude your wrong plain and simple
just because hes on twitter hes an idiot? lol you just proved yyoure an idiot with that simple minded comment.. what does that even mean? youre on clutchfans, how is that any different? either way its opinions on the internet..
Led? Westbrook was average that series, but Ibaka had 11-11 FG game, Sefolosha on Parker, Durant's 16 straight points in 4th q,.. I'm disappointed with Harden. He had two good series vs. Mavs and Spurs and two bad ones against Lakers and Heat. That was good for 3rd year player. However, underperforming on big stage is a concern and it goes back to Arizona when he was bad in NCAA tournament. Three games with TS% below 45 in NBA finals after 66 TS% regular season is inexplicable and cost OKC NBA title. He shot over 40% just one game in this playoffs and that was 40.9%. Looks like advanced scouting reports limited him way more than I expected. Unfortunately Harden is just another version of Joe Johnson. Better player, less clutch.
Oh really? Last time I checked, this was Curry's first playoff appearance. He must really have turned it up the last 3 years as his teams went 26-56, 36-46, and a staggering 23-43 last year. As for Harden being a choker: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fUwGK1yi-Es" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Y6_KYulzT4M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> How the hell can a 23 year old, first time starter already have reached his ceiling?
