no problem, and good thread Back to the post though, a lot of people other than Morey did feel Harden was special and wasn't getting enough touches to show what he had. His efficieny and ability to playmake in the 4th Q was also making some people wanting Harden to be the PG over Westbrook.
If you look solely at averages, you may question it, but if you take out the developmental rookie year, and adjust his performance with OKC for the minutes he plays now, this wouldn't be a question at all. And that's just by adjusting the averages.
OP is so full of it. "Of course he's a star NOW, but I was just wondering about back then. . . ." The Rockets made a good deal, but OP would have missed it. So this thread is about why OP didn't recognize Harden two years ago. . . .
Here's actually how I evaluate it. I'm mostly just spit balling here. JR Smith's PER last year was 17.8 and TS% was 52%, Harden's last year in OKC was a 21.1 PER and TS% of 66%? That means on any given possession, Harden will probably be likely 20% more effective than JR Smith. Given teams average ~1.03 pt per possession, there are 5 players on the floor so 20% more effectiveness of one player would be a 4% increase in effectiveness as a team or about .0401 points per possession. Given James and JR are on the floor for about 67 possessions a game as the sixth man, that translates in to a difference of 2.7 points between teams. Take a look at what a 2.7 points per game differential for team means.... it actually means a difference between a lottery team to a playoff team to a contender. http://espn.go.com/nba/statistics/t...n-per-game/sort/avgPointsDifference/year/2012
Just checked the game records. The longest straight games of 30+ points by Harden is 3, once only. You probably meant the 25+ points game streak.
Ahhh yes I remember he went off for a long stretch of games. I stand corrected. Thanks! Still a very impressive streak nonetheless.
Well, clearly he proved he was a star when he got here He didn't develop here, he was when he first arrived what he is now.
^ this. I'm pretty sure most people that watch a lot of basketball knew that he had crazy potential just by watching him play. I guess some people would call that "the eye test"
