I just don't get this opinion, if you like watching smart basketball I don't see how you could stand watching Westbrick play the game.....it's like all of the worst parts of Kobe and Allen Iverson rolled into one player. Adding a selfish chucker to the Rockets would only make the team a LOT harder to watch.
lmao Yes, the Rockets have dealt with zero injuries during the James Harden era. They've been totally 100% healthy. Never have had any notable players get hurt. Astute observation
Instead of being so dismissive, how about you look at the games missed by Holiday, Gordon, Anderson, and Tyreke Evans?
Instead of being so dismissive, how about you look at the games missed by Dwight, Capela, DMo, and Patrick Beverley? And many more!
Seems like Dudley wouldn't (21:20) Not sure about that much, two years ago both teams had a lot of injuries. They ended up 8th seed (for miracle) while we ended up 2nd (also ahead of the Spurs), and we did mainly because of Harden (who played better than this season imo).
From 2014 through 2016, the Pelicans had much worse luck. 2015 was the only year we were close. In 2015, Dwight missed 41 games, DMo missed 11 games, and Beverley missed 26 games. Holiday missed 42 games, both Anderson and Gordon each missed 21, and Anthony Davis missed 14 games.
This is fair enough i'd say. You forgot injuries to Jones and Papanikolaou but yeah, i remember they had a lot of injuries too, not trying to argue that, we still got 2nd in one of the hardest WC in the last 10/20 years, they got 8th winning the same games as the 9th team (OKC).
I agree that, Westbrook with that particular OKC roster, needed to constantly jack up shots. But on a team full of snipers like EGo/Lou/Ariza/Bev/Anderson, I believe Westbrook would have passed it more. It's a game of "what-ifs," but with the speed and motor of Westbrook, and no one being able to help off a sniper, Westbrook would have had options. Like another poster said, I love what we did this year with Harden. But I don't think completely disregarding Westbrook-in-place-of-Harden just because of what happened this year with Westbrook's OKC team, is the right thing to do.
Cool! So...injuries are an excuse for Davis, but not for Harden, despite an immensely greater level of success. Cool, indeed!
It depends on the argument at hand. You claimed that it had been proven that Harden + role players are better than Davis + role players. Major injuries to key Pelican players makes it impossible for such an argument to be "proven". Additionally, you're incorrectly assuming that Harden's effectiveness has remained constant over the years when in fact, he actually peaked 2 years ago.
lmao *Harden consistently carries Rockets role players to much better record than Davis carries Pelicans role players for 5 straight years* "It's just not proven yet!" *Harden finishes Top 5 in MVP voting 3 of 5 years as a Rocket. Most recent season is considered historically great* "Harden's not consistent! Peaked years ago!" *Key Rockets hurt in each of Harden's seasons as a Rocket* *Is ignored, yet Anthony Davis gets a pass*
How can it be proven when the Pelicans have had so many injuries? Use some common sense. Who cares about top 5 in MVP voting? Since when is that a barometer for anything? How about watching the actual games? 2015 Harden was clearly better than 2017 Harden. 2017 Harden benefited from better teammates, but 2015 Harden was a better player. He was in much better condition, shot better, and had a better offensive arsenal. B/c the Pelicans have suffered many more injuries to key players than the Rockets have. In your opinion, is this fact a true or false statement?
lmao Ok man. The grass is always greener. Same tired offseason arguments every year. "How about watching the games?" *Harden puts up historic numbers and the Rockets win more games than anybody predicted possible* "Yeah but watch the games bro!"
That be noted. If that happens, ESPN will write tons of articles on their NBA front page. They'd write articles regardless.
As down as I am on Harden, no I would not trade him for Westbrook. I think that's a lateral move at best.
