Joel Blank: Would Harden be able to embrace being the second fiddle to LeBron James?

Mike will make it work

 

With the close relationship between CP3 and Lebron, and, the precedence of how the Wade addition played out in cleveland, Harden would be at risk of becoming #3, not necessarily on the court, but more off the court and in the locker room. Lebron will be #1 in any team he joins.

Of course Harden may accept the arrangement as it almost guarantees multiple rings and he can still try and win a championship being #1 again in the future.

On the other hand, given how close the team came this year, Harden may prefer PG13 or similar, whose addition wont upset the apple cart as much as adding Lebron. The risk is the possibility of losing CP3, who could join Lebron in LA. if Lebron goes to the Lakers, and leave rocket back in square #1 with just 2 stars.

CP3 wants a championship and teaming up with Lebron is probably his best chance at it, as Lebron is the only player that can solely carry a team to the finals even with CP3 injured

 

Bron’s vision and passing ability is much better than Harden’s. Both are elite though.

 

Man, this dumb.

Harden played as a 6th man for the Thunder. Fact.
MDA's system turns even secondary players into shooters. Shooting is one of Hardens favorite things to do. Fact.
This will be as much Harden's team as the Heat was Dwades when LBJ went there.

The issue will not be who is second fiddle, the issue is will Lebron will want to play in the west, risk not being a marquee team in the finals, and traverse a tougher road than the east? Can LBJ be ok playing for a coach with a spine again? A GM that isnt afraid of him? Those are the real questions.

 

1. Harden was sixth man in OKC a life time ago, when he was the newest member of the trio. Since coming to Houston, he has been #1.

2. There is a difference between dribble and shoot vs catch and shoot. Harden likes to have the ball in his hands and not stand in a corner waiting for someone to pass for him to shoot

3. Wade is an older and close friend of Lebron and a champion+finals MVP. His resume was superior to Lebron at the time and he was almost deified in Wade county. Harden's resume pales in comparison to Lebron, that its not even a discussion. Lebron went to Miami to learn how to win, while he will be the one showing Harden how it is done. If Lebron comes, it will be Lebron's team

4.Lebron wont have a problem playing in the west if he is on a legitimate contender. Its not like the East with Boston would be a cake walk either. Lebron played fine with Spoelstra and Riley.

To me, the choice for Harden boils down to
Option #1: Lebron takes over team, relegate to #2.5 or 3 in Influence and almost guaranteed win multiple rings
Option #2: (with or without CP3) Add PG13, Cousins,and/or similar quality player(s) and hope its enough to get over GSW.

Of course there is the extreme option in which Harden is traded to bring in Lebron

 

I think this is a real issue. Harden is a great teammate and definitely wants to win. But I do think he wants to be the alpha.

There has been nothing to suggest otherwise

 

Dunno guys, I think it's kind of a valid question if it's not something that Harden/James/(and maybe Paul) have already discussed previously. I think the Paul trade worked pretty well since we were able to get him for fairly minimal pieces, and it seemed like Harden/Paul had already discussed the team dynamics previously. I doubt Lebron is going to be willing to take a backseat to anyone, and it's not clear to me how important is it to Harden to be the man. I don't think pointing out that he was the 6th man on OKC is a good reference point since that was basically a lifetime ago before he got bit by a radioactive spider.

I'm more concerned that in order to get lebron, it seems like we'd have to essentially jettison all of the really nice complementary pieces (Tucker, Luc, etc.). Even if Lebron came and we won the championship, I think I'd still feel kinda dirty. I think it'd kinda be like KD at GSW where he really doesn't get the love that you would expect.

To be honest, I'd be pretty ok with taking another hack at it with minimal upgrades to the current squad. We should have a good shot at it as long as we don't get screwed by the refs again and/or CP3 doesn't get injured again.

I also question whether Lebron would really want to come to the western conference. He's got an insane streak of 8 straight finals appearances or something like that going.

 

I know what you mean. A hired assassin is never fully embraced by the fans. The players that struggled through the adversity of building the team get way more credit and satisfaction when they finally win it all.

The original GS core did that. They grew the team from crap to champions. Like them or not you have to respect that original core for sticking through the tough times and coming out with rings.

KD had a shot at that type of deep satisfaction with OKC but he bailed out. He will never truly feel like a champion no matter what he says.

 

exactly

i don't care how homer it sounds, i still believe in james harden

 

The writer sounds like a Lakers fan. Of course they would get along. Harden got along in OKC with a pair of large egos, he got along with CP3, and he would be absolutely thrilled to be busy getting along with LeBron freakin' James. Give us all a break!

 

Joel has been bitter about the Rockets since being fired by the organization. You have to read his concern troll article in this light.

 

Harden is already the second fiddle to CP3. He'll be fine being second fiddle to LeBron.

 

don’t play yaself...

 

To think 3 iso players can coexist in one team with one basketball you think ..
3 absolute beast in playmaking department too, then again gsw seems to play the passing lane really good against cavs and rockets.
It usually ends up being a backbreaking rainbow threes that brought the opponent to agonizing feeling.

 

Funny how that reminds me of another high powered team, a team that finished with 65 wins and made it to game 7 of the WC Finals. Let me see. What team was that? Gotta give it some thought.

 

Wait who just led his team to 65 wins and took the goat team to 7 games?

And be needs to take a backseat to mr injury prone's BF who got swept 4-0???

 

Are you saying Harden had a better playoffs than Lebron?

 

He won't take a back seat purposely... it just will be during the playoffs after game 1... specifically in the 2nd halves.

 

Being swept 4-0 isnt something tbe proud of compared to taking the goat defending champs to 7 games

Could lebron have carried the rockets past 65 wins and past the warriors? NO!!!

 

Lol who is the sole basketball reason is lebron joining the rockets for?