Jalen Rose & Paul Pierce: James Harden's Step Back Is The Best Weapon In The NBA Right Now

Ehhh at some point you will have to give him credit.

26
26
27
29
29
31
36

Only 3-4 players in NBA history have had a 7 year stretch like James has had and he is still getting better and still in the middle of his prime.

Only two players in NBA history have scored better than Harden this season, Jordan (once) and Wilt (no 3 seconds).

Only one player has ever created points like Harden is this season (Wilt).

Every off season you claim James is fat or complacent or out of shape and every single season he has gotten better.

It’s about time you just accept he is one of the 10-15 best players in NBA history and has been the best player in the world the last 4 years.

He is on pace to win his second MVP to go with twice finishing second over the last 5 seasons. If he played for GS or LA he would be looking at 4 MVP’s.

 

They love how versatile he is but he does not dominate in every game. Hakeem had stretches of pure domination. And Playoffs.

 

Those were the only 4 who have had as many consecutive 30 point games. In fact, Harden is behind only Jordan and Chamberlain now.

Dont let facts stand in the way of your ignorance and trash agenda.

I am certain that Hakeem is a Harden fan, he unites the Rockets instead of looking for reasons to divide them.

 

I’m a fan of Chamberlains on court game. Only player to avg over 50 points and over 20 rebs a game for a season.

The NBA changed the paint from 12 ft to 16 ft wide in 1964/65 to hamper (some) the dominant centers of the day.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_(basketball)

Chamberlain had one 30+point consecutive streak (25) in 1960
another (31) in 1962
and his 60 game consecutive streak of 30+ point games in 1961/62 season.

All before the court change.

What Wilt did was impressive, as is what Harden is doing nowadays. I would keep both separate....or at least
have an asterisk by one.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Wilt_Chamberlain

 

I agree with you...... I believe in wilts greatness but come on.... as rocket fan I think we all know that if you drop prime Hakeem in the era that wilt was in..... he’d obliterate those numbers and I honestly that there wouldn’t be a bill Russell era.....

I know it’s only speculation and my opinion but I just don’t see how anyone could shine with a guy like Hakeem facing vastly inferior talent and athleticism.....

He’d outrun everyone, he’d out jump everyone and he probably out skill everyone......

 

Im talking about pioneers of the game that lead the way. Like Willie Mays keep in mind they were not allowed to dunk the ball even up until Kareem college days. They had to lightly put the ball over the rim Players could slam it with authority and hang on the rim. Yes Akeem would have been great then too....but he would have to lower his play and intensity to pander to the masses. What I'm saying is Wilt held back.

 

I can see where your coming from.

 

Hakeem would dominate in any era (but Wilt's era, OMG). To add, he'd eventually find a way to develop his game from his fantastic footwork from soccer to basketball, but summers with Malone really molded him at an accelerated rate. I mean he was a kid in college learning from an NBA MVP, and in some aspects already able to keep up on some things, he was basically like a sponge absorbing everything he could. You put just about any other player in that situation and it wouldn't do much for them. It's similar to Dream's NBA player camps I think only Kobe/LeBron really gained a lot from it (maybe a few others, but Hakeem even calls Kobe out for getting the most out of the 1 on 1 training).

I mean it takes a special talent to even attempt Hakeem's moves/footwork (and at his peak prime, probably one of the only centers I can think of that moved like a guard with his footwork and could dominate both ends of the court.


Here's a nice article about those times:
http://www.nba.com/2015/news/features/fran_blinebury/09/13/mose

 

I dunno, early Akeem, yes, but with his soccer footwork he'd eventually still develop that finesse. Obviously though, without the challenge from other players outside of Wilt and a few others (and no Malone being a mentor) maybe it wouldn't have been exactly the same since a lot of the talent and rules were weak, he really wouldn't need much back then though. Regardless I think Hakeem would be unstoppable in any era with just how special he was, it'd be similar moving Wilt around too, Wilt definitely would need to work more on some jump shots in this latest era (probably) but he would do it if he were challenged. Wilt could have shot ft's too I'm sure, if he needed to do it etc.

And with Wilt's athletic abilities, I wish there was actually a video of him dunking from the free throw line during a game/scrimmage. I mean just look up the Tex Winter's quotes regarding the rule changes he forced so Wilt wouldn't be allowed to dunk his free throws during regulation.

 

I saw an interview with Kareem saying they couldn't dunk (not allowed) until something like his final year in college. That's why he developed the Sky Hook.

Different times different eras. Hard to judge or estimate the Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Clemente, Bill Russell, Will C, Jim Brown types. Jim Brown looked like a man and boys going thru arm tackles.

MJ scored 50 something points in the Garden and everyone goes crazy.....Will avg
50 points a game that season. Everyone went crazy when Rodman would get 20 rebounds in a game. Will avg 20 rebs a game.....50 points 20 rebs a game for a season. Who was the next closest in points? 28 or 30. Wilt was outscoring them by 20 points (in guessing)?

Different time different era's. Don't disrespect the players in their times...
They played against those in time with the rules in their time. I'm not playing the what if game. Earl Cambell would have killed the 240 pound defensive linemen and 180 pound defensive back if he had played back in the old days....but he didn't play back then!!

 

We have evolved world wide. We don't live by fireplace/ camp fire / Kerosene lanterns anymore and we don't ride horse drawn carriages anymore either. The Corvette would destroy the horse drawn carriages if they were around back then....but they weren't.

 

Agreed, I'm just thinking that the special players like Wilt/Kareem/Russell/Hakeem and of course the other usual all time greats would have shined in any period, andllike you mentioned maybe more or less due to surrounding challenges/talent/rules they faced etc but they'd certainly all be retired HOF.

 

Is there a statistic for step back jumpers on Harden? Always been curious. Also curious who hits their signature shot at a higher clip -- Harden's step back or Cp3 side step.

 

Oh also, going back to story at hand, these more recent retired players/analysts not giving Harden his due/credit are insane.

 

Melo was traded so we finally get something new to talk about.

But let us not forget the lesson learned in the animated movie “Cars” where Lightning McQueen (young race car stud)
went up against the old timer race car (Studebaker type car, former champion of yesteryear). The old Studebaker
won because the young stud kept spinning his wheels and would skid off the track......it was an old dirt track that they
that they raced on......like the old tracks the Studebaker would race on.

Sometimes settings, attitudes and environmental situations can change outcomes. Yao Ming
restrained against dunking the ball, supposedly because in China they were taught to be
respectful to your opponents. The Rockets players, coaches and team told him screw
that.......opponents don’t care about your feelings. They are looking to put you
on a poster......do that to them. IMO it took Yao a year and a half to gin up the attitude “Take This!!”
Yao was good before then; but was much better after.

It’s a movie that supports my stance so end of discussion. Haha. Just kidding. Take care Zero

 

I like how all the players o nthere are saying the Rockets shouldn't be the team that stops Melo from continuing his career, and if they don't want him, they should trade him. lol. These guys.