Although Harden’s transformation from an elite offensive force to one of the best two-way players in the league has gone overlooked, it’s drawn the attention of former Houston Rockets forward Corey Brewer, who was on SportsTalk 790’s The A-Team on Monday. “James needed to be better and he got better. This year he played defense. It wasn’t the criticism of how he doesn’t play defense. This year he played defense, he was really good defensively. But you have to put guys around him that are going to help him win basketball games.” Brewer added more to the latter point of the importance of surrounding Harden with the necessary pieces. “I think if you give him the right surrounding cast, I believe 100 percent that he can win a championship. But you have to put guys around him, because he has a heavy load on him.”
He's right. I'm fine with James guarding the average 2/3/4. He needs players that can defend and score in 4 on 3 situations. One of the problems with Russ is that he can't really guard anyone and it really doesn't make sense with his quickness and strength. We're often forced into these weird defense configurations where our forwards are guarding the guards and our guards are guarding the forwards, and Russ still gets beat by SFs.
Some great players, like Curry, are lucky to be in a place where a team is perfectly built around them. Others, like LeBron, put themselves in championship-winning situations. Harden, I think, had one great roster built around him in 2018 and they were a hamstring away from the Finals. Most of these other seasons (and I assume next year will also be the case) we've had to hope for an unlikely "inside straight" of hot shooting streaks, favorable match ups, and health.
I believe Russ was compromised by the injured quadracep and recovering from the Coronavirus, which I think he is asymptomatic to as a world-class athlete. So that injured quad really messed things up for the Rockets as pain could pulsate at any moment and not at others.
The more I watch Westbrook, the more I think he’s what we would’ve witness Francis turn into...and I moved Francis
If we were the San Diego/Los Angeles Rockets, it wouldn't be. When non major sports city teams cant deliver champiobship rosters for their loyal superstars, it makes easier for them to keep running to the same storied franchises over and over where the talent comes to you.
Brew saying exactly what's on a TRUE Rockets fan's mind. Right now, nobody is held to a standard that Harden is held to. On role players: It's always been the case the Rockets took gambles on streaky shooters to be role players. We seldom take the time to find a consistent, well-rounded role player. Whenever we would come across one of them, we'd package him in a trade or lose him in FA. We don't want a roster full of jack of all trades, but we can't keep trading them away without giving the group some time to actually mesh and find their footing.
He also has the worst second option of any top 4 teams by far. This man shot on 48 TS% for this Lakers series....absolutely putrid.