Harden will be an absolute stud being the number 1 option with his own team. He is not a Team-USA player for nothing.
If you guys had to select between Harden and Carmelo, then most of you with any kind of in-depth knowledge would have known Harden is the better choice. Harden will be more effective than Carmelo.
When I voted "yes" on day 1 on the trade it was at about 75%. Now it's 78.51%. Fans are liking the trade more and more.
People are overlooking another huge incentive for making this trade and signing Harden long-term. http://hoopshype.com/salaries/oklahoma_city.htm Kevin Durant is a free agent in 2016 (Russell Westbrook in 2017). It's well documented that these three guys are tight, so if KD isn't winning championships in OKC, you can bet Harden will be recruiting his friends to join him in Houston.
. If harden shot 19 times a game, he'd average the same as westbrook. To me, as a point guard, one of the roles should be running an offense and making those around you better. What was the biggest complaint about the thunder? That they didn't run an offense. But that's how scotty likes it, so it's no biggie as long as Durant gets his touches. The funny thing is, if we had acquired Westbrook, the same people posting how they'd rather have westbrook would be b****in' about Westbrook. I believe some people are just natural born party poopers.
Bad comparison. Laettner was selected as a COLLEGE player then drafted 3rd overall. Harden was selected as a current NBA player. Also, Laettner was selected all rookie in '92, all-star reserve in 96/97, and then tore his achilles tendon in '98. He was never the same after that but still kept playing for 13 seasons in total. If you didn't see Laettner play prior to the achilles tendon tear, you really shouldn't say too much about him. He was very good.
Has anyone made a Rockets Harden wallpaper for desktop yet? Currently I'm still with the 3 rookies which is awkward now that Lamb is gone.
The point dear sir, is that making the Olympic team, does not mean a player is actually great. If you want other players: Tayshaun Prince, Andre Iguodala, Carlos Boozer, Richard Jefferson, Lamar Odom, Stephon Marbury, and the list goes on and on. Making the Olympic Team usually means you are good, but it doesn't mean you are a star.
Making the Olympic team that actually won gold medals makes you great. You spit out all the players from the Garbage USA teams minus Iggy. Who's was the weakest player in this Olympic team? Anthony Davis? Get real.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim Vin Baker Steve Smith Carlos Boozer Tayshuan Prince Michael Redd All won Gold Medals in the 2000s. Do we need to discuss the Argentinian team that won the 2004 Gold Medal? A team of superstars. James Harden was good enough to log 1 minute in the Gold Medal game, the same amount as injury replacement Anthony Davis. Edit: Using your logic, we have another star player on our team. The great Carlos Delfino, winner of the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal.
I think the thing to remember that Harden made the team at his young age. That says a lot about his potential. You mention the argentina team...but remember it's easier to make that team than Team USA. Harden making the Olympic team pretty much confirms that he's one of the best young guards in the NBA right now. Those other guys you named were all great players when they made the team too...difference is they begin to decline or trail off, we just hope that this is the first of many for Harden.
Baker & Smith were on the down slope. Iggy, Prince & Boozer were never great players. SAR was never really a star. He had solid stats, but was always on losing teams, and made one all-star team. I'm not saying Harden doesn't have great potential. They picked him for the team in hopes he would be a more valuable player in future Olympics. If Dwade is healthy, maybe Harden isn't even on the Olympic team. You can't make judgements based on being on the Olympic team, particularly when you are the 10-12th guy on the team. I expect 20-5-5 out of Harden, with a potential for 25-6-6. Lets wait until we see him leading this team before we start pretending he has proven himself to be anything more than a very good player.
Well it's easy to say these guys are on the down slope now, any ways we have a different definition of great. If a guy coming into the NBA is compared to Iggy, Boozer, or Prince in their prime then I'm pretty sure that guy is going in the lottery, they were not elite players obviously...but they, Boozer especially were great at one time. Boozer was a rebounding machine not too long ago being a 2nd option on a team that appeared in the WCF. Iggy still in his prime and has played great the past year and I expect him to do big things for the Nuggets, we'll see. Prince was very underrated though when he was good, but when he was good he was a young guy who played great defense and hit shots. I think Prince was a guy picked just to do a certain thing when he was picked...but he wasn't picked at a young age like Harden was. To me, seeing Harden being picked over any number of vets tell me that they think a lot of his potential (just like Davis) and want him to be a part of the team for a while. When they pick a guy like Prince or Billups at their late age to play then it means they are picking a guy to play a role. I don't think any one is saying "Harden being on Team USA proves he's going to be a superstar." I think they are just saying it is a credit to his talent that he's even on the team. He's a lot more proven and accomplished than the two players we gave up and the lotto picks, that much is true.
Harden just said after practice that the offense is easy and he's already getting how the Rockets play defense and offense. Positive: at least we have a guy that gets things quickly and can push for more, get more out of players and lead. Negative: only two practices and he understands everything, can't be good for the start of the season.
