Both those teams are horrible. Difference between them and us is that they can ramp up their D when their shots aren't falling but we just let everything snowball and seem to give up (especially on D)
He's got a championship- that's more than most players can say. Doesn't matter that it was in college- champion is a champion once you get to the college level, IMHO.
better scorer, better 4th quarter performer, better rebounder. only thing harden does better is pass but he negates it by leading the league in turnovers
I agree with all those things...but it's just silly and wrong to say he's "5x" better. Even 2x would be a serious stretch. But no doubt he's the better player.
No he isn't. Melo is better right now, but that's because he's older and has a lot more seasoning and experience being the first option. Harden has a much better head on his shoulders and will be better in 5 years than Melo is now unless something weird happens. Melo's is extremely talented, but his selfishness and lack of floor vision hamper him.
The way I judge harden is against what wade has done. Harden is not even been close to what wade has done, so I don't care what any rocket fan wants to say about Harden: he ain't a superstar. He ain't even close to one. That would be the same argument I'd have with Marc Gasol. Sure, Marc is great, but he ain't one Shaq's level, therefore he ain't a superstar.
I think Harden deserves more time before we draw any conclusions on who's better. First year as a number one, new team, along with little to no structure in the Rockets offense.
So are you saying you have to win a championship to be a superstar? That doesn't make sense. So, other than Wade and Shaq, who else is a superstar in your book? Is Zach Randolph a superstar? Was Pau a superstar when he played in Memphis?
Wade didn't have to win a championship, there was greatness in wade long before the championship. I'll give you another example: brandon roy. I know brandon roy was great, he didn't have to win a championship to prove it. The same goes for Barkley, and Grant Hill before he won a championship. Harden ain't on those guys' level. Period.
He sees the floor and creates baskets for others. Has done it since his rookie year. After 10 full seasons, Melo does neither. Melo's approach to playing basketball hasn't evolved. He's still the same guy, just better. I know everyone is down on Harden since he tailed off the last few weeks of the season, but you have to remember it was his first time carrying the burden each and every game.
** I misread this, I meant grant hill never won a championship either, but I know hill was and is great.
I don't think that means he has a bad head on his shoulders... Melo just is a scorer and not a playmaker for others. Nothing wrong with his head...that's just who he is.
that doesn't mean he has a better head on his shoulders. just means he's a better passer but harden negates that with his turnovers. sometimes passing just isn't a part of someones game. like lebron vs durant. durant doesn't have to be the passer that lebron is because that just isn't his game. i'm just speaking from right now. we don't know whether harden will drastically improve or not change much. tyreke evans looked like he had potential his first year too. we don't know harden's mindset on improving yet.
