The difference is we've seen time and time again harden score 10 points in matter of 3 min. PG can't do that. Sure he's a good defender and a very good player. Hardens a true superstar in that he can do everything at an elite level on offense and when needed can take it up a notch on defense. Paul George doesn't go toe to toe with lebron and KD putting up 30+ with 8 and 8 harden does and did it against the best players in the game.
http://www.82games.com/1213/ROLRTG1.HTM Production *Team *Player Min Own Opp Net *MIA *James 72% 34 13.8 20.2 *OKC *Durant 78% 30.4 11.2 19.2 *MIA *Wade 60% 25.5 11.8 13.6 *LAC *Paul 59% 28.3 16.1 12.2 *NYK *Anthony 62% 25.8 14.2 11.6 *SAS *Duncan 52% 26 14.4 11.5 *LAL *Bryant 76% 24.2 13.6 10.6 *HOU *Harden 75% 24.1 13.7 10.4 *SAS *Parker 54% 24.2 14 10.2 *BKN *Lopez 56% 26.1 16.4 9.7 *OKC *Westbrook 72% 25.1 15.5 9.6 *IND *West 62% 21.4 12 9.4 *LAC *Crawford 56% 17.3 9.8 7.6 *LAC *Griffin 65% 24 16.6 7.4 *OKC *Ibaka 62% 20.9 14.3 6.5 *LAL *Howard 68% 21.1 14.8 6.4 *IND *George 75% 17.6 11.2 6.4 *MEM *Gasol 70% 20.9 15.1 5.8 *MIN *Pekovic 49% 21.6 15.9 5.7 *SAS *Leonard 45% 17.6 12 5.6 *BOS *Garnett 50% 20.3 14.7 5.5 *BOS *Pierce 64% 19.8 14.3 5.5 *CHI *Butler 53% 16.2 10.7 5.5 *GSW *Curry 75% 22.2 16.7 5.5 *MIA *Bosh 61% 21.5 16.2 5.3
Comparing their season stats is pretty irrelevant at this point. PG is the MIP, he's now probably a lot better than his season average.
Agreed. I was thinking George is more like Scottie and Harden more like MJ. Of course, Harden has to improve many things and win a ring before he really becomes like MJ but it's just an analogy. George could certainly improve a lot offensively too.
I find it hard to compare players playing different positions while also having completely different skill-sets. It's so hard to choose!
and Harden was MIP too whats your point? which team is better Hill Harden Stephenson West Hibbert vs Lin George Parsons Smith/DMO/Delfino/Garcia Asik
They only won 4 more games than us in the Weak East. If we were in the Eastern Conference, we would be fighting with them for the number 2 spot. I mean, just check our record against Eastern Conference teams this year, it's kinda ridiculous how much disparity there is between the two conferences.
Harden was the 6th Man of the Year, not the Most Improved Player. The comparison between the two teams is unfair, because the Pacers' supporting cast is better and has been together for more than a year. I would still take Harden over Paul George easily because Harden is much more consistent on offense than Paul George. Good offense trumps good defense in the NBA's current incarnation, and defense can come along with time and when the team becomes more cohesive.
Indiana would probably be the better team regardless of which player was on the team (West makes a big difference). But I seriously doubt the Rockets would have made the playoffs with George instead of Harden.
No it's not, Aaron Brooks put up 20/5 the season after his breakout in the playoffs.... What happened to Aaron was a string of bad luck. Look at the previous MIPs..
Put these players in order from best to worst: Harden, George, Grainger, Hibbert, West, Asik, Lin, Parsons. George has better talent around him at the moment. I'm fairly certain the Clippers would trade Chris Paul for James Harden straight up and not even blink.
Assuming age and health isn't a factor... 1. Harden 2. George 3. West 4. Granger 5. Hibbert 6. Parsons 7. Asik 8. Lin Lot of those could go either way though and the different styles they play are a factor too.
I would say 1- Harden 2- Goerge 3- Hibbert 4- Asik 5- West 6- Parsons 7- Granger 8- Lin Hibbert and Asik are both defensive studs, with limited offense yet still shoot high percentages from the field. West is a good defender that can stretch the floor. Parsons is a perfect role-player right now, who can play off the ball with stars and scores efficiently. Granger is on line with Rudy Gay IMO, the lowest tier of stars that scores inefficiently yet still costs a lot. And Lin is the weakest in this. jw, why would you put Granger, West above Hibbert and then all those + Parsons in front of Asik?
Obviously your list is just as good, if not better than mine. Pretty much all those players besides Harden and George are close. For Granger, he didn't play really at all this year, so I was kinda going on what I remember of him from years past. He's been surpassed by George obviously, but when he's healthy, he can certainly perform as good as any Pacer. I agree he's in the Rudy Gay class, but he's still quality when healthy. But I could definitely understand a low ranking for him. As for West above Hibbert, West is the more consistent offensive option. Hibbert also had a fairly underwhelming regular season, which factored in. He's great defensively, but I just find West to be more consistent, and his defense isn't bad too. They're fairly close to equal all things considered though. And Parsons over Asik probably had something to do with bias because I love Parsons haha. But also because Asik is really underdeveloped on offense. Great defensive player, but I just like Parsons all-around game. But obviously those are the 2nd and 3rd best Rockets players and they both have cases for the 2 spot. Also Hibbert isn't great at offense, but he is indeed more skilled than Asik, at least right now. Their defense is fairly equal, though Hibbert has much more help on D, I'd say. Maybe I just value offense a little more than defense. But once again...these players are all fairly close. The rankings could go a lot of different ways.
I'm glad you're not the GM. Lebron and Durant obviously. Howard has a case but his character issues and the questions about his health going forward make that iffy. Irving definitely has a case but I don't think it's a no brainer by any means. Meanwhile: Has CP3 ever had a season he didn't miss at least 20 games? Rose hasn't played in well over a year. You'd taking a huge risk at assuming he will return to form. Wade is on the wrong side of 30 and appears to already be on the decline. Also injury prone. Parker is also on the wrong side of 30, while Duncan is already pondering retirement. Marc Gasol has quickly gone from completely under-rated to quite possibly the most over-rated player I have ever seen. He is a really solid center, but people are starting to act like he's a top 10 player. That's crazy. He would have been a third tier center in the 90's.
All very true. I feel like I may overvaluing the importance of a big, defensive center, since teams like the Heat and OKC certainly don't have one, and the Spurs have Duncan who is just as much an offensive player as defense. But for some reason, whenever I think of building a team a defensive anchor is always key, as well as a wing scorer, then a stretch four and a 3 and D small forward. The Pacers have all of these when healthy. The Rockets and Pacers are actually built pretty similarly, so I will pose another question: George Hill or Jeremy Lin?
