In my opinion, anyone that shoots below 60% in free throws or regularly allows opponent SGs to get season/career highs in points are not superstars. Being a center does not give you give you a free pass to suck at shooting a basketball in a basketball game. That's my opinion of what disqualifies someone as a superstar. And that's the point. There is no official definition. It can be whatever you want it to be. Some might argue that superstars are those that are known (for playing basketball well) by people who don't follow basketball. I could see that being a good argument as well. Many of you guys are stating opinions about what constitutes a superstar as facts. That's Screaming A. Smith's job.
Not really because Thabo didn't even play 20 minutes a game that series. But Harden would usually play around 30 minutes a game and when he, Durant, and Westbrook was on the court together he would draw the toughest defensive assignment. When Thabo and Harden was on the court together Thabo would guard them. I'm just pointing to the fact that Harden can play defense and having Perk and Ibaka behind him helps a lot. Hopefully Howard will have the same effect.
The superstar debate is such a pointless one. One person will say there are only 5 superstars in the league while another person will say there are 20. Yet neither has any impact on how people rank players anyways.
Dwight Howard is a superstar. At least a superstar center. He was a monster in Orlando but even with the Lakers is still the most dominate centers.
You have gone full r****d. Harden is better than Wade and Kobe and Dwight is the best center in the NBA; How are they not superstars?
My Superstar list for last season 2012-2013 Current SuperStars Kobe Bryant Chris Paul Dwayne Wade Kevin Durant Lebron James Dwight Howard Carmelo Anthony Rising Superstars Stephan Curry James Harden Derrick Rose Paul George 2013-2014 SuperStars Kobe Bryant - Technically he should be dropped but history, wisdom, experience and his ways to win keep him as a superstar Chris Paul Dwayne Wade - Also Wade should be dropped as a superstar but same goes with wade with his ability to be a playmaker and etc. Kevin Durant Lebron James Dwight Howard Carmelo Anthony James Harden Stephan Curry
Harden isn't better than Wade. D Wade is elite at both ends of the court when he's healthy. If I'm playing a finals game I'm taking Wade over Harden everytime. What he did in the past finals on 1 leg was remarkable to me. As for Kobe even at 35 I'd take him over Harden. He outplayed Harden at 34 last season, far better closer, better post/mid range game and deals with athletic defenders a lot better than James does. Aside from all of that Kobe is the most recognizable face in the League and is someone people pay to see, Harden isn't box office yet. The homers on here will obviously disagree but from the outside looking in that's how I see it. As great as Harden is I don't think he's Top 10 YET. Kobe, Wade, CP3, Lebron, Parker, Duncan, Rose, our own Dwight, Carmelo, Westbrook and Durant are all better in my opinion. James is more in the 11-15 category battling it out with Lopez, Griffin, Gasol, Rondo & Love. He needs to do it in the playoffs and on the defensive end before I'm ready to crown him.
They all took turns guarding Kobe when Thabo was on the bench. I remember Westbrook and Durant being on Kobe for possessions. For the past 3 years, James Harden's teams have suffered on defense when he's on the court. Sure, he's good enough on offense that it is clearly worth it but defense is something he has to improve upon. Even the Thunder were worse on the court defensively with Harden looking at Harden's RAPM.
I think you need to appreciate the fact that different people have different opinions on subjects that have no "correct" answer.
I think Harden can be the 5th best player in the NBA next season, and Dwight, if healthy, can be #4. Who is heads and shoulders better than them other than LeBron, Durant, and Chris Paul?
