Chances of Harden returning to his OKC efficiency?

I don't think it gets all the way up, but in the middle seems right. Like 46-47% FG, 38% 3pt, 85% FT, 63% TS.

Still a stud. Our most dynamic offensive option but our 2nd best player IMO. That's such a great combo.

Rockets 82-0.

 

Those were not steep drop offs. In fact they were pretty good for what he came into. He had become pretty much a top 5 player in the NBA in first year of starting. Is there a reason you are trying to denigrate him?

 

OP as far as i interpreted, is not denigrating Harden at all.

Merely saying that he is elite at the moment, and will be even better next year with the addition of Dwight Howard, an improving Lin and several 3 point threats.

 

Obviously his efficiency would drop (not a drastic drop) with his minutes almost being doubled.

I expect it too climb with being more in tune with the current roster, more conditioning for a bigger workload and the addition of D12.

 

not in the near future. scoring efficiency is tied together as a team.

 

Man this thread scared the **** out of me.

The only thing I saw on the first page was "Chances of Harden Returning..." and then I thought "Oh no, he got hurt doing something dumb..."

Any ways I don't think there is a chance he will be able to since he's getting significantly more minutes...But Dwight does change things up..lessen the workload...guess we'll see. My guess is that he still has to carry a big load of the offense and thus will have a similar year to last season, but that is far from being a bad thing.

 

Lol

OK. Well there is no steep drop off. Elite numbers are elite numbers.

 

Do y'all think Harden could win MVP in the near future?

 

No way. Pulling off OKC efficiency while remaining the #1 option is basically Jordan-level, and Harden clearly isn't that good.

 

It will never happen because Harden now takes all the bad end-of-shot-clock shots because he's the man. Durant kept up his ridiculous % partly due to Westbrook taking the crappy shots. Otherwise, Durant wouldn't even be in discussion for 50/40/60.

Also, I think Harden will develop more mid-range game and not expend as much energy on offense for better defense.

 

In the next five years I can see him accomplishing the 50/40/90 mark, but for next season I predict a 46/38/86 stat line because he will still be the first scorer on the team

 

This.

 

Yeah~ I do believe his efficiency will go up but not to OKC levels as his role is different here. Here, he is the man and unless Lin steps up majorly, as the only other starter who can create his own shot, he will end up taking a lot of less than efficient shots, as he should for our team. Still, Harden is as efficient as they come and all we're talking about is whether he is very efficient or ultra efficient.

 

Efficiency usually drops with higher USG%, not to mention he was either first option against bench players and third option against starters in OKC.

 

100%.

 

The man was among the leading scorers in the NBA and the most efficient. I am hoping he does just as well as last year. Anything more will be icing on the cake.The main reason we even made the playoffs last year was because of Harden. We went from looking at disaster with Lin as the leader to among the elite offenses with Harden.

 

MJ scoring 35 ppg shooting 13% from. Crazy stuff

 

^Yeah it's utterly insane how high Jordan got his TS as a perimeter shot without ever even really utilizing the 3 point shot. I wonder what could've been if that era had the 3-point emphasis and shooting coaches of today.

 

no. i dont see it

his game has changed. he over dribbles now and takes bad shots

if we can get him to play like he played for OKC and improve his defense, we will be legit championship contenders