Let James Harden play point guard

Harden shows he can play pg if needed like tonight with 13 assists. That is elite playmaking. Since McHale doesn't want to use Lin as the starting pg, he may as well let Harden play pg officially. Why not? Harden played pt in OKC and won 6th Man for that. He can do a good job. Just make Lin as the backup for playmaking. Lin may feel better to be displaced by all star Harden than Beverley. Bev proves he is not a starting calibre pg with very unpredictable and limited offensive skills like the other elite starting pgs of the contending teams in the west. If Harden plays point, his scoring prowess is no less than other elite pgs of the West. But he needs a very capable spot up shooters, something like Steve Kerr in MJ's Bulls. I think Jimmer Fredette is a deadly 3 pt gunner like Redick. Since we have traded often with the Kings lately, we may as well get Jimmer Fredette too and give them a bench player or 2 in return. The Kings had turned down the team option so he will be a free agent anyway after this year. He is a great pure shooter and is bigger than Brook and PB. His 3 pt % is awesome - 50% in Nov. 42% in Dec., and 55% in Jan. We should get him to pair with Harden. That will be a great fit for Harden and even Howard playing inside out. Then we won't be losing these close games. He is like a smaller Redick and can play pg or sg.

http://stats.nba.com/playerStats.html?PlayerID=202690

 

Ya but last season the status of Lin was not set. He was the designated starting pg. Now he is out of the picture. Bev is not really a starting pg calibre for a contending team. Harden just dished out 13 assists. Now perhaps is the time we should explore this possibility that Harden as the starting pg and Lin as his backup. As much as some like Bev's defense (me too), I just can see a contender's starting pg is a defense specialist. He has to shoot the 3s or drives. But reality is those are not Bev's strength. Why over use the guy for what he is not? For the team's sake, you guys should not promote Bev as the starting pg any more. Use a real playmaking pg, someone with the scoring prowess of Harden if Lin is not the answer. Then get a potent deadly 3 pt specialist to complement him. That will rejuvenate this offense. Jimmer Fredette is going to cost next to nothing to get as his contract is expiring end of this season.

 

Good question. Harden of course. He did that when he play backup point for OKC. So why not now? If he cares about making to all star, he won't let the other pgs beat him game after game. He is just lazy now but he has the physicality to move fast and he is strong for a guard.

 

Good point. But didn't he play backup pg to Westbrook in OKC? If he could do it there and won the 6th Man, why can't he do a good job in Houston. Why make Bev play the starting pg when he obviously is not a starting pg. Don't let your love for Bev override the interest of the team being able to contend with the other top teams of the west? All star speedy pgs will be hard to stop for any other guards, Bev included. Bev is not all potent and sure stopper of speedy pg. He is a great ball pressure defender with energy, but opponent's speedy pgs do blow by him too. OKC's back up pg Jackson scored big on Bev during playoff games. So no guarantee Bev can stop the other speedy guards from scoring. We can always bring him in if Harden really has trouble. That will be his role. It is not like we are giving him up. We just can't depend on his offense especially 3pt or penetration. We need more potent 3pt specialists because Houston shot tons of 3s. Morey should go after Fredette as he is not going to cost an arm and a leg like Gordon or Rondo.