Moses had great years in Houston, but he is most remembered for his Philly days, rightfully so. Sampson and Murphy are only in by default, in my opinion. Sampson had more than enough talent but those injuries that shortened his career kind of ruin his ranking. Calvin is in for the fact he played his entire career with the Rockets. I think Harden is already in the Mt. Rushmore of the Houston Rockets. Wouldn't have put him in at the start of the year, but what he has shown me since then has risen him to greatness. Not many players have the type of resume he has already accumulated in his time here. Houston career averages of 25ppg, 6apg, and 5rpg put him in a very select group. His playoff success is what is going to raise his status. My Mt. Rushmore: 1) Dream - duh 2) Calvin - distant 2nd but still a great 3) Sampson - injuries 4) Harden - chance to be in 2nd in a year or so Next tier: 5) Drexler - vital to the '95 championship but we got him on the tailend of his prime years 6) Yao - injuries , the game limited his chance to truly dominate IMO 7) Rudy T - solid player and championship coach 8) T-Mac - love him or hate him, he was a great player for us. Rocket's career averages of 23ppg, 6rpg, 6apg and brought back excitement back to Houston Rocket's basketball
Not a mind reader, but I strongly suspect Harden did not care for the mocking he received during the offseason and is playing with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
Lots of people probably were as good or better. Yao, Tracy, Harden's 3 years are probably better; Steve Francis arguably as well. Clyde's brief tenure was better. If Dwight finishes his contract at the same level he passes him too. Ralph's career had a negative trajectory, which is why the Rockets were done with him early. Year 1-2 were good, 3 was a bit of a dropoff. His last 1.5 years were just plain bad. OK, well tehn if you have a better name for a 5-9 shooting guard who leads the league in field goal attempts on a 28-win team, feel free to apply it. Calvin was a fine player, so is/was Jason Terry. All time great? Nope.
Mt Rushmore is reserved for Dream and Clyde. Reasons, obvious. After them, Calvin and Rudy. After them, Moses. After him, Yao. Next is going to be Harden. Everyone else, debatable.
A little premature. I do think Harden "Gets it" now. You don't see any more silly flops any more, you don't see him try to game the game. He's sold out on defense nearly all the time. He's focused in on the team. He's always driving for that W. Mentally, it looks like he gets it. Playoffs though is what matters. I wouldn't trade him for anyone though...maybe Anthony Davis and Durant...that's it. Definitely wouldn't trade him for anyone else though, not Lebron because of his age only. I think he's the 4th best player in the league. 2nd right now with Lebron being odd and Davis beasting.
I think he's ahead of davis still, I think AD is at the stage were he's putting up the historic stats like harden did the last 2seasons but he doesn't know how to elevate his team yet. Harden has his team at the top of the west missing half his starting lineup and 2nd best player for half the year so far. Ad can't do that with a healthy talented team yet. But everything else I agree just flip flop harden and AD. I think harden will pass up lebron in 2 years also. The face of the league is gonna be KD AD and JH in 2 years.
But as of today JH is the best player in the NBA hands down. AD and Curry on on his butt tho. Curry just can't play defense like ad and JH plus he's snaller that those guys. So I cant ever see him being on their level even tho he's def their on offense.
Um, hey young fellas, Moses won two MVPs with the Rockets. Two. During his second MVP year, he went for 31 ppg and 14.7 rbg. Dream, Moses, others. Harden working on it.
You are right, he's better than AD right now. I'd still trade him for AD though because that guy has the potential to be the best ever. I really think that. Whether he gets there or not who knows. Harden can be a championship player though, I think he can do that. I believe in him fully and I hope we will be lucky enough to see him try with a fully healthy team.
Harden has definitely turned a corner. I am seriously impressed and wouldn't trade him for any other wing / guard in the league. He is doing it all these days: scoring, facilitating and playing defense. I believe. Dwight is next, but it won't be about effort; it will about understanding his role within the offense.
