Check the tape, if that's not a fast break, whenever Harden will get the ball in the back court, how many seconds left in the shot clock when he will cross the mid court. How many other guard in other NBA teams will be walking across the half court in this situation 90% of the time? No one is doubting the performance of Harden here, but efforts are just as important as results.
Hmm, I'm not disagreeing with you there, I meant like when Bev/Harden try to run ISO, and as you pointed out Bev doesn't get the ISO like Harden (which I agree with you on). I'd just rather see Harden wasting the clock and do whatever he wants dribbling behind the 3, even if it's a junk shot because it's better than when Bev attempts that, and I know a lot are nitpicking since it's not like Bev does it all the time, I just know there's been some possessions where it's like he wants to be the guy and he clearly isn't.
I can't stand it! Harden crosses the line constantly with 17 seconds left in the possession. He really is killing a bunch of time just by doing that.
+1 Bev hasn't been at his best, but a huge part of me thinks McHale needs to implement better schemes. I also wonder if he isn't completely healthy
With 6:49 in the 4 th , it was obvious he was in pain. Team defense was the big neg. factor, + the usual extra effort and excitement to beat Harden&Howard
You would think he'd play better since he's playing in a cinteract year yet he's only gotten worse with each and every game
worse on defense but better on offense. he was a zero on offense last season. Bev is the new Parsons.
Hmm being in a contract year does explain all those times he has openly not passed the ball just to jack up a shot or try to drive and shoot a floater.
If I had read Clutchfans the last week without watching the games, I would have assumed Beverley is averaging 8 and 2 on 30% shooting and nothing else. Everyone needs to calm down. His last four games, he's averaging 13, 3.75, 3.75, a steal, almost three treys, and shooting the trey at 42%. I'd agree that his defensive focus seems to have slipped a bit, but only from "good" to "average" - he was never great and he's not currently below average. He's also overdribbling, but that's partially a function of Dwight being invisible and Ariza being terrified to do anything. Those two guys get their mojo back and Pat will look way better. As for the thread title, he's certainly replaceable, but replacement starting PGs aren't free. Like most here, I'd prefer Dragic, but most of the other guards on the trade block wouldn't be an upgrade.
that's the problem. He's a starter this season and last because he was an elite defender. He meshed best with the starters because of it. More said, "3 elite starters in a starting lineup". If that's not the case anymore than Bev needs to move to the bench and find a lock down PG defender to plug in at PG.
People are underselling his defense and offense. He may not playing up to the standard we expected this season or especially of late. But is there anyone will doubt Harden, Terry, Canaan, Shved, Nick are better defender than him? As bad as people are saying about his offense, he is still the most productive and reliable 3 point shooter in this team. Considering the volume of 3 that we are putting up each game, this is his value. Look, this team needs defense, otherwise everything will fall apart no matter how many points Harden will score. That's why Daniel and Canaan won't get any playtime in this team, not because of they suck at offense. Even though Bev is not as good as you are expecting on D so far, do you think under the current restraints, the Rox can find someone that can replace him as least with the same level of D to help this team? If so, I would like to hear the names.
If anything I don't think you should close the game with Beverly. Imagine if we somehow got Jamal Crawford player off the bench.
It doesn't matter how good his D (which I still think is overrated) is. Because opposing PG's are gonna do whatever they want no matter what. You have to make them play both sides. a PG that can create would help this team infinitely more than whatever marginal upgrade Bev is at defense. Elfrid Payton scored at will last night and he's a rookie. I'd rather have had a PG that can actually run the offense and get our team going when Harden is being double teamed like last night. So yes, there are a lot of upgrades to Beverley.
I think as a starting pg he is very replaceable. Doesn't mean I don't value what he brings to the team. I almost would say and I'm using a bit of hyperbole here, that he'd be irreplaceable as the 3rd guard. He brings a lot to the table and to the the team. He is just miscast in his role as the starting PG.
He's a solid defender that's kinda tired and hurt of late. When Westbrook put him on skates back in the 2013 Play Offs nobody seemed to hate him this much...
He's a defensive AND 3pt specialist (3pt% is 40). The guy scored 17pts on 7-11 last game but yet we're acting like he can't put up numbers Tony Allen is not a good comparison because he can't shoot. Bev's one of the best 3pt shooters we have lol. His defense does more than make Harden's numbers look good. It allows others to play the passing lane leading to steals, it ensures Harden won't have to match up with the best player defensively. It saves our bigs from getting into foul trouble, because Bev does a job of keeping his man in front of him for the most part (even though he had a tough nite last nite). I just don't understand the Bev hate on here. When healthy, he can easily force the top tier PG's into bad shooting games. He's not elite but he's serviceable offensively and elite defensively.
