Is James Harden's success in Houston proof Manu Ginobili could have been a star as the lead dog?

Ginobli is very athletic.

People often just label attributes like balance, coordination, fluidity as "deceptive athleticism". Same crap got labeled on Harden, they're both very athletically gifted but Harden has a few more gears with respect to explosiveness.

 

LOTS of people in the media find Harden's game... Well, less than attractive. And of course they salivate over Curry's game. My point was only Harden's game and manu's game are extremely similar. Manu got the Pops, Duncan, Parker love by association. Harden gets the Dwight image and McHale image by association. I just found that interesting.

As far as SG rankings... Look, Harden is already the better "at their best" player... Bar none. Manu had more in him... But not this much more. The only thing holding James back is longevity and some more playoff success.

But he doesn't have to win one championship much less five to end up as a better SG. It's a team sport. Hakeem is still Hakeem without the championships. Drexler is the same great SG with or without his one ring. Barkley is still an all time great. Malone and Stockton are still all time greats. James does need multiple solid playoff runs of course.

 

He hasn't been much better since in houston. Last year he was outplayed by Lillard.

3 playoff appearances no second rounds.

Finals against Miami, choked.

He's a regular season beast, but a playoff no show.

 

Ginobli threw it all away. He would be up there with Kobe and MJ as an all time 2guard and he knows it. He is still a once in a lifetime talent forced to play within the Parker/Duncan system. Sometimes you gotta be more selfish and be top dog somewhere else. Only downside is his injury prone-ness......

 

That's incorrect. He outplayed Ginobody in the 2012 WCFs. He was the reason they went to the Finals.

 

Generalize much?

Also, as far as salivating over Curry's game. Curry's made some noise in the playoffs, so of course they would believe that he's the better player right now.

Harden's done nothing and when he was with okc, he was a no show in the finals. So I am not sure why you think that they should recognize harden's greatness.

 

In OKC, Harden had a PER of 19.7, a TS% of 61.4%, and a WS/48 of .188 in 43 playoff games.

Harden, of course, has only been to the playoffs twice in Houston.

 

weird

He's not even better than Joe Dumars, who won two rings with Isiah, then started scoring 23 ppg when Isiah finally relinquished primary scoring duties to Dumars, while also making NBA 1st Team Defense 4 times as a guard in the same era as Payton and Jordan 1st team defense awards.

 

All done in the NBA by age 22, while Ginobody was playing against Italians until age 25.

 

harden's career in okc is marked and overshadowed by his finals no show. period. In the biggest series he checked out. Who cares about his stats or his wfc that year.

then he was outplayed by lillard last year.

 

And one of those times was as an 8th seed, so it was expected his team would lose.

As an 8th seed the James Harden led Rockets took OKC to 6 games while he himself averaged 26ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.5 apg...

But somehow over the years this has been twisted into a negative on Harden's record.

 

no Ginobili didn't have the talent to carry a team

 

harden hasn't showed he can carry his team, either. unless you know somthing i don't know?

 

He probably watches the NBA since you seem to be ignoring this season.

 

It's interesting how one bad game (which they won anyway) became a finals no show.

Apart from that first game (which i'll repeat, they won) he played his role as he was expected to in okc.

What is it about James Harden that brings out such rampant stupidity as blaming a team's third option for one bad game, which i'll repeat again just in case you're not getting it, they won anyway

 

Regular season success means very little to me. If you want me to respect you do something in the playoffs.

Getting bounced by Portland last year and being outplayed by a second year player was egregious. A team they dominated in the regular season. Ya'll can slice it up how you want to, but facts are facts.

 

Rudy Gay says hi.

 

oh dear

 

Facts are facts. People have brought up facts which you've ignored.

Like the fact that Houston didn't dominate Portland last year in the regular season.

I think people are just assuming you are watching g the games... Which doesn't appear to be the case.

 

Nope, not really sure what you're talking about. They won that season series but outside of one game it was far from 'domination'

I doubt Harden is looking for respect from random internet posters who switches teams whenever it's convenient. He has the respect of one of the greatest coaches ever and players like Wade and Anthony Davis. Speaking of Lilliard he too thinks Harden is the MVP.