Harden - and how to build a championship team around him

That won't work. Harden is not the kind of player that won't have off nights. You also need players to help carry the load when he gets injured (this will happen eventually; everyone gets old).

 

You would need a player or coach who can instill a distinct pecking order of respect, showcasing the correct way to play, displaying a killer instinct along with influence, both on the court and off.

Chris Paul and KG types....unfortunately, they are basically the only two left.

or you would have to wait until Harden, turns the corner. He is still young, but is already getting nicely rewarded for his current play-style so there is no innate incentive to push further.

 

Battier was not the 3rd best player on those championship teams. He was the 6th or 7th option.

Battier was consistently expected to be the 3rd and 4th best player in Houston.

Get where I'm going with this?

During TMac's prime, players that would have lesser roles in other great teams were expected to take on larger roles than they were capable off. Role players matter a ton. The Warriors are where they are b/c Iggy and Livingston are their 6th-7th best player, not 3rd and 4th.

For god sakes, Alston was our 2nd best player when Yao was out. 2ND BEST!!!! You can't go anywhere with Alston being your 2nd best player and 2nd primary ball handler.

 

To put it bluntly, we need to start Donatas Motiejunas at C and make him our second option on offense.


We need a stretch PF, AND a stretch C. Motiejunas is our stretch C.

Get Bogut and Green out of the paint and watch James Harden annihilate the Warriors in the hectic, 5 out, fast tempo offense that he is tailor made for.

More skill, more energy. Get rid of the idiots... Kevin Love and Donatas Motiejunas would be my dream frontline for James Harden. Spread the floor and play balls to the wall.

 

this isn't NBA2K on PS4

 

The Rockets should expect to handily win Harden's one-on-one matchup every night. But there are far too many nights still where Harden may score 30, but his man gets 20. That's just not going to cut it for this team to ever go anywhere.

Being a strong defensive team requires team effort. If one guy refuses to keep his man in front of him, doesn't communicate, rotate or switch, the entire system breaks down, and the opposing team will get a wide open shot as a result.

 

LOL @ ORG. Morey has actually brought back most of the team from last year for consistency and because he believed they could win.... That whole asset nonsense is way overblown as players usually go on to get paid after they leave the Rockets or get paid by the Rockets.

 

So we need a second star but nobody can be a star next to Harden because they can't get their hands on the and when they do, Harden mentally hiberates and stands there effectively becoming a non-threat to score. Also, we cannot get a big who offensive rebounds because then the lane will be too clogged for Harden to drive.

So basically, we need a guy (or guys) who shoots spot up 3s like Korver, plays perimeter defense like Kawhi Leonard and who can rebound and guard the rim but still be mobile enough on offense to get out of the lane and being a scoring threat when James drives. So we need Korver, Leonard and a hybrid of KG and Dream.

No wonder Morey can't get the right talent around Harden.

 

Tarik black
Dmo
Ariza
Harden
Canann

That lineup worked really well last year. Your point is silly because every star player wants that. The only one that has that is Steph curry.

Curry is insanely good I admit but his GM is the real mvp. He's put the best supporting cast around him. Any superstar Guard would be doing similar to what curry does with that team imo. Westbrook, harden, Chris Paul would have that Warriors team blowing out the other team every night just as curry does.

Back on topic, get harden a real 3&D guy who's not old like ariza get dmo
Back and playing like last year (fingers crossed) and find a guy who can create his own shot (pipe dream Lowry) and this team will be back in the mix being able to beat anyone.

Keep dwight too unless durant is coming and wants him gone.

 

If he can stay healthy this is the option I've been advocating for. Dmo is a skilled 5, more touch than Dwight and won't derail the offense with a lack of movement when he doesn't get his touches. He's also not as famous as Dwight so he won't be targeted for fouls, tech and the occasional rough-housing that Dwight experiences. Plus he can make free throws. We don't need a super star center, we an above average C that won't whine or complain when Harden is having a big night. Morey should trade Dwight for a three guard or a pg

 

I dont think Dmo can take the pounding to be a Center

 

C- Someone who can pass from the elbow and shoot it. Brad Miller in his prime
PF- An inside post player who can score easy on the BLOCK! Chris Webber
SF- Shoot from the corner spacer, play decent defense Shane Battier
SG- Harden James Harden
PG- Penetrate the defense with ease, streaky 3 pt shooter John Wall type of player

 

You are seriously trying to make a case for our entire team sucking on defense this year due to no apparent reason? Just coincidentally **** happens some times and it just so happens that Bev, Ariza, Brewer, TJ, Dwight, Josh Smith, have ALL just coincidentally started vastly under performing despite a few having contracts on the line?

There's no possible way that those guys aren't under-performing because they see Harden giving little defensive effort on the other end? Note, I am not excusing them. I think if you're being paid millions to play the game, you need to act like a professional regardless. But you are being intentionally naive if you don't think Harden has some sort of impact on the roleplayers' attitudes.

Don't want role players that may sulk on D when Harden is less than steller himself? Sure, go call them out, ask for some trades. But don't feign ignorance to defend Harden.

 

The funniest thing to me is people blaming role players.

Didn't Harden make it clear that he and Howard are the stars and they make the team go? Isn't Morey's whole strategy about winning with stars?

I'm not saying role players can't play worse, which they are. But they can't cause a collapse this big.

If it was just the role players, Morey would trade them instead

 

No reason?

Beverley / Brewer on first year after new contracts - notorious reason for poor play.
Smith - not on the team
Ariza / Dwight - Both on the backside of their careers - decline in performance is expected

 

If we could get a player like that then he would be the star, and we would be building around him instead. Harden would be number 2.

 

Never heard of a 2 way player until 5 yrs ago? How long have you been watching basketball.

 

Right on!