Hypothetical: Switch James Harden with another Star

Lebron would've been the only one because he just brings everyone to the franchise to win a chip because he runs the entire fuggn league at this point.

The other guys have some chance, but ... Lebron is the only one who has higher than 50% chance.

 

Only Lebron or Durant or Playoff Rajon Rondo (vs Rockets)

 

It's only LeBron because he builds his teams around his self similar to how Morey and company built the Rockets around Harden. But Morey would have built a champion around Durant for sure and maybe Kawhi and Curry. Both those guys need very specific teammates and coaches to win championships so it would have been tough.

 

Based on the way the question is phrased, I think an argument could be made for Lebron, KD, and Kawhi.

 

I insta-voted LeBron and locked in, but after thinking about it for more than 5 seconds, I think Curry + CP3 could have won a title too.

Of course, this is dependent on CP3 being healthy, but Curry can easily relegate ballhandling duties to CP3 while Curry runs around like a Klay, looking to shoot off the dribble.

Also, with no Westbrook, We'd still have Capela.

CP3 / Curry / Capela would easily be a championship trio.

 

Huh? I would say Harden needs more specific type of players as Harden has a very narrowly defined game. Curry is an extremely versatile superstar. You can pair him with a ball dominant running mate or off the ball stud like Klay and it will work out.

 

Man said Curry lol

LeBron is the only reasonable answer and he barely got it done against the pre-KD Warriors with Love and God-mode Kyrie on his side.

 

I'm not sure about that. A Curry/CP3 backcourt would be easy to exploit defensively.

 

I mean even without KD he has a ring. So he's proven more than Harden and is 4-0 against him in their head to head in the playoffs.

Curry is also a very easy player to build off from because he doesn't require narrow constraints of type of players that fit well.

 

Same with a CP3 Harden backcourt right?

First CP3 was a solid defender. Second Harden has always been a subpar perimeter defender even today where people say he's greatly improved. I would say Curry is more committed to moving his feet lately on switches and help defense than Harden out on the perimeter. Obviously the main advantage Harden has here is strength and size but that doesn't prevent him from being a revolving door out at the perimeter.

 

Lebron: definitely
Steph: definitely not

I'm going to take the possibly controversial stance that Kawhi Leonard would have had a significantly better chance to win a title as a Rocket in the last 5 years than Kevin Durant. I voted yes for Kawhi and no for Durant.

there are no other players.

 

When we played against GSW, we tried to make the GSW defenders switch until Curry was guarding Harden. At that point, Harden could bully Curry. GSW was able to neutralize this by pre-switching.

If we had both CP3 and Curry, and the opponent had Harden, we wouldn't be able to hide both CP3/Curry from Harden's bully-ball.

 

Well, the Warriors proved to be some sort of finely tuned machine that needed all of its parts to function. Getting all of those parts together is not easy. But if you can get them together, then a player like Curry becomes truly special. My opinion.

 

Let’s be realistic wherever Lebron and Kawhi go one or the other wins the chip.

So put either with the CP3 teams and yeah they win a ring.

Harden isn’t as good as LBJ or Kawhi. If you can go to two or more different teams as the best players and win it all you’re obviously the difference maker.

 

Exactly. This kind of questions never have a clean answer. When you change your franchise player, everything else changes, roster, coaches, strategies. For example, if Harden and Curry swapped teams and everything remained the same, both guys would be less effective because their teams had been built for maximizing their strengths and minimizing their weaknesses.

 

Lerbon would have won a championship with every situation that Houston has been through with Blames.

 

Curry without Klay saving his ass in Game 6's? No thanks.

Probably Lebron.

 

Curry's legacy will be infinitely superior to Harden's. We can talk about how much talented Harden is when it comes to skills and you'd be right. Just like Garnett was more talented than Duncan but no one is putting Garnett over Duncan.

Curry knows his role, knows his value, and knows how to lead a team. I doubt he clashes with any player we have here and since he can play off the ball just as easily as he can play on the ball it's easier to find him a running mate.

People laughing at Curry but he has that mentality and you'd never see or hear about him partying on a day when he should be practicing.

 

LeBron and kd are obvious choices.

Steph with dwight would've been championship contenders imo.

Steph is famous for how well he gets along with his teammates. He is one of the best leaders in the league. He also is the easiest superstar to build around, both personality and skill wise.

Who knows what Steph and insert teammate could've accomplished, but it's doubtful they would've had the same disastrous infighting that harden and insert teammate did.