On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do you miss Chris Paul?

Right, Harden had all the help in the world. When he couldn't carry Dwight's Hakeem-level post moves and a geriatric backup PG past a 69-win Warrior team, I was about to give up on him. I gave him some more chances, but then he couldn't even win a title with Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon. And how the HELL did he not push Trevor Ariza and Clint Capela past the Durant-Curry-Klay-Green Warriors???

Lol, solid troll job, though, brotato. You got me.

 

It's not just about the Vegan diet, it was part of his entire mentality and life style change after 2019. He said himself he essentially had to take care his body better, hence the new diet, weight loss, off season workouts whatever.

It's a little disheartening that he had this revelation in 2019 off season instead of 2017 or 2018 off season.

 

Yes very solid, but just not good enough. You can say this about any really good team in a era. Warriors best at what they do. I bet you if i put money on it that the Steve Nash led suns could beat That Durant+ Splash Bros warriors.

Im not trolling either. I even put my money on Yao and Tmac w/ Artest Healthy!, could probably beat the warriors. No lie. Harden = Hero Ball, doesnt work in the playoffs. NO Troll! I love me some harden as well. It just doesn't work. I Like the passing harden better!

 

The biggest knock against Harden is that he DOESN'T try to take over games and force shots (which I think is exactly what make him so much better than most players he's compared to, but I digress). So it's amusing seeing his game called "hero ball". He shoots a lot, yes, but that's because he literally has no choice if the Rockets want a shot at winning most games. Criticizing his usage rate in Houston is like criticizing LeBron's in the 2015 finals. Why do you think Harden's usage rate is way down and his assists are way up now in NJ? Almost like if you give him the right team...

Chris Paul couldn't even beat Harden's Rockets when 40% of the Rockets' starting lineup was out with injury and the Clips had a 3-1 lead. What makes you think he's capable of more than Harden on his own? You can't sit here and tell me with a straight face that Harden had help and Paul didn't.

And lol @ any of those teams having a better shot than Harden + Paul in 2018. The team that, when healthy, was one of the best teams of all time. Remember their obscene record with Harden+Paul+Capela? And their Net Rtg?

I'm sorry, but there is just zero ground for you to stand on here. Some of the arguments people make against Harden have at least some irrational emotional component that you can sort of empathize with (though usually just "TEH RINGZ"), but Paul over Harden? Bro. Whether you're talking playoff success, statistics, or eye test, there is just nothing. Everything meaningful measure in the world confirms Harden is the better player. The only decent sidekick Houston ever gave Harden was a 32-yo Chris Paul with a bum hammy, and that was enough to get them both a title if not for injuries and f*cking Scott Foster.

 

Should have traded Harden and his quitter attitude and kept CP3. I miss CP3 but I am happy he landed on a great young team he can lead and teach how to play winning basketball. The Suns are fun to watch. I'm pulling for the Suns vs the Freakin Jazz.

What's done is done. Just need to nail this draft and not overpay anyone.

 

Yea True, but in honesty, if Harden was leading the suns, he probably take them to 3 finals. Suns have developed a sensational team.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401267189

Look how much harden in that game alone had to take over. But wood Was there, the rest of the roster zilch. The rockets may of not put enough around harden, but they did have some good players like CP3, Capela, Gordon back then. It was enough to get to the finals, but they just were out coached maybe. Thing is everyone knows all you do is double team harden, they got the win in the playoffs.

Why were the rockets putting all there chips on another big star when they should of traded off that salary for picks to build around harden, that i will never know. They may of drafted players and put the right mix around him. I hate to say it but he just didnt really have the right players around him. Time to move on to the next chapter.

 

Out of shape Chris Paul about 5. In shape about 9

 

Imagine CP3 winning championship this season while Harden wins nothing... Lol

 

Yeah, but the double-Harden-and-you-win thing was also true for every great ever when they don't have another great next to them... No one goes the distance alone. Even LeBron needed Wade and Bosh for his first ring.

And yes, the specific example you gave of a good team was not only the best roster they ever gave Harden, but also literally the only one they ever gave him that was capable of winning games without him. That 2017-18 year with Paul was the only team that ever had a winning record without Harden on the floor for more than a couple games, and the only one (IIRC) that had a positive Net Rating without him on the floor. So there is no way any reasonable human can blame Harden for the Rockets' inability to win a title. Harden was the only reason they ever even had a shot at one.

And Chris Paul, who on paper seems like a terrible fit, was enough for Harden to set a franchise record best regular season (despite lots of injuries), and lead what was statistically one of the very best teams of all time while healthy... The only problem was they couldn't stay healthy, and that Scott Foster is a d!ck.

 

it would be well deserved after all these years. He is straight up carrying the Suns

 

CP3 in the series against Denver: 25.5 PPG, 10 APG, shooting 62% from field, 58% from 3, and 100% from ft. His most impressive stat? 7.9 Assist-to-Turnover ratio. Now that's a PointGod.

 

Well that's a bit too strong for me. We should've kept Paul/Harden/Capela and retooled our defensive wings.

But regardless, the people who were really loud about getting rid of Paul have been quiet for a while, so it is easy to forget how loud that was. He was the scapegoat for everything that happened after we picked up freaking Michael Carter Williams and Iman Shumpert.

 

That's always been CP. When you control the the game like that you control pace, you reduce fatigue, you get other guys involved, you make the team more versatile - so many things that Westbrook does none of. Westbrook creates turnovers and chaos that confuse the offense, fatigue the forwards and energize the other team.

 

Zero.

He could never make a clutch shot, or play, or deliver when it matters. But that has been the story of his career. And will continue to be the story. There's really no reason for it except he doesn't have the will to win. The same could be said of Stockton. Both were more than capable of delivering on the big shot, but both either failed to take it, or missed when it was there. That can be overcome. Just look at Lebron. But Paul has failed miserably so far and hasn't shown any signs of ever clearing that hurdle.

 

It will be well deserved.

 

Can we change our futures?

I...I don't know.

The only thing that I know for sure is that you are the best thing that's ever happened to me.

I miss you dreadfully.