Does Harden have a chance of becoming GOAT Rocket?

I think Harden has a realistic shot at being the GOAT left handed player on the Rockets

 

~lol~ :grin:

 

I agree, anybody that try's to put Duncan in the same class as Dream has never watched Dream play much at all.

Robert Horry said that comparing Duncan to Dream is like comparing him to Jordan. Horry said that Dream was way better, he won championships with both Dream and Duncan so you would think he would know what he was talking about.

 

No
Nup
Negative Ghostrider

 

noway

 

Should've stopped right there.

 

Not saying they are in the same category or anything, but it seems to me that Duncan is being a little underrated here.

 

THIS. If Harden can improve his 3-pt FG% to a godly 50-55% like Steve Kerr and his FT% to 90-92% like Ray Allen, decrease his turnovers, improve his passing and leadership a bit, maintain everything else, and stay completely healthy, he might be able to average 30-35 points per game at the highest shooting efficiencies in history at that PPG range to overcome Hakeem's far superior physical gifts and defense to get into the conversation as perhaps the greatest player of all time. That said, Harden will still end up as a heck of a player regardless.

 

I was surprised when I looked it up a while back. Only one player has ever won Defensive Player of the Year, MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season:

Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon

 

I think if Harden wants to be the leader that Hakeem was he will have to become the defensive leader of the team. He has not to this point shown the required focus necessary for a guard to play team leading defense for an entire game much less for a season. Effort on the defensive end of the court above all else IMO shows your commitment to the team. Jordan could jump in the middle of any player on his team for not working their a$$ off as could Hakeem because they were both 100% committed on both ends of the court. I know Harden is gifted on offense but the great ones play both ends.

Durrant and the Thunder lost because they could not change their identity once Westbrook went down. The Thunder became Durrant. He is an amazing and smooth offensive player but without Westbrook the Thunder needed to become a gritty defensive team and that isn't who Durrant lead them to be because he isn't that player.

Watch the Heat Pacers series, if Lebron takes over on defense the Heat win, if he doesn't the Pacers win.

You cannot be a GOAT without being elite on defense. Harden has a lot of work to do there. I don't think he has to be DPOY but he has to be DPOY for the Rockets. This is not a tallent issue, it is a leadership issue. Even if we get Dwight, Harden still has to be the one that sets the tone defensively, Dwight will follow(or whine and get hurt, not sure which).

 

well said.

 

He can be top 10 in Rockets history, no? (Below is in alphabetical order)
Clyde Drexler
Steve Francis
Elvin Hayes
Moses Malone
Tracy McGrady
Calvin Murphy
Hakeem Olajuwon
Ralph Sampson
Rudy Tomjanovich
Ming Yao

I think he could easily overtake Francis on the list in a few seasons. Especially if he leads us to the Finals.

 

He'd be BOAT for sure, beard of all time.

 

Harden lead us to 4 ships, he'll be goat.

 

No not even a slim chance. Dream was one of the greatest defensive anchors of all time while being a very good-elite offensive anchor as well. Harden is great offensively but equally as putrid defensively. Even if he becomes an elite defender which I doubt he will be nowhere near Dream defensively.

 

Just show me the rings, Harden....then we can talk about your Rockets legacy...

 

Was looking at Dream's stats and saw he was ranked all-time #2 (MJ #1) among basketball fans.



http://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/elo.cgi
http://www.basketball-reference.com/about/elo.html

This is how highly Dream is regarded. Not just Rockets fans, but avid basketball fans.

Here's his accomplishments.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/olajuha01.html
and


Harden? I wish! We'd be goin to the WCF every year. But topping Dream for GOATR, is next to impossible.

Even MJ was imitated by Kobe. Most of the greatest players were imitated by another player somewhere along the line.
You will not see another center imitate Olajuwon in your lifetime.

 

He'd have to win more then two championships and become a Hall of fame worthy player in terms of stats, probably scoring because I can't see him doing it for assists or rebounds. Maybe turnovers but I can't believe he'd lead the team to even on Finals appearance if he still has his turnover issues.

In the long run, he will be a strong #2 just like how if Andre Johnson or Arian Foster or even JJ Watt retired without a memorable Super Bowl performance/win but incredible stats they would still be ranked behind Houston Professional football legend Earl Campbell.