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Do the Rockets really have a superstar on this team?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by sleepyazn, Nov 22, 2013.

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  1. sleepyazn

    sleepyazn Member

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    This is all based on PER. An average NBA player is at 15 PER. Normally an All-Star caliber player averages 21 PER. A MVP caliber usually averages 26+ PER. Neither Harden or Dwight right now is not anywhere near 26.

    James Harden is right now at 21 PER. Last year which was Harden's best year, He finished with a 23 PER. During the year when he won his 6th man of the year award in OKC, his PER was 21.13.

    Dwight Howard is currently at 20.7 PER. Last year with the Lakers, Dwight had a 19.48 PER as a POWER FORWARD. In his last healthy season with the Magic where he played 78 games(10-11), He had a PER of 26.13.

    Dwight Howard now after the injuries and surgeries is just physically incapable of producing at his old MVP caliber self. Harden's lack of defense will destroy any chances of him producing at the level of a true MVP. Basically Rockets got two all star caliber players but no true superstar.
     
    #1 sleepyazn, Nov 22, 2013
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  2. larsv8

    larsv8 Member

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    PER is a not a stat you should put much analysis into.
     
    #2 larsv8, Nov 22, 2013
  3. DarkRock

    DarkRock Rookie

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    Depends on your definition of being a superstar.

    There are superstars by fanfare and there are superstars by performance. Performance wise your stats proved that we have 2 definite allstars.
     
    #3 DarkRock, Nov 22, 2013
  4. jordnnnn

    jordnnnn Member

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    Just got to find a way to flip our lowly allstars for real deal superstars like Jordan Hill and Isaiah Thomas.
     
    #4 jordnnnn, Nov 22, 2013
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  5. RV6

    RV6 Member

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    There are superstars and then there are legends. We don't have any legends. Those play both ends at a high level.
     
    #5 RV6, Nov 22, 2013
  6. jim1961

    jim1961 Member

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    In this case though, to say H & H are playing at a all-star caliber rather than a superstar/MVP caliber is about right.
     
    #6 jim1961, Nov 22, 2013
  7. pnr

    pnr Member

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    Trade Harden for Isaiah Thomas. That dude's PER is 9th in the league!
     
    #7 pnr, Nov 22, 2013
  8. LikeMike

    LikeMike Member

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    If you define superstar by "LeBron, a healthy Kobe and that`s it", then no, we don`t have a superstar. If you broaden the picture a little we have 2 - but both have serious shortcomings.

    Harden is great on offense, very efficient, a willing passer and a true go to guy (that could be a little more clutch) - but he shows no effort on defense and is a real liabilty here. Dwight is a great defender and rebounder with unearthy strength and athleticism that helps him get his points - but he doesn`t have a real go to move and sucks at shooting free throws.

    Forget about PER - Harden played injured several of these games (and performed pretty poorly) and his 3pt shot is not falling. When it does, his PER will be up. Dwight? We need to figure out a good way to make him part of our offense, then his PER will rise.

    Right now most problems with our guys aren`t because of skill - it is because they haven`t figured out the best way to play together.
     
    #8 LikeMike, Nov 22, 2013
  9. TheBigFive

    TheBigFive Member

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    We have one All Star - Dwight Howard. Lin could make it through fan vote. Doubt Harden makes the all star team this year. His reputation has taken a hit due to his defensive incompetence.
     
    #9 TheBigFive, Nov 22, 2013
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  10. Johndoe804

    Johndoe804 Member

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    What are you basing this on? Seems pretty baseless to me.
     
    #10 Johndoe804, Nov 22, 2013
  11. hltiki

    hltiki Member

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    One thing i've always dislike about certain sports and leagues, particularly the NBA, is the forced creation of idols for every team. Every team has one now, and it really is a marketing scheme.
     
    #11 hltiki, Nov 22, 2013
  12. felixng2012

    felixng2012 Member

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    Lol at Harden not being an All Star. If defense mattered Kyrie Irving wouldn't have been an All star last season. Yea his defense has been putrid though.
     
    #12 felixng2012, Nov 22, 2013
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  13. J.R.

    J.R. Member

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    Two all-stars.
     
    #13 J.R., Nov 22, 2013
  14. sleepyazn

    sleepyazn Member

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    I also define superstar by the ability to close games. Neither Harden or Dwight can close games. Dwight is a liability in the 4th quarter and Harden relies too much on the ref giving him the call or trying to get a foul.
     
    #14 sleepyazn, Nov 22, 2013
  15. sleepyazn

    sleepyazn Member

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    You know how Howard used to hit 50% of his post ups in his MVP caliber year in Orlando? It was because he could DUNK from his post up position. Have you even see him attempt that this year? One of Dwight's greatest weapons was his speed with his combination of size. Dwight isn't that fast anymore. His speed is noticeably slower after his injuries.
     
    #15 sleepyazn, Nov 22, 2013
  16. kakaman

    kakaman Member

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    Depends on your definition of superstar. If it's top 5 player in the league, then not yet (Harden is close). If it's a one man team, then no (only Lebron fits that description).
     
    #16 kakaman, Nov 22, 2013
  17. Johndoe804

    Johndoe804 Member

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    Yes, I've seen him dunk from the post this season. Albeit, it wasn't as awesome as it was in the past. He's still quicker than most. He just needs to work on fundamentals as he ages. He needs to keep his hands high, and so on. I don't think this will necessarily ruin his odds reverting back to a 26 PER player, though.
     
    #17 Johndoe804, Nov 22, 2013
  18. YOLO

    YOLO Member

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    harden cannot become a superstar until he can learn to hit clutch shots and close out games and with better effort on D
     
    #18 YOLO, Nov 22, 2013
  19. LikeMike

    LikeMike Member

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    Harden can close - he did it in OKC all the time and he did it here some last season. For a lot of time this season he hasn`t been himself - in part because of his injury and I guess also because the team is not in sync so far.

    Harden isn`t the most clutch player, but he usually can get you points when it counts.
     
    #19 LikeMike, Nov 22, 2013
  20. tomato123

    tomato123 Rookie

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    I don't think lin will get into allstar though fan vote. Probably CP3 and Kobe again.

     
    #20 tomato123, Nov 22, 2013
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