I thought he'd be just good enough to keep us from getting a top three pick but not good enough to get us to the Finals. I might have been wrong about that. In my defense, Harden went on to make a lot of general managers look very dumb for not picking him up, especially for how little he ended up costing. Note, many of those general managers are no longer running NBA teams.
You're right, OP - I truely didn't think he had it in him. I had no idea that he could play so well consistently, and I wasn't sure he could step up to the front like that, after being a stellar 6th man for so long. We're really lucky to have him. I can't wait to see him in live action for the 1st time! (I have tickets to our wway game in Cleveland in 10 days!)
I don't know about a career "loaded with titles" and especially MVPs. It is very, very difficult to win championships in this league, but I think this team can knock off one or two if they keep the right guys together. But MVPs (plural???) is going to be especially difficult while we still have young megastars like Durant and Lebron sticking around for a while... then who knows what might happen with these Parker and Wiggins guys. I love Harden's game, though. If he just brings a little more effort on D, he'll be up there as one of the very best to ever play his position before long.
Oh, but to answer your question, Harden has definitely been better than I imagined he would be. I was slightly skeptical about the value of that trade and about giving Harden the max, but he has been amazing.
Lets not get carried away. He is the best player. However, imo howard is the most important player. Look at the record this year vs last year(granted our young players are a year older) and also look at the opponents point per possession this year vs last year. Without dwight on this team we are chasing the 8 seed.
I knew he was this good in every aspect of his game besides isolation -- he has improved a lot in that area. I actually have proof I voted him in as a top 10 player while he was still in OKC and my friends thought that was crazy, but I knew that he was a top 10 talent who just needed the right role. I didn't think he would be so bad defensively though, he was a good defender in college.
My thoughts as well. Harden is the most skilled player on this team but Howard is definitely the most important. Harden for the most part did his job last night, but Howard being close to a non-factor really was the major issue the Rox loss. Howard is too important to the team to be a non factor especially against an elite team like OKC.
Every star in every team is a big factor for a win ... Harden was and is the best player in this team. Without Harden we would be like Dallas(as far as seeding is concerned) ... Without Howard we would be like Blazers ... I am happy we have both.
This is hardens team, he's been playing great on D also since all star break. If Howard is having a off night is he can actually cost us a game like he did last night, clippers, & okc... It's scary... Harden can still help by getting to the line up and making defense still plan to stop him and create by getting assist. #FEARTHEBEARD
Before the Harden trade to Rox, Harden was viewed at as a stat geeks wet dream. One of the most efficient scorers we have seen come into the game in years. So it wasn't a surprise to me that the Rockets and Morey looked at Harden as one of those guys who had been under-utilized, and could really do well with a much larger role. That being said, I didn't see him blossoming that much, that quick, but I also didn't see him dropping that much in efficiency as well... so there is that.... However high volume scorers never really are extremely efficient to begin with unless you are Lebron James or Kevin Durant. Either way though, I definitely thought he was worth the investment in the contract he got, and I definitely knew he would be the face of the franchise moving forward, and a damn good one at that.
I am going to admit I was never that big on Harden. When the trade first went down, I was one of the people who thought the Rockets gave up too much. But after that first game in Detroit was it? My jaws literally dropped and that's when I started hailing to Morey.
I was fine with the trade.... thought we were giving up a bit much, but thought Harden had the potential to be a top 10 player in the league... Since he's been with us, I've had reservations.... chucker, low bball iq, lazy defender, stat w**** rather than team player.... feelin MUCH better about him since allstar break.... If he maintains focus I think he can surpass my original hope of him being a top 10 player and be in the conversation with KD, Bron, etc... as MVP....
I was more like: "well a good offensive player stronger than K-Mart, with a 20 to 22 ppg" Even after the trade i was waiting for him to collapse but damn the guy is improving and unselfish and proving he can be the cluth guy (yes i don't give a s... about the anti heroic theory) Hope he continues to focus on defense though to be the real best SG
Saw him play at ASU, watched him develop quickly at OKC and show out in the playoffs. You could just see he had some "it" factor in his game. So when I found out we got Harden I went into denial. Had to make sure this was true. When confirmed I lost it!!. I knew we were back on our way to contending. Happier then the day we drafted Yao and more stunned then when we got T-Mac for "The Franchise".
Last year he proved better than I thought. The last few games this season has further impressed... defense, shooting, and being clutch.
