How many assists will James Harden average this year?

I've noticed this. Why though? Schemes typically change to reflect the current rules, but we haven't really seen any changes to make assisting harder.

 

Not sure, could have to do with the change in defensive rules.

CP3, Rondo and Nash never got to 12 assists per game and they werent asked to score like Harden

 

I'll say about 9.5 assists per game, but he needs to keep it at or under 3 assists per game. I'm not asking much.

G**damnit, I don't want to see any more of these 8 turnover games like yesterday.

He reverted quickly to form. 15 assists? Awesome. 8 turnovers? STOP that stupid loopedy-loop over-the-shoulder lazy-ass pass, James, and that throwing-the-ball-at-the-feet thing, and we'll be fine.

 

What about turnovers? Last games 8 got me a bit worried

 

On Nash comparisons,

Nash had a run where he avg'd 10+ asts 7 out 8 years. He played around 33 MPG, he led the league in assist % with over 50% asst %. Harden's best years is 37% assist %.

Nash in DALLAS WAS assisting same % of plays as Harden is now, same 7.5 asts/gm type average. Then Nash teaming with MDA got his assists up big. Harden should expect a nice assist boost in similar way. I just think his scoring will be needed in more possessions. There haven't been THAT many 20-10 seasons

 

nice poll, only thing is that he is also going to average 5+ turnovers if he plays more than 38 minutes, book it

 

He probably will, and still probably won't matter.

 

There were 4 guys in entire league who averaged 10 assists a game. Its going to be pretty hard to average 10 assists a game.

 

He's going to come out passing up a storm. If we win at a decent clip it will continue and I think you might see 10+. If he comes out passing up a storm, but we lose, he's going to change things up and score more and you're looking at something around 8.

 

He averaged closed to 8 dimes a game with our role players missing a ton of open looks (looking at you Brewer, Smith, Jones, ect). Some of you really think his average will stay the same with significantly better shooters?

 

He was his most scoring-minded self last year, shooting 20 shots a game, scoring 29 points a game. And despite being a PnR maestro with no one to dance with, despite being surrounded by junk shooters, he averaged 7.5 assist per game.

I think he picks up an extra 2 assists on his average instantly.

But honestly, if it was the choice between a 11 apg / 38 mpg Harden Versus a 9.5 apg / 33 mpg Harden. I'll take the 9.5 assists and 33 minute Harden. We shouldn't have to ride him so hard this year.
Let him play a nice, balanced 33 minutes where he can portion off some fuel in tank to improve his defense.

 

His court vision is good enough, and he has shooters around him now.... I think he can crack 10...

 

During Linsanity, while Knicks ran MDA's PnR-heavy offense, Lin averaged over 20 PPG, ~9 assists and 5 TOs, but they also won 6 games straight with him as the starting PG. I think it's fairly easy with the shooters Harden has at his disposal to easily match that. Sure the TOs are a negative, but they aren't a net negative.

 

Less than 9. More than 8. I believe "9 to 10" captures the spirit of this answer, but mathematically my choice is not available.

 

So according to most Rockets fans, he's going to be the first player and only the 2nd ever to lead the league in scoring and assists since Tiny Nate. It's amazing how bi-polar Rockets fans are throughout the course of a season.

 

And it's much more amazing how stupid some fans are and don't realize that how many assists Harden never got due to being surrounded by mediocre to garbage shooters who blanked on wide open shots. I don't see anyone seriously expecting Harden to go 30-10, but going 20-10+ is not impossible (though difficult), assuming he plays the same amount of minutes. That said, it ultimately depends on how much we end up playing him each game.

 

How many turnovers?