1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

How much better can James Harden get? will he ever reach top 5?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Jharden13, Jun 22, 2013.

Tags:
  1. albuster

    albuster Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2009
    Messages:
    2,102
    Likes Received:
    818
    It depends upon whom you ask. A Rockets fan would consider him an all time great, but others may say something else, so let's see how he does next year and so on.
     
  2. treeman

    treeman Member

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 1999
    Messages:
    7,146
    Likes Received:
    261
    Lots of "Top 5 if he learns to defend" posts...

    When he actually tried to defend he was a very good defender. He has the skill to be a good defender, he simply doesn't seem to care to expend the energy it takes to do it. I don't say that as a knock on him - only so much gas in the tank, and you've gotta make it count - just to point out that he is a capable defender when he wants to be.
     
    1 person likes this.
  3. ryano2009

    ryano2009 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2009
    Messages:
    7,888
    Likes Received:
    5,401
    You have Wade, rose and George ahead of him.....????? GTFO
     
  4. ryano2009

    ryano2009 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2009
    Messages:
    7,888
    Likes Received:
    5,401
    So KG is Rasheed wallace type of player..?
     
  5. ryano2009

    ryano2009 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2009
    Messages:
    7,888
    Likes Received:
    5,401
    I don't think he is overrated, the guy is very talented on defense and has very good chance to be good offensive player, but I agree, people are ranking him way high.
     
  6. Sydeffect

    Sydeffect Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2010
    Messages:
    5,923
    Likes Received:
    448
    He's a top 10 player right now. I think he can be in the 5-7 range if he improves on defense even a bit.
     
  7. ryano2009

    ryano2009 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2009
    Messages:
    7,888
    Likes Received:
    5,401
    I don't understand the logic of people ranking the players
    for instance are we ranking Howard based on 2 or 3 years ago or as if now....!!!
    IMO he as if now no where near the top 5.

    My list:

    1-Lebron
    2-Durant
    3-CP3
    4-Kobe (if he can return like the old self)
    5-Melo (prolific scorer, his game will never change, he is great scorer, will get you 30pts on the daily bases, can't contribute the ball, can't defend, his main focus is scoring)
    6-Harden
    7-Westbrook
    8-Wade
    9-parker
    10-Howard
     
  8. jocar

    jocar Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2007
    Messages:
    4,869
    Likes Received:
    614
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    JVG thinks Yao would've been in the top 10 as well

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Spiegel

    Spiegel Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2010
    Messages:
    5,403
    Likes Received:
    101
    He is easily top 10 and borderline top 6 or even 5. in 3 years he'll be top 3.
     
  10. Aleron

    Aleron Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2010
    Messages:
    11,685
    Likes Received:
    1,113
    When Lebron James gets 1.4 and Tony Parker gets 3.4 for DRating, it should point something out about the validity of such a statistical measure.
     
  11. OremLK

    OremLK Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2010
    Messages:
    20,208
    Likes Received:
    17,969
    He's already definitely top 10, and arguably borderline top 5. So yes, I think he can reach top 5 status if he improves only a little more (mostly on defense).
     
  12. Mathloom

    Mathloom Shameless Optimist

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2008
    Messages:
    21,116
    Likes Received:
    22,582
    If we get another 20ppg+ calibre scorer like Howard, and at least as good a defensive presence as Asik (also Howard), then Harden should really be more efficient and better defensively.

    If he doesn't take advantage of that, I predict he carries on his career being a one-way player, always scratching the surface of top 10.

    If he is smart enough to recognize that with Howard he could increase his FG%, reduce ISO's, reduce TO's and improve defense - then he may be a top 10 player for the rest of his career.

    It is another critical season for the development of Harden's career.
     
  13. parksn306

    parksn306 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2012
    Messages:
    1,158
    Likes Received:
    40
    It depends what James Harden we'll see.

    Last season there were 2 Harden's. Before the All-star game, Harden was an absolute monster on offense and Euro-stepped all over the league. After the all-star game he was a different player. I think he shot below 40%, forced too many bad shots and fell in love with the ISO. What happened?

    He got banged up. If the coaching staff can manage his minutes better and keep Harden healthy, then he should be a Top 5 player next year. He's already going to be the top 2 guard because Kobe's going to be hurt and Wade picks his spots now.

    Last season there was an on-going debate here about limiting Harden's minutes. Well I think we can all agree, they rode him too much last season. I think we should see more Lin-Bev backcourt and try to keep Harden's minutes down, or maybe he just needed a whole season to adjust to starter minutes. Either way, once he stops euro-stepping, the coaching staff needs to rest him.
     

Share This Page