Hypothetical: Switch James Harden with another Star

Harden has too obvious of flaws that you have to shape your roster a certain way with him. I mean with the right players around him, he has probably more impact than any of those players listed offensively, but on the flip side he is also the least versatile player on the list.

In a way Harden is more like a Giannis, way too talented and impactful to not build your team around, but not versatile enough to have a flexible roster.

 

I would definitely say the CP3 Steph backcourt would and Steph and Dwight might depending on the level of competition.

 

It's amazing how much you just magic hand wave Curry's all time off ball shooting ability that is a large reason why the GS offense was one of the best of all time.

How do you even rationally justify such a stupid opinion? Are you that much of a stan of Harden that you forgot about the basics of basketball?

 

Harden needed guys like Josh Smith to save his ass?

 

Yeah

 

Well you named, Durant, LeBron, Curry and Kawaiii

Yes they are all more versatile than Harden in many ways. Harden is a top 1-2 player in the league when he gets to dominate the ball and have 3 and D players to stand around as shooters or catch lobs. He doesn't slash, doesn't run around screens, doesn't set many screens, doesn't post up much.

Lebron, does all the above and is way more athletic which opens his game up.

Durant is a better shooter, and moves better without the ball, and is an equal or better Iso player. He doesn't have the same court vision or passing but he's not a guard.

Curry is a better shooter, way better at moving without the ball, can even slash sometimes, understand ball movement and sets really good screens to set up his team mates. He's not durable, is not as good as a ball dominant player, but can PnR you to death too in short spurts in the playoffs (eg 2019 game 6 and 7 after Durant went down).

Kawaii is not as good as Harden offensively, maybe not as versatile either, but he is a way better post up and mid range player. But what he bring on defense is another story.

 

Lebron is old. Gimme Kawhi

 

Maybe Lebron. But it all depends on his support. Lebron has always had some type of decent support around him.

Steph already proved it last year he couldn't carry a team on his own. He was lucky he got injured..... people would have caught on to the fact he can't do it.

Kawhi's always in load management. He's always had a good team. Very strong Spurs and Raptors teams. If Harden ever had his support, he would have most likely won the championship a couple of times. Blew a 3-1 lead last year.... something Harden would never have done if he had that Clippers team.

KD had to join one of the best teams of all time to win a championship. So no, he would never have carried us.

Harden has turned us into a title contender. He's done that basically with no all-stars. The only all-star he's had is Westbrook.... but we got Westbrook who was on the decline in my opinion. He got an injury-prone CP3 and Howard who was past his best when he joined us. Remember that one year where Harden had to carry a G League team from an 11-14 record to 4th in the playoffs? He had no Paul, Gordon and Capela for a combined total of 45 games. Tell me what other top player in the league would have done what Harden did that year? Losing basically half your starters for half the season and still getting 4th.... is quite some achievement.

 

You have some horrible logic. Steph got injuried bit proved he can't carry a team?

You know he won a ring and has been to the finals twice before Durant. Before Durant they were still considered a super team in terms of actual statistical production such as pt differential and it was Steph who was the only true superstar, Klay, a really good all-star and Draymond a borderline all-star who can be very overrated sometimes and with a first year head coach.

That doesn't look like a team that will give you an all time great statistical season on paper. Usually you need two bonified superstars for that. Curry was the engine of that team. He definitely can carry very elite teams.

 

Not really. The Warriors were playing awful when Curry had to carry them. I'm pretty certain they were 1-4 with him out there on his own. Harden carried a G League team to 4th in the playoffs. If Curry wouldn't have got injured, the Warriors wouldn't have made the playoffs in any case. He's a very good shooter..... and he's always had excellent support around him.

How many all-stars has Harden had next to him that's been in their prime from 2012 to 2019? How many have Kawhi, Lebron, KD and Curry had?

 

Really a 5 game sample size erases two MVPs, 2 finals appearances, 1 ring and all time great statistical seasons?

Really? ****ing really?

 

Put it this way. Put Harden in that Warriors team from 2013 to 2019, the Warriors would have won every single year.... or at least 4 championships. Put Curry in our team from 2012 to 2019, he's making the playoffs but nothing else. I have no doubt in my mind that Curry wouldn't have taken a G League team to the playoffs. Curry is a great shooter and a decent playmaker, but he relies on great support to make it work for him. He's not a great defender and he's not a good dribbler. He can't really create his own shot.... unless it's from someone setting him a good screen or off-ball screen. As I said, one of the best shooters of all time, but he's not at Harden's level.

 

We've never seen Curry surrounded by complete trash for an extended period of time like Harden in 2019 when CP3 and Gordon were out. Even this year without Klay he has a solid team.

The one year Harden had a player of Klay's level, he won 65 games and was up 3-1 over Curry with Durant, Klay, Green, and Iggy.

 

That 2018 Rocket team was more talented than Curry's preKD teams.

CP3 is better than Klay in 2018 and Draymond is probably marginally better than EG before his major shooting slumps the past couple of seasons.

 

Curry is literally a top 4 ball handler in the league and has one of the softest touches around the rim and in the mid range.

He's far more than just a shooter. Stop being ridiculous. The main aspect that Curry is worse than Harden at is durability. That's Harden's main key to sustained successful regular seasons.

 

Err....nah. Draymond is a HOF and one of the best defensive players ever.

 

Outside of Curry and Harden, you really think the rockets in 2018 were better than 73-9 team? And the team that won it all the year before that?

 

Even if you believe that, The Warriors 3-8 are much stronger than the Rockets. Iggy alone is better than anybody on the Rockets 3-8. He's a Finals MVP who steps up in big moments unlike Ariza who goes 0-11 in a game 7. plus Draymond owns Capela.

 

Ariza probably would shoot better on the Warriors team due to schemes and not standing around in spot so he can still be in rhythm.