This doesn't really answer much. It doesn't even matter if they play the same position. The Rockets are built around Harden and Dwight, while GS is built around Curry and Klay.
Harden would be scaling back to do what Curry does. Curry would have to take his game to new heights to fill in for Harden. I guess you could argue that it might be tough for Harden to make up for a slight but definitively worse three-point percentage, but I feel like that could be bridged by Harden getting to the free throw line and advantages in finishing at the rim due to his strength. I think the poll could have removed a lot of noise if it asked which team is more likely to have the same record if Harden and Curry switched teams. Obviously, it's a Rockets message board so Harden would win unanimously. And since I'm a Rockets' fan my opinion should be disregarded, but I don't know how anyone could argue otherwise.
I don't see either team improving via that swap. GS is built on lights out shooting. Houston is built on smarter shots. Curry does what he does because his supporting cast is tailored to him. The same could be said of Harden. If you swap them, I see Houston taking more of a hit, but both teams will take a hit. GS falls to 3rd/4th in the west, Houston struggles to get 8th.
He didn't have to carry such burden as Harden (yet), so we don't know how would he respond in such situation. I don't think it's fair to make presumptions.
I think the benefits to Golden State would be minimal if accounting for their different positions, and negative if you're just chunking Harden in there with no plan how to cover PG duties or split minutes with Thompson. Rockets with Curry would be unquestionably worse no matter how you slice it. So I agree with the Harden-for-MVP-promoting agenda behind this line of thought, but I really don't buy the "Harden makes GSW unstoppable" premise.
Who cares? If the Warriors acquired Harden for Curry, they'd have to move Thompson or Barnes or whatever for a Beverley-type to be next to him or a shotblocker or whatever, and then it's a completely different Warriors team anyway.
Yes, I agree BOTH teams would be WORSE. Stephen Curry is not physical (6ft2, skinny frame, limited) enough to carry the load like Harden does for the Rockets. Harden plays 1v1 to beat his man and when they bring help that is when Harden passes it to the open man for his assist. Harden on the Warriors would just kill the chemistry, free flowing, unpredictability for the whole Warriors squad, which is based off of player and ball movement. We all know Harden doesn't like to move his feet when he doesn't have the ball in his hands. Curry is a better distributor between the two. Also, Warriors would be worse defensively for sure.
So what you saying is this : If Harden switched team with Curry, GSW will need to trade Thompson for Bev. Then it makes a Bev - Harden GSW team comparing to a Curry - Thompson Rox team and which one will be better? Never thought Thompson's trade value will be close to garbage level as mentioned here in CF.
Harden has to play this way because the team is built around him. The warriors would probably stay the same theyre already the best team in the west. They are balanced. And theyre very deep. We dont have a balanced team.
I agree... I'm rooting for a repeat of '95. Give Curry the regular season MVP, give Harden the Finals MVP =)
