Please stop...Yao was great, but that's ridiculous. And if Yao is a "top 5 all time player", and you think Harden is better...then you think Harden is a top 5 all time player as well? Please....c'mon bro...
Here's the difference.. Yes, Kobe and Wade are still better than Harden right now.. But would i trade Harden in exchange for either? HELL TO THE NO. I have no further questions your honor.
It's not too early to say, because he's been playing amazing this year. He's getting up there for sure though. I move him up to #2 behind Kobe. I had him at #3 behind Wade earlier. But the guy is just beasting. Old Kobe is still great. If Harden can have a career like Kobe. It'll be amazing to watch.
I checked before I posted... and my statement stands. Kobe almost literally nothing else Kobe averages slightly more rebounds, Harden averages more assist, steals, blocks, has a higher 3p%, and scores only 1 less point off 3 few shots. If you are a fan of advanced stats, like myself, Harden wins as well
and for Kobe to prove he is better in a 'big playoff game' he's going to have to get over .500 and get into the playoffs...
So if we based it on stats and it looks basically even, now people would almost certainly have to go to trust factor and achievements. If you had your own nba team and you are in the playoffs right now, who would you choose to have as your shooting guard? The one who you think gives you the best chance of winning a championship right now. Harden, Wade, or Kobe?
It's even, but one is doing it far more efficiently than the other, and efficiency counts for a lot in my book. Kobe is averaging one more point off 4 more shots. Harden gets to the free throw line 43% more often than Kobe. While the assist are even, the points off assist are not (Harden gets 2.2 assist per game for 3, Kobe 1.7. Although this does not seem like much, over the course of a season it amounts to over 120 additional points). Harden gets more assist for threes (typically open, because Harden gets most of these assist driving than kicking out). Out of Kobe, Wade and Harden, Harden gives my team the best chance to win a playoff game.
I'm actually having this discussion with Jason Friedman right now.. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/jasoncfriedman">jasoncfriedman</a> Hey Jason, who would be your top 3 shooting guards in the NBA right now? In order.</p>— Marco M (@newagerocket) <a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket/status/300293295760879616">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket">newagerocket</a> Oof, that's tough. It's obviously a battle between Kobe, Wade and James. How does once choose among that group? No question</p>— Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/status/300294728753229824">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/jasoncfriedman">jasoncfriedman</a> No one would argue with that. Harden is the future. Who do you think is the best right now? Are you allowed to answer this?</p>— Marco M (@newagerocket) <a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket/status/300296155433160704">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket">newagerocket</a> I'm allowed to answer but I'm honestly not sure whom I'd take right this second. I could make powerful cases for each.</p>— Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/status/300297700488921091">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket">newagerocket</a> Are we talking one game? An entire season? Those things change the equation somewhat.</p>— Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/status/300297895972843520">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/jasoncfriedman">jasoncfriedman</a> Alright here's one scenario.. Lets say your team is in the playoffs right now and you can choose one of em to play for you..</p>— Marco M (@newagerocket) <a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket/status/300298795906895872">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket">newagerocket</a> Tough to go against experience of Kobe and Wade in that scenario. Wade especially can be dynamic on D when he's engaged and</p>— Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/status/300301176736452608">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket">newagerocket</a> D is obviously the one area where Harden has been less than stellar this year.</p>— Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/status/300301368185479168">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/jasoncfriedman">jasoncfriedman</a> I would still rank Kobe and Wade ahead of Harden right now but that could change in a year or two. But one thing is..</p>— Marco M (@newagerocket) <a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket/status/300304278751436800">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/jasoncfriedman">jasoncfriedman</a> ..for sure, i wouldn't trade James in exchange for either.</p>— Marco M (@newagerocket) <a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket/status/300304570247180289">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket">newagerocket</a> Not a chance. In fact, could make a strong argument right now that only players you'd consider trading him for would be LBJ</p>— Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/status/300305342225600512">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket">newagerocket</a> and KD. CP3 a stud as well, but injury concerns are there. Same for Howard. At 23 and with no injury history, Harden one of</p>— Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/status/300305625655697408">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket">newagerocket</a> the safest, surest bets in the league right now.</p>— Jason Friedman (@JasonCFriedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonCFriedman/status/300305681498652673">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/jasoncfriedman">jasoncfriedman</a> I agree 100%. Feels good to be a Rockets fan again and this is just the beginning of "A New Age".</p>— Marco M (@newagerocket) <a href="https://twitter.com/newagerocket/status/300308530991349760">February 9, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>35-Point, 10 Assist Games – NBA This SeasonJames Harden 2LeBron James 1Rest of NBA 0</p>— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) <a href="https://twitter.com/Buccigross/status/300240799860420608" data-datetime="2013-02-00T13:52:39+00:00">February 0, 2013</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
And season performances would surely translate and be applied to the big time playoff games right? Since you're basing all of this on season performances, why not pick Wade then? He has the highest player efficiency rating (PER) among the three this nba season.
YES! the "King James" though as in LBJ is an illuminati lover, and puppet! I'd like to think James Harden won't follow the same path since he MADE HIMSELF, and got himself to this position on his own! While "King LBJ" decides to focus on when to throw up the illuminati sign, and when to throw the horns up, and throw his 3 symbols; as he looks at himself him on the "Court Video Screens" for his cue! JAMES HARDEN IS THE BEST 2 guard in the NBA, and I wasn't referring to LBJ as a shooting guard, although he could play any position, but more so to let's get away from "King James" from the Vote. James Harden deserves his own name! James Harden the 23!!!! YEAR OLD!!!! is the best 2 in the L!! THANK YOU Daryl Morey!!!!!
Oh and looking at Friedman's twitter yes burn the jinx get that off! haha it's un-jinxed! Anyways, I wouldn't trade Harden for LBJ at this point because LBJ has a ton of run on those legs. So if Friedman says Harden is the "best bet at this point" than he kind of contradicts his statement about arguing the only worthy player to think about trading Harden for LBJ; I'd say no. Yes, LBJ is great, but Harden is 23 with young legs!
Don't use the Peyton Manning argument. Because Harden adds more to the team, then Wade does. His value added, and his EWA are both higher than Wade/Kobe (he only trails Durant and LeBron in both categories). Harden early in the season was very TO prone, but lately- Last 7 games- he has decreased his TOPG to 2.4, which hurts his per.
