Is James Harden the second best Rockets player of all time?

if harden becomes a complete player on defense, he's a lock for #2. I still voted him as #2 though haha. If he becomes a kobe bryant level, situationally elite defensive player at least, and wins 3 rings, dominating the other superstars in the PLAYOFFS, then i'd give him the #1. Offensively, he's pretty set at an extremely high level. Just about that defense tho

 

If/ when he wins the MVP he has been twice overlooked for, then I think yes, he is number 2.

As said earlier, he has a shot at passing Dream eventually, but needs at least a championship and finals MVP to go with his regular season mvp (from above!!)

Obligatory lol at OKC for keeping russ and losing KD and JH

 

I'll trade him in a heartbeat for Lebron James!

 

Harden doesn't have to be this lockdown defender to be 2nd best Rocket lol.

He is already the 2nd best by virtue of his historic statistical run of the last few years. How many 50 burgers, players of week, player of month wins.

Rings are coming. He might be the best Rocket ever when he's done. Yeah I said it. What?

 

I vote Not Yet.

Moses Malone, NBA Finals.

 

WRONG THREAD.

 

Dream is once in a lifetime forsure the most well rounded center ever and universally seen as a top 10 player.

Harden prob won't get there unless he rips off 3-4 chips and 2 mvps but he himself is a once in a lifetime player.

He's already imo one of the 10
Best offensive players the NBA has ever seen.

Guy is special it's time everyone accepts that.

His main rivals imo in terms of best player in the game/era are obviously Lebron and KD.

Curry is great but what harden does is otherworldly, I've truely only seen Lebron donthe stuff james does in terms of the scoring and playmaking and harden imo is the more natural scorer while Lebron is the more well rounded player because of the defense and size.

 

eliminate the players who couldn't lead the Rockets out of the first round
let's see your list then

 

Cause his son got beat up criticizing Harden at the strip club.

 

Before that he still was never mentioned in any capacity. I still cannot find any picture of him with MVPs (Rockets first) or Finals in any capacity from 1981.

 

Easily maybe a bit overstated.
Big Mo is Big Mo.
The Grandfather

Mo was begat Hakeem who begats Harden
Hakeem over came Mo
I hope Harden to improve further . . . but you are probably right
Harden has not overcome Mo . . .. . yet

Rocket River
was quick on the draw

 

NBA 2k18 Agrees. (Although I question the list that omits Moses Malone).

 

Those rankings are pure entertainment. We know that the Dream is No 1. All I need to know.

I would give it to Moses and then Drexler but those guys (McGrady, Harden, Sampson, Yao, Calvin, Francis and others can duel it out in an epic 1 on 1 when they are all retired and some are fat.)

Chris Paul might become the second most important Rocket in the Postseason.

Just because he is here for 1 year, does not make him less important.

 

Clyde Was nowhere near the near the player Harden is right now as a Rocket. How old are you? Clyde was a broken down version of his Blazers days . His best days as a rocket. Was his first half of a season and even then he was nowhere harden level.

 

Dream
Harden
Moses
Calvin Murphy

 

It's not always stats.... if Clyde is a better fit with the best player that is Hakeem than with Harden, McGrady or Moses......I will put him next to Hakeem and treat him as the second best guy on the team.

Spoiler

Just because Harden has these otherwordly stats in the regular season, and is gassed out in the playoffs, relying heavily on the role players does not make him a viable second piece for me to win the championship.

If I wanted the best regular season record every year, I'd take Hakeem, Paul, D'Antoni and role players.

I would do whatever it takes to win the most championships available (that happend to be back 2 back, one without Clyde).


My humble opinion.

And belittling other posters does not do anything constructive either.

Spoiler

People should get a life and treat this discussions as normal small talk convos and not dead serious threats.

Of course I could be wrong, and the team does need Harden's game and stats. But there is another way to convey the message, other than with this 'How old are you? You are being childish' shtick.

 

Only real competitor is Moses Malone, who wasn't as good IMO. Yao and T-Mac are on the same tier as Moses.

 

The question is who is the second best rockets player of all time not who fits best next to Olajuwon and the obvious answer is either Harden or moses.Even or the best fit thing I would think a far superior passer/playmaker and shooter like Harden opposed to Clyde who could create a ton of open looks for the Dream is a better option.

 

This message only applies to the ones who were able to see Moses Malone in his prime:
AS A ROCKET: why isnt James Harden better than Moses Malone?
Mvps? Harden should have 2 by now if we are being completely honest
Playoffs? Different format from back in the days. Taking a sub .500 team to the Finals is obviously an achievement and in no way I am discrediting that whatsoever but in todays NBA there isnt no way that would ever happen.
I mean we have seen it since day 1 how better Harden just makes the team overall. Moses was a force dwon the paint but JH is a crafty playmaker and honestly since MDA's arrival he's not only been playing loose but also a vocal leader on and off the court.
I dont have issue putting Harden at #2.

(Also it's a shame we can't truly put Yao on here because imo he was the most important thing to happen to the Rockets since Hakeem)
I wanted that dude to win so bad.

 

yes and you know what he is the best offensive player in the entire rockets history.. that's counting Hakeem, that's counting Moses.. The cat hasn't even exactly reached his prime and he will be averaging 25+ till he is 35..