Disagree that Howard is currently better than 2004 Yao. I also disagree that Dawson couldn't build a team with supporting stars. Mario Elie, Sam Cassell, Robert Horry and most importantly Clyde Drexler all just told you to **** off. I love Morey as much as the next guy, mostly because he landed Harden who then landed us Dwight. But, that was ONE move. Without Harden, we don't have Dwight right now. And Morey's only claim to fame would be landing Parsons in the 2nd round and poison pill contracts on J-lin and Asik.
So pretty much Morey got a middling team going nowhere fast and completely revamped the franchise and put together a potential contender with one of the youngest rosters... Jeez, if you put it that way what did Morey really do anyways??
You are what you do, not what could have been. Now we have to see if all the potential created will be realized in a championship. Dawson = Championship Morey = Incredible talent aquired in a VERY short period of time Would I have traded Dawson for Morey? Not in the 80s and early 90s. Would I trade Morey for Dawson now? Hell no, don't need to .
James Harden guarded Serge Ibaka in the playoffs. (while this is true, I am also being highly sarcastic)
If I remember correctly, we usually always beat the Magic during the Yao and Dwight days. Orlando's entire offense was based on throwing the ball to Dwight, and then having Dwight be bigger and stronger than whoever was trying to guard him so they would have to double off of their shooters. With Yao, Dwight wasn't bigger and couldn't push Yao around, so we were able to stay on their shooters more effectively than most teams. Basketball is all about matchups. That said, I do think that Dwight is a better defender than Yao was. He is more athletic and mobile to guard pick and rolls and go after rebounds. He does not have nearly the post moves or finesse around the basket that Yao had. I am extremely excited to watch him on the Rockets, but he and Yao had different styles to their game.
Before he hurt his foot in February, Harden was better offensively than Tmac ever was in Houston, except for that one 7 game playoff series. Tmac played a lot of average defense in Houston.
I always thought that Ralph was more of the pg. But that does bring up a point on who would be a better point guard (ralph or hakeem?). I suppose Ralph's handles were better but i don't doubt that Hakeem could easily improve in that area. Maybe Tinman has some videos of him leading the break.
So averaging over 20+ a game, dishing out 5-6 assist a game and rebounding 6 boards a game is considered in your opinion (inconsistent at best)...Wow and those stats went up in the playoff's on both ends of the court and you call that (inconsistent at best). bwhahahahahahaha now that is very funny.
How he couldnt take the pressure when all his numbers increased every year he was in the playoff's. He led by example and that is on the court. It is not his fault that he couldnt get his teammates to step their games up in the playoff's. Luther Head and Battier would knock down 3's all season long and couldnt buy one in the playoff's. Yall kill me with who is a leader and who is not. Especially when it comes to basketball. You dont have to be verbal to be an leader. Some people leads by example.
What does the fact we won or lost that series have to do with McGrady's defense on Dirk? So if you lose a series any effort in that series by a player doesn't count?
Harden relies too much on running into the paint and trying to get calls. In the playoffs they don't call that. They don't even call that for Lebron.
Actually, they called plenty of fouls in favor of both Harden and Lebron. Harden got 11 FTAs per game in the playoff series vs. OKC and Lebron averaged 7.6 FTA per game in the 2013 playoffs. Both got to the line at a rate similar to their regular season average. Playoffs are different from the regular season in a number of ways: generally better opponents, no back to backs, ability to focus on preparing for only one team. However, refs do not stop calling fouls.
And to add, overall FT attempts in the playoffs rose from the regular season. This despite the fact that pace in the playoffs goes down at the same time. The whole "swallowing the whistle" cliche is definitely one of the biggest myths around.
I don't think Harden should be judged from last season, because if you think about it the team was a bunch of young guys running around, not really organized in what they should do. Comparisons between Tmac and Harden would be more appropriate after next year when Harden would have a good team like Tmac did for his tenure in Houston.
Harden may not be as talented but he's a hell a lot more hard working, a gym rat. I'll bet a good amount of money that Harden will win at least one chip and a couple scoring titles and maybe even an MVP before he retires, ultimately having a better career.
I dont know why everyone instantly thinks Tracy is better than Harden. Defense? Please, dont go there. Just because Harden isnt an elite defender doesnt make Mcgrady a good defender. He was an OK defender. He was half ass most of the time and only played D at an elite level when he felt like it. Offensively? Its a wash at this point, with Harden only getting better. Mcgrady was a more dynamic scorer (I guess) but they are very similar in style with attacking the rim and hitting the three. Tmac did have a pull up J, but obviously Harden could hit that if he was asked, but its just not really a part of the current game plan. In fact, if im not mistaken, Harden last year averaged more than Mcgrady ever averaged in a Rockets uniform. To sum this up, Mcgrady and Harden are almost identical players. Both are fantastic scorers and when they want can be great passers as well. Tmac was a little bit better as far as rebounding and blocks, but that has a lot to do with his size and length. Not really Hardens fault. I was head over heels for Tracy from 05-10...but this is now The Beards show. And not only can he be Tmac, he can be BETTER than him...
I like this analysis, especially about the offense. Somewhat of a Carmelo to Durant comparison. Carmelo may be more dynamic like Tmac but Harden is more efficient like Durant, and I would take the efficient scorer any day every day. And about the pull J, Harden was actually using it at the start of the year, if you go through some highlights, but when Morey told him not to it started to diminish.
