When you say toss up you're actually saying both guys are more or less equal. Harden: 26.5 pts, 4.2 rebs, 5.3 assists, 0.361 3p, 0.606 TS George: 16.9 pts, 7.5 rebs, 3.7 assists, 0.372 3p, 0.523 TS That's like a 10 pt difference and 10% TS difference. The only reason you'd think it's a toss up is if you think LBJ vs Iggy is a toss up. You bold the 1 year experience difference like it's a big deal but...c'mon man, it's just 1 freaking year. You won't go from having shaky handles to making between the leg passes to a cutting teammate in just 1 year. I also find it funny you talk about Harden like he's maxed out while George is this up and coming but Harden's again only 1 year older than him at 23 years old. Doesn't it occur to you that by the time George reaches Harden's current level Harden would have become even better? This is not a knock on George, he's obviously gonna improve and I think depending on how hard he works he could get on that 2nd tier that Harden is right now. But he has a long way to go, he might get the max but unlike Harden right now George is clearly not worth it yet. Right now he's still below Granger level, and I don't think anyone here would say Granger deserves the max.
i think what he meant was a 22 year old Paul George compared quite well to a 22 year old James Harden. While at the same age, Harden was more efficient offensively but George is better defensively. When asked to take over Granger's offensive output this year, George clearly struggled at first. It seems like he might have turned a corner though in the 19 games so far since his 0 point output at Golden State. Since than he's putting up 20pt per game, 8.4 rb per game, 1.94 stl per game, 3.9 ast per game
With respect to scoring the difference is significant and favors Harden. On defense the difference is even more significant and favors George. Harden is a better, a more consistent shooter with better shot selection, and a better passer, with better handles. Paul George is a better rebounder and better in every facet of the game on defense: Man defense, help defense, deflections, steals, position versatility, strength, length, speed. The Pippen comparison is not so crazy, though obviously will require continued improved and sustained excellence.
Those numbers don't represent George's D. He's just in a different galaxy compared to Harden. Also, George is more of a ~19-8-4 and ~.550 TS guy lately, it took him some time to get used to this role. That's where the hype is coming from. He's getting more and more aggressive basically weekly. It reminds of Harden's transformation after the Jeff Green trade actually, more so than Harden's 3rd year. Re who to take... who knows. A smart GM would have to take the safer bet, which is Harden, simply because Harden is better now. It may look very different in 3 years, or it may not. I think both will get better. Frankly, I'd like to see them both on the same team. Pretty much the perfect fit. In fact, give me Harden and two of Paul George, Harden-George-George would be a fun huge 1-2-3 combination.
