Who was better in their 4th year? Steve Francis or James Harden?

I vehemently disagree he was overrated. I agree that Harden is a more rounded basketball player. But Francis did some amazing playing.

 

Franchise was indestructible but he was not smart on the court.

 

Harden

/thread

 

Stats doesn't compares players... Francis was just a different player from Harden. Francis was more of a streetball player in the NBA trying to break ankles... Harden is one of the top players in the NBA right now and Francis was never one of the top players. I'm a big Francis fan but Francis isn't even close to Harden at all.

 

Well put

 

Harden by a long shot. If it wasn't for francis's amazing dunking ability he wouldn't have been as big as he was.

 

Harden has a significant advantage in most advanced stats over Francis. However, the biggest difference is Steve's 4th year was probably his best. He only averaged 20 points one time after 02-03. We don't know what will happen with Harden, but guys tend to put up their best numbers from 25 to 30. By the time he was 30, Francis was done. So while their numbers are close now, they'll probably be dramatically different by the time Harden retires.

 

I read the OP's comment again. It makes more sense now.

Yeah he says Harden compares to Francis, and uses box score stats. Though they're not similar to me either, different games.

Still, Morey never had Steve Francis in his prime. They brought back 30 year old Francis who was washed up be a backup. It'd be like Morey weighing in on how Cuttino Mobley could be a cornerstone player. Whats the point of him doing that really if their prime was way before Morey's Rockets tenure?

Of course Morey is gonna show inclination to surround his current major acquistion than comment on some old "what if".

 

The "at times" is unnecessary.

 

Harden is way better than Francis.

Harden is an NBA player.
Harden is much smarter.


Francis was an AND 1 player.
Francis was dumb.

 

I thought he was pretty good in Orlando the first year.

Stats look similar, but the play styles are different. Harden though is the better player.