Minnesota is like Utah. It's not going to attract free agents. ....ever. Don't put that on Ricky. Just another reason he needs to go. He'll become a premier player and a player attractant in the right city. KD went to GS because they sold him on their style of play with ball movement. Harden is one of his best friends and he didn't want to play here because he knows here it is Harden left, Harden right, and Harden up the middle. He knows how ball-dominant Harden is and that joining Harden simply meant standing around and waiting his turn to shoot contested 24-footers over defenders. This season is going to be very interesting to see if Harden adapts to MDA or if MDA yields the keys over to James. If MDA does the yielding and we don't play with a true distributor on the floor like MDA's system calls for then we will be spinning our wheels and most likely continuing the mediocrity. For Harden to be Nash he's going to have to cut his scoring attempts considerably, something that just doesn't make any sense. Harden needs to cut his turnovers significantly. .......not his scoring. The only logical answer to making that happen is to bring in a starting playmaker who does the bulk of the distribution thereby relieving Harden of that offensive pressure which cuts his turnovers. While leaving Harden with the same or even more shooting/finishing possessions.
Dude has such a love affair with Rubio that he looks right past the massive flaws. For his strengths to be utilized his liabilities must be on full display. His faults are not easily masked or simply hidden in the NBA today.... It will be exploited.
Rubio has one "massive" flaw. He's not a good shooter. Effect other aspect of his game is not flaws. It is excellent. Rubio is smart enough to recognize his flaw and he minimizes its effect by getting to the foul line frequently and distributing the ball elitely. What about Harden's "massive" flaw.
basketballholic going down this path is like witnessing tinman go on his rages which have nothing to do with the topic at hand. Frustrating, but then incredibly hilarious.
You put it on Ricky... You made the unfounded claim on both players. Once again... That is not exclusive to GS. This motive and reasoning of KD is of your own creation. Nice to know you're his personal confidant. Harden doesn't have to be Nash under MDA.... He's a great PnR ball handler and can make all the necessary passes... The issue and concern has always been personnel around him that can consistently convert the scoring opportunities he creates which they've improved with Gordon and Anderson... And him being the only ball handler, playmaker, shot creator. Rubio is not the answer.... He brings a new set of problems. He allows teams to load up or key in on Harden more just by being on the floor while at the same time being a liability. Also since Rubio needs the ball to be effective offensively AT ALL... he's going to limit Harden's elite driving and attacking in the paint.
What should frustrate you is knowing we have a championship capable player who is not going to win a championship unless we get the right pieces around him. One of those key pieces that Harden needs around him is a great playmaker. What's frustrating is knowing you can't see it.
Harden is very turnover prone or has been in the past. My honest question is whether that is a function of Harden being Harden or whether it was a function of an incoherent offensive system. Harden gets plenty of assists either way. Lawson just may have been a good idea that didn't pan out because of Lawson or because McHale/JBB didn't make an effort to integrate him. I'm not convinced that another play maker won't work, but you have to make sure it's the right one and that some thought goes into making it work.
What's actually frustrating is watching Rockets game after Rockets game last year. And seeing Harden generate wide open shot after wide open shot for his teammates on the perimeter. Then watching said teammates toss up a brick after brick after brick. So I'm quite content right now actually adding a couple of players known for their shooting. As opposed to a guy who'll take away from one of our best players' strengths. And in the meantime throwing another few things which will cripple this team. Like adding another player teams can leave in the Playoffs to smother Harden, for example.
Why can't it be both? Harden needs to take better care of the ball and cut down on lazy passes, but he also was severely hamstrung by a poor offensive system. Hopefully, this year, that changes.
He's not a good shooter... Yeah... It's not that he's just not good.... He's historically bad. Defenses don’t respect his shot so they sag off of him and go under screens. Rubio is still able to efficiently run the offense because of his playmaking gifts, but his mid-range game is horrible and he’s terrible at finishing. That's never been a recipe for success and it definitely isn't in the league today. Harden doesn't have a massive flaw... Yes he has flaws no doubt, but he's had significantly greater success despite them and he's in another stratosphere as a player. We've seen him play good defense as was the case in 14-15. What measure of success does Rubio have?
What's frustrating is that you can't see that it doesn't have to be a great playmaker... Just another playmaker, ball handler, or shot creator....or multiple of them. As we've seen throughout history and with multiple championship teams.... Just ask Kobe.
They signed D12 in the 13 offseason, JET in the 14 offseason, Thorton in the 15 offseason, and now Gordon/Anderson injury combo? Not exactly a group to be bragging about. And come each June, both teams are at home watching the Finals. While Minny is preparing for the draft, and usually gets their target, Rockets are preparing for free agency and end up with B level guys who wont/cant grow much more than what they already are.
So significantly better players in comparison is what you're saying... Ok.. haha this guy. Let me help ya out.. one team is perennially making the playoffs and one is perennially making the lottery. "Gets there target" whewwwwwww... Minny has been one of the worst drafting teams of the last decade, but geeeeeeeez that #1 pick sure was hard. All in all... Nice attempt at completely ignoring the point though.
