Comments on: Setting the Bar: James Harden

By: cpt

cpt — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 19:45:44 +0000

hmmm i think he did most of that stuff

By: Keith

Keith — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 04:54:17 +0000

On the Thabo point, everyone needs a lockdown defender, but that guy normally comes off the bench unless he’s also an efficient scorer. Thabo is great for what he does, but we can’t pretend today’s NBA isn’t skewed towards offense. I think the only way Thabo holds off Harden into December is if he has a high percentage three point shot or Harden really struggles out of the gates.

Also, it should be mentioned that the Thunder, to this point, haven’t just given their rookies time, they’ve basically handed over the keys to the team every year. Durant has been this team since he was drafted, with Green being his number 2. Westbrook, once PJ was fired, was probably given more leeway than he should have gotten. With our track record, Harden will see 30+ minutes per game and 13+ shots.

By: Royce

Royce — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:39:59 +0000

Honestly, writing these little things has gotten me really excited about the season because it’s nice to be thinking about basketball and stats and other things. We’re closing in. Preseason basketball is under a month away.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:45:47 +0000

Can he handle the ball? Because if he is such a good passer I wonder if he could get any time at the 1. Playing next to Thabo? Am I crazy… not really a great basketball mind but it seems like it would work.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:51:56 +0000

Me thinks Harden will go for more like 48% from the field and 39% from the deep. I think he’s one player that is going to benefit greatly from being on the floor with players that have a rep for being explosive (Westbrook) and deadly from anywhere (KD), and so he is going to get a lot of open looks like he probably hasn’t had since high school, and a bunch of open lanes for his lefty drive, which he can finish. I think those two things mean great fg% for Harden.

I think the total points are right at about 12-15, but he is going to be very efficient.

By: Bang4ur$

Bang4ur$ — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:40:10 +0000

I think your stats are about right at the upside–if everything went right, and Harden challenges for ROY like we hope, that is a line that would definitlely put him right there in the race. Don’t think we could expect more than that at 25mins/night. Those shooting percentages would be remarkable at any minutes. Might switch the asst/reb #s.

By: Steve H

Steve H — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:10:55 +0000

Ideally, I would like to see an irregular rotation at the two spot depending on who the opposition is. If we are playing against Kobe, D-wade or B-Roy, giving Thabo the bulk of the minutes against those guys makes sense to me. Unless Harden starts to look like an all-star caliber guard, we get a better return on those minutes by putting the emphasis on smothering their best player defensively. If we are facing some mere mortal at that position, Harden should be able to hold his own defensively and provide more offensive punch than Thabo.

By: Royce

Royce — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:40:25 +0000

@GAP That's a good call. Another goal would be for him to get to the line around five or six times a game.

By: GAP

GAP — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:38:31 +0000

If harden gets the minutes then i’m going with 16pg to 17pg because you still gotta factor in that he can get to the rim and draw fouls (even though rookies don’t hardly) but he has that lefty dribble and NBA ready body that can actually add to is ppg total.

By: Royce

Royce — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:27:26 +0000

@Jax Raging Bile Duct You're probably right but I just picture Harden being an extremely efficient scorer.