[ChicagoCaseyParticipant]

 I’m starting to believe that James Harden now started to become underrated now. The ammount of disrespect that I have seen over the year on social media accounts and rankings have been laughable. I know he’s not the best defender, but he seem to be the only player that can’t get away with taking a few plays off on defense and the only one that gets "exposed" for lacking in that area, but other players don’t. Just last year he led his team to the western conference finals, while being number 2 in the MVP race (I actually thought he should have won the MVP for the regular season). I know people don’t like the way he play and some don’t like that he plays to much hero ball, but he still put up impressive stats and he have to do what he do for the Rockets to win. I still believe he still the number one shooting guard in the league even though Jimmy Butler grew on me and Klay Thompson impressive post season run. I don’t believe they can do what James Harden can do and did do.

It seems like Anthony Davis have been a forgotted player over the past couple of months. I know he have been hurt, but I don’t see the hype like I saw the past season. Some may say he had a down year, but I have to disagree to how down of a year he had. You’d expect his numbers to be sub par by the way people describing the year Anthony Davis had. But, he did average over 24 and 10 and been very effecient from the field. It’s not his fault that the Pelicans roster is the way it is and that he was the only player that was really healthy to start the year. His 59 and 20 game is one of the most impressive games I’ve seen in a while. Also, still believe he still the best player under 25 in the league and if I’m building a team for the next 10-15 year I would still take Anthony Davis over anyone, Karl-Anthony Towns is a close second. I know people will say that he’s been injured for the past couple of years, but I would hope to believe that he will stay healthy. If you seen recent pictures of him, he looks way bigger, maybe upwards of 255. I will make another thread about the Pelicans later on. 

 

[trombonematrix43Participant]

I did a player comparison on basketball-reference of Klay Thompson James Harden and Jimmy Butler. Yeah, I’ll take one James Harden please.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&y1=2016&p1=hardeja01&y2=2016&p2=thompkl01&y3=2016&p3=butleji01&p4=&p5=&p6=

[trombonematrix43Participant]

I did a player comparison on basketball-reference of Klay Thompson James Harden and Jimmy Butler. Yeah, I’ll take one James Harden please.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&y1=2016&p1=hardeja01&y2=2016&p2=thompkl01&y3=2016&p3=butleji01&p4=&p5=&p6=

[BeastMode716Participant]

 Very few players truly focus on Defense during the Regular season……… The regular season has almost become like All-star games —- especially in the 2nd half of the year when whole teams simply coast

The playoffs almost look like an entirely different sport as the game becomes a rugged half court grind with lock down defense rising to the fore front.

So when fans or TV talking heads just crush certain guys for not playing D I laugh b/c almost no one plays D in the regular season.

& I agree w/ your point about Anthony Davis —- he is a Stud – he needs help though on that Pelicans team.

 

 

 

[BeastMode716Participant]

 Very few players truly focus on Defense during the Regular season……… The regular season has almost become like All-star games —- especially in the 2nd half of the year when whole teams simply coast

The playoffs almost look like an entirely different sport as the game becomes a rugged half court grind with lock down defense rising to the fore front.

So when fans or TV talking heads just crush certain guys for not playing D I laugh b/c almost no one plays D in the regular season.

& I agree w/ your point about Anthony Davis —- he is a Stud – he needs help though on that Pelicans team.

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Defense is for players on contract years and rookie contracts unless you’ve legitimately been brought in and overpaid specifically for defence and rebounding like Tristan Thompson. Harden is an all-time great and one of the best offensive players I’ve ever watched.

[SubZeroParticipant]

Wow, it’s almost like basketball doesn’t have 2 sides to it. I think Michael Jordan, Kawhi, Scottie Pippen, Lebron, Kobe, Hakeem, Bill Russell, Duncan, Gary Payton, and a whole lot of other guys would disagree with you there

[SubZeroParticipant]

Wow, it’s almost like basketball doesn’t have 2 sides to it. I think Michael Jordan, Kawhi, Scottie Pippen, Lebron, Kobe, Hakeem, Bill Russell, Duncan, Gary Payton, and a whole lot of other guys would disagree with you there

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

Wow, I hope you dont have any kids or coach any and preach that to them. Harden isnt even close to an all-time great just because hes really good on offense. 

[DanielcmccartyParticipant]

Wow, I hope you dont have any kids or coach any and preach that to them. Harden isnt even close to an all-time great just because hes really good on offense. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Defense is for players on contract years and rookie contracts unless you’ve legitimately been brought in and overpaid specifically for defence and rebounding like Tristan Thompson. Harden is an all-time great and one of the best offensive players I’ve ever watched.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Okay there’s "taking a few plays off" on defense…then there’s what Harden does. The dude seriously plays defense like a guy on NBA 2k who’s controller battery just died. He literally doesn’t try on D. 

Offensively, he’s terrific as a one-on-one player. But why would anyone want to play with a player like that? He holds the ball 85% of a possession, just dribbling around like an idiot. Sure he’ll get a few assists in last-resort scenarios but guys just stand around and watch him dribble. 

He’s a good player. He’s a top-3 SG in the league and I thought he deserved the MVP award two years ago, but last year was a huge regression season for him and Houston. 

I think most of the Anthony Davis stuff is durability related. His skillset is as good as it gets and he’s young. You don’t hear anything negative about him off the court, he’s likeable and you don’t see him involved in anything stupid – at least that I can ever remember. 

He’s elite – the one question about him is can he stay healthy? He misses like 17 games a season on average. That seems to be the only thing people knock him for, which seems fair I’d say. 

 

 

 

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

 Okay there’s "taking a few plays off" on defense…then there’s what Harden does. The dude seriously plays defense like a guy on NBA 2k who’s controller battery just died. He literally doesn’t try on D. 

Offensively, he’s terrific as a one-on-one player. But why would anyone want to play with a player like that? He holds the ball 85% of a possession, just dribbling around like an idiot. Sure he’ll get a few assists in last-resort scenarios but guys just stand around and watch him dribble. 

He’s a good player. He’s a top-3 SG in the league and I thought he deserved the MVP award two years ago, but last year was a huge regression season for him and Houston. 

I think most of the Anthony Davis stuff is durability related. His skillset is as good as it gets and he’s young. You don’t hear anything negative about him off the court, he’s likeable and you don’t see him involved in anything stupid – at least that I can ever remember. 

He’s elite – the one question about him is can he stay healthy? He misses like 17 games a season on average. That seems to be the only thing people knock him for, which seems fair I’d say. 

 

 

 

[PurpleMonkeyDishwasherParticipant]

 Harden and Davis’ teams both under achieved greatly.  Good basketball is far more than stats.  They both are still quality players but had poor seasons relative to what they have previously achieved. 

[PurpleMonkeyDishwasherParticipant]

 Harden and Davis’ teams both under achieved greatly.  Good basketball is far more than stats.  They both are still quality players but had poor seasons relative to what they have previously achieved. 

[Author]

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