This topic contains 26 replies, has 15 voices, and was last updated by 
iguapops420 13 years, 3 months ago.
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- Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 8:30am #24831
ilike.panochasParticipant2 players that may need a change of scenery to really fulfill their true potential. Both about the same age. Harden has been handcuffed due to players around him, while Mayo just doesn’t seem to fit with Memphis’ other piece.
If you were to choose between these two, who would you pick? Who has the higher upside? And if both players were traded right now and is asked to be the primary scorer for their team,who would end up with the better career?
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 8:59am #475113
PlatypusParticipantAs a Hornets fan i’d love to see Chris Paul with James Harden
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 9:15am #475119
RUDEBOY_ParticipantThats a better question than the Rose/Westbrook constant BS..
OJ Mayo or James Harden is tough..Neither Mayo nor Harden are overly athletic,but they’re both smart players capable of handling the ball and making plays…OJ has the talent to be a 2nd option, while Harden is a 3rd options on a team..OJ is more marketable..But Harden is the better defender..
Remember doing his rookie year,several people were saying he could be the 3rd best shooting guard in the league behind Wade & Kobe…But Mayo has struggles this year.He needs a change of scenery..
I think Mayo has the most upside…
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 9:22am #475125
The8thDeadlySinParticipantI chose Mayo simply because I think that he can create better for himslef than Harden… While Harden is great, I like Mayo.. I think that in the right situation, like with the Knicks or even the Pacers, he could be on of the top 5 SGs in the league..
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 9:30am #475131
The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipantOnly because we haven’t seen his best yet, not to say Mayo has tapped his true potential either but Mayo has averaged close to 20 for the brunt of an nba season. He’s been given the shot to be a potential Lear guy, Harden has been locked into 3rd or 4th option at times. If they trade places they likely have different careers but in similar roles. Harden has the height and scoring ability teams like in their starting off guards but Mayo has a special something that if with the right pieces and right place he could be a 20 plus scorer and borderline all star. The said could be said about Harden if if goes to a place like Cleveland for spare parts like Jamison and Parker. That’s s trade I’d like too see for James Harden and The Thunder, they’d only need a true Center to truly be contenders. The Cavs get a starting 2 with the size and scorer you want for the perfect price. He and Hickson become your dynamic duo or so we hope. Maybe Cavs get a pick plus Bj Mullens, clear crazy cap space and sign someone of value to play a key position in the starting lineup. They are surely getting a top 5 pick and drafting the face of the franchise. So dumping Jamison for Harden would be a good 1st step into the future. Harden, Hickson and let’s say Harrison Barnes would be a solid trio to begin with. You’d love a Center but why draft one when you have tons of cap and can over extend themselves and sign Greg Oden and Sam Dalembert. You’d love a point guard too and I think they’ll get a very good one in this draft or with a high pick next year. Irving and others may opt to stay in school for one more year in loom of a lock out. As for Mayo. The perfect place for him believe it or not is not a California team or New York Knick run and gun system playing behind Amare, Melo and potentially Cp3. The perfect team to showcase his talents is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Yes let it soak in. The T wolves need a true scorer/shooter what ever you want to call Mayo. If you look at the Team in place in Minny you can see that he’d fit in perfectly and be reunited with 2 players from the same draft class, guys he would have instant chemistry and respect for. And he would not be fighting for playing time or shots, he becomes the best guard on the team. The wolves will likely draft a sf and slide Beasley to the bench allowing him to become this super 6th man. He still play starters minutes as he and Love or Darko can work for long periods of time. If Rubio can become a Jason Kidd type playmaker next to scorers like Mayo, Beasley and low post threat Kevin Love this team would set. A top 5 sf like Perry or Terrence Jones would be great. Even Harrison Barnes makes sense because he’s a safe pick and good guy/overall player.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 9:33am #475133
JNixonParticipantHarden has more potential to get better than Mayo does, but Harden won’t ever be as good as Mayo is. If you see what I’m saying.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 9:41am #475137
ilike.panochasParticipantSo your saying Harden’s upside is greater than Mayo, but he will never have the chance to fulfill it (because of Durant and Westbrook) so essentially he won’t surpass Mayo’s status ?
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 9:44am #475138
The8thDeadlySinParticipantSince we are talking about Harden… Has anyone ever noticed how he never really plays hard?? I have heard announcers say that he playes the game with an "Old-Man Style" in which he doesnt move unless he has to… They were almost praising him… IMO, that is lazy.. The only time he really goes hard is when he has the ball in his hand… IDK what yall think about it but IMO, its a little annoying… As good as he is now, imagine how good he could be if he would put forth more effort…
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 9:50am #475143
JNixonParticipantWhat I mean is Harden has more room to grow as a player than I think Mayo does. Mayo plays a mature game, and like Indianabasketball always says, he hasn’t reall grown as a player since he was about a Sr in HS. Harden has more upside I’d say, but I don’t think Harden will ever be as good a player as O.J. Mayo currently is.
And Harden isn’t really lazy. He plays the game at his own unique pace, and that pace happens to be at a moderate speed. He’s rarely in a rush on the court. I’d like to see him play with more urgency outside of trying to score too, but he’s young and he should get more well-rounded, especially if he plans to continue to play consistent time with Westbrook and Durant.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 9:53am #475144
The8thDeadlySinParticipantI just feel like the Thunder try to play at a fast pace and Harden is kind of clashing with that… I know that some times that is a good thing, it shows a different look (like a great defender among lots of scorers) but IDK if he is helping the Thunder like he should be…
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 9:54am #475146
The8thDeadlySinParticipantGood point..
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 9:55am #475145
ilike.panochasParticipantI think it’s just his body language, I don’t think it’s lack of effort. The guy can be pesky of the defense (his steals per game is excellent and if you equate it to 40min, he would be averaging +2 SPG) and he rebounds well for a SG. I do think there are times where he just stands around and become a spot up shooter instead of moving around and try to get open, but you have to remember he has been the type of player thats had the ball in his hand at all times throughout his career, so he could still be making adjustment and learning how to score without the ball.
I think had he gone to a team or if he and Tyreke Evans switched places, Harden would have been a Brandon Roy type guard, which is the player that he was most often compared to.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 9:58am #475147
mikeyvthedonParticipantThey are quite similar in stature, I feel that Mayo is a better player and athlete. Harden has a solid build, and is definitely a good athlete, probably even a better distributor, but OJ is the better shooter and scorer. Plus, I feel OJ is a much better defender, and if he and Harden switched places, I feel OJ would do great things for OKC. He can create his own shot at a much better rate and I feel has a more solid handle than Harden. Mayo had a killer rookie year, than has reverted to 3rd banana with Z-Bo’s arrival and Rudy Gay emerging as more of an offensive presence. I do not know about either players attitude, but I very much agree that Harden may have more room to get better, but will more than likely never reach Mayo. Both may need a change of scenery, but if I was looking for an SG to start on my team, give me OJ Mayo out of he and Harden.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 10:26am #475158
Malik-UniversalParticipanti think harden has more potential
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 1:18pm #475182
Forte IVParticipantMayo needs to go to a team where he will be relied upon to be the ain scorer. a team like the cavs would be great for him imo.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 1:59pm #475193
trueone313detroitParticipantHarden/Westbrook remind me of a poor Steve Franchise/ Katt Mobley. Mobley wasnt that uptempo a guard, even though he would cross the hell out of you for sleeping on D, And Westbrook Is athletic like steve. But back to the point someone made. Harden is very good and so controlled it just seems like he crusing but he is not. You got to remember the Guy came from dropping 30 and 40 in college to a role player on a perimeter stacked team. He just need to learn to fit in. But, I would Take O.J. because the only person stopping his game is him. Look at his Team. He Took the laid back role his self. When he was averaging 20+ the would just stand around and watch. Plus he has blackhole Zach, averages like 2 assist for a post dominate big, Rudy Like 2-3 assist, turnover Conley like 5 assist and Big Marc. Out of those four someone has to be the odd man on Offense. Let one of those guys get traded for a defender and his stats will go back up.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 2:00pm #475188
IndianaBasketballParticipantI’d go with Harden.
He’s an inch taller than Mayo, plus he’s a lot longer. And if Mayo is a better athlete, it’s only by a slight margin… To be honest, I don’t think Mayo plays as athletic as Harden does. Harden is one of those Brandon Roy type of athletes. Just when you think he can’t jump, he goes to the hole and puts it in your mouth. If you’ve watched Mayo his first three seasons, you’ve noticed he lacks the athleticism/length to get to the basket consistently and finish. He doesn’t get to the free-throw line… He’s basically just a jumpshooter. When his jumpshot isn’t falling like it has this season, then what?
I’d say Mayo is a better shooter and scorer, but we’ve never had a chance to see Harden with the green light like we have Mayo. He’s playing a different role on OKC behind Durant, Westbrook and Green. He’s not as skilled as Mayo is, but given the green light, I think he could put up close to the same numbers while getting to the line more. I think he could be a more efficient scorer than Mayo.
And defensively, I think they’re about even. I mean, Mayo probably pressures the ball better and plays physical up close, but I think Harden is the more versatile defender and isn’t such of a target to get posted up like Mayo is. Mayo gets punished by bigger guards, which is one of the reasons he wanted to move to point guard.
Harden is a true two guard, while Mayo is a tweener. Not really a point guard, not really a two guard. I think he’d be best in a Ben Gordon type of role. His ability to create for his teammates is overrated… Just look at his career assist numbers, while getting starter minutes. Harden can create just as well, while also being quicker to move the ball. Harden isn’t a ball stopper.
Another thing that I like about Harden’s game is that he has the game to be a focal point (second or third option focal point) or play off of other players. He can play with or without the ball. You can’t really say that about Mayo. He’s struggled not having the ball in his hands, which is the other reason he wanted to switch to point guard.
I think Harden’s more unselfish too. Mayo still has a lot of hype due to his high school success, but he’s honestly just a dime a dozen guard in the NBA. He hasn’t really improved since high school.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 2:13pm #475196
IndianaBasketballParticipantPeople put so much stock into Mayo averaging 18.5 points per game (on .43% shooting and 3.4 free-throw attempts per game… 3.2 assists in 38 minutes) his rookie season, but the Grizzlies were terrible when he had the green light. They only won 24 games… Only a two game improvement from the season before. And you talk about Randolph and Gay’s assists numbers… Mayo is only averaging like 3 assists for his career. He’s not exactly a ball mover either.
The Grizzlies are a MUCH better team when the ball is going through Randolph, Gay and then Gasol.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 2:27pm #475198
ilike.panochasParticipantI agree with your Mayo’s assessment. For a guy thats such a talented scorer, he really doesn’t get to the FT-Line as often as he should. To me Harden is more well rounded as a scorer, hes a good shooter and is excellent at attacking the basket which results in his high FT attempts, Harden scores more efficiently than Mayo. Harden is averaging close to Mayo’s PPG and doing it in less minutes, less shot attempts, and less opportunity, which shows how much more efficient he is than Mayo.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 2:38pm #475201
JNixonParticipantRemember, Mayo is having a very down year, and it’s fair to say that this is something of a fluke. I think Mayo would be a better player in the Thunder offense than Harden has proven to be, and I don’t think Harden is all that efficient at all. He’s shooting 41% from the field and is even more one-dimensional (he’s a shooter and a guy who struggles to get to the rim unless he’s in the open court) than Mayo is. Mayo doesn’t get to the basket very well, but he’s a bit better than Harden in that regard. I think it’s only fair to look at Mayo’s complete body of work, and there is no question that he’s a better overall offensive player than Harden is.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 2:41pm #475203
The Scare Crow ReturnsParticipantThat would call for the referees to blow the whistle, and we know they hate calling the right call. Mayo needs to be traded to the Wolves. He and Rubio plus top 5 pick and cap space will make Minny an exiting team to watch.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 2:49pm #475206
IndianaBasketballParticipantI don’t know if Mayo would be better in the Thunders’ offense than Harden. Mayo would pretty much have the same problems he’s having with Memphis. He’d be the fourth option behind Durant, Westbrook and Green. I don’t think Mayo’s game is built to handle being a fourth option player.
And I’d say Harden gets to the basket better than Mayo. The evidence is in the free-throw attempts.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 2:57pm #475207
BigDParticipantDo any of you remember how well Harden played when Durant was out of the lineup earlier in the season?
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 3:18pm #475211
mbunner23ParticipantHarden did play good when Durant was out of the lineup, But do you remember when Rudy Gay was out of the lineup for a game or two, and Mayo went for 27/5/5 against the Spurs I believe.
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 4:04pm #475223
TRC1991Participantthis is tough but i’ll take james harden, i think he could be a manu ginobili type 19-5-5
0 - Posted on: Fri, 01/14/2011 - 4:49pm #475229
JNixonParticipant"He’d be the fourth option behind Durant, Westbrook and Green. I don’t think Mayo’s game is built to handle being a fourth option player."
He’d definitely be the 3rd option for OKC over Jeff Green.
0 - Posted on: Sat, 01/15/2011 - 7:42pm #475502
iguapops420ParticipantI agree with JNixon on all accounts. Harden has more ability to get better, but his best isn’t what OJ is at this point. Harden is slow footed and doesn’t have the greatest first step limiting his ability to create off the dribble. Not to mention he barely gets any elevation on his jumper making it more difficult for him to become a lethal player off the dribble. Mayo given the green light on a team that was VERY young, and had Rudy Gay going for numbers over wins. Last year he fit in as 3rd option behind Gay and Randolph nicely and still put up 17,3,3. He needs to get the ball back and just let him get comfortable as the playmaker, kind of the Arenas was. I’ll take OJ any day of the week. Harden is good, but he is nowhere near as dynamic as OJ. Role player at best IMO. Think John Salmons.
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