This topic contains 8 replies, has 8 voices, and was last updated by AvatarAvatar esperanzafleet69 9 years, 8 months ago.

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  • Posted on: Tue, 11/08/2016 - 10:49am #65237
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    Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
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    For someone to average 30 ppg and 10 apg for an entire season is basically unprecedented in the modern era of NBA basketball. The last player to do it was Nate Archibald in 1973 and the only other player to ever do it was Oscar Robertson. The closest anyone has ever come in the past 40 years was probably Michael Adams in 1991 when he averaged 26.5 ppg and 10.5 apg (stats that were no doubt super inflated by Paul westheads hyperpaced offense). However, this season there are 2 players who realistically seem to have a pretty good chance of reaching those numbers.

    Both Russell Westbrook and James harden are in the unique situation where they are both the primary scorer and facilitator for their teams this year, and both are going to have usage rates that are through the roof. Harden especially plays in a system that is conducive to putting up big numbers. Through the first 2 weeks he is averaging almost 32 and 13. Westbrook so far is also flirting with right around 30 and 10 (although his stats have come back to earth a little in the past week). Maintaining that level of production for an entire season would normally seem unlikely, but given the circumstances both are facing this year I wouldn’t say it’s impossible for either.

    So can one of these guys actually accomplish something that hasn’t been done in over 40 years? And who has the better chance to do it? 

     

     

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  • Posted on: Tue, 11/08/2016 - 11:33am #1088181
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    BeastMode716
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     If anyone can do it, it’s that dynamic. 

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  • Posted on: Tue, 11/08/2016 - 11:52am #1088184
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    Andrew1984
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    Harden is as good as John Stockton was on reading ball screens, but he’s like six inches taller and 60 pounds heavier, plus he’s more of a threat to shoot off the dribble than Stockton was.

    What makes Harden’s absurd amount of assists even more impressive this year is that he doesn’t have a dual-threat big man with whom to run PnR, like Stockton did with Malone. When they run it with Ryan Anderson, you know it’s pick-and-pop because he’s too feminine to get inside and mix it up, and when they run it with Clint Capela, you know it’s roll-and-lob because he’s too uncivilized to attempt a shot outside of three feet.

    Point being, depending on personnel, they’re quite predictable, but they execute anyway. Very impressive.

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    • Posted on: Wed, 11/09/2016 - 12:25am #1088198
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      Jr. ROXAS
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      "Harden is as good as Stockton was at reading ball screens" , 100% Agree. Harden is so uncanny in finding little spaces to get it to his big men that I think even they were surprised they had an opportunity to score. 

      When we talk of great passers in today’s game, Rondo, Cp3 and Wall will always be in the discussion. Harden is as good a passer (if not better) as all of them. It was highlighted more during his OKC days where he made ridiculous passes playing the PG. We are seeing a revival of that James Harden this year.

       

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      • Posted on: Wed, 11/09/2016 - 2:44pm #1088209
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        SubZero
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        That was my favorite Harden. I’ll never forget him going off for us against the Spurs in the WCF, running the same pick and roll with Ibaka over and over again from halfcourt and it worked everytime. Granted he disappeared in the Finals, but we don’t even get there if he didn’t step up in the series before

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  • Posted on: Tue, 11/08/2016 - 2:49pm #1088189
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    Wetalkinboutpractice
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     Sidebar but to think both Russell & James once shared the same backcourt my goodness. For as much credit at Sam Presti gets for being an upper echelon executive, I’ll admit he’s been stellar in the draft, he was never able to assemble the type of  (veteran) role  players that would’ve allowed those earlier Thunder groups to reach their immense potential.

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  • Posted on: Wed, 11/09/2016 - 6:37am #1088204
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    Mr. HookShot
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    Any chance for Lillard to join that group as well? He has the scoring part covered (+30ppg this season), and did average close to 7 apg last year. As the team around him becomes better, is it a stretch to think he could up his assists?

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    • Posted on: Wed, 11/09/2016 - 7:44am #1088205
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      Dazzling Dunks and Basketball Bloopers
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       I don’t see Lillard as a guy that could average 10 assists. Not saying it could never happen but at least not this year. For him to maintain 30 ppg for the entire season seems unlikely as well. His usage rate won’t be as high because he shares the backcourt and ball-handling and playmaking responsibilities with McCollum.

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  • Posted on: Thu, 11/10/2016 - 2:10pm #1088252
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    esperanzafleet69
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     way to name drop michael adams.. great example, thats bringing it back.

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