Hoops

Where do you rank James harden all time?

Har-den! 58 more big ones today. I don't believe anyone, including LeBron, could do what he's doing right now.

Harden rates as average defensively in advanced metrics and otherworldly on offence. Overall, he's the best player in the league so far.

"anon above he's not actually defensively inept, but more like lebron apathetic to it. If you've put time in and watched games this season when he tries he's actually at least an average defender. You clearly didn't see the game yesterday when he had two big blocks at crucial times"

Two big blocks? THat's a very small part of defence, but it's all you'd see if you only watch the ball, which funnily enough is what Harden does. Would have to be close to the worst off-ball defender in NBA history, which coupled with his very inconsistent on-ball defence (which ranges from appalling to ok) means the adept tag is pretty apt.

This is how Kobe used to play, except Harden is actually efficient and can score at a higher rate. I agree at the end of his career he'll be the second best SG of all time.

The great man has done it again!

Actually 10/37 (27%) overall now adding today.

Watching highlights and Harden's chucking didn't work this morning -- 0-4 3pt FG in the final two minutes vs. Bucks. Great when it works but when it doesn't it's ugly. Season 10/33 (30%) in final 2:00 for the season.

All I know is I put a bet on Harden for MVP over the weekend at $6.50 and the next morning it was $2.75. :D

Come at me cash out value!

That's why I'm in two minds. It will be interesting if he plays at the World Cup.

Agree that he is playing within the rules - I think what he has done is a bit genius really, which is basically take it to the extreme of what he can get away with within the NBA system, so "take advantage of the rules" maybe a better term for it. He's the best at that in the league. Don't enjoy watching it though.

anon above he's not actually defensively inept, but more like lebron apathetic to it. If you've put time in and watched games this season when he tries he's actually at least an average defender. You clearly didn't see the game yesterday when he had two big blocks at crucial times

IMO Harden exemplifies just about all of the least enjoyable aspects of the NBA today for me. Shoots a ton of 3s, gets to the line even more, and shouldn't even bother dribbling with how many steps he gets away with on just about every drive to the hoop. His highlight reel looks great, but his style (and the Rockets style) makes for more dull moments than brilliance over 48 minutes for me.

Houston has no Eric Gordon right now either, so it is literally all Harden. His usage rate hasn't been below 42.2 since the Spurs game

Can't imagine anyone ever being able to score so easily in isolation before. Not sure about all-time but he is right now the third best in the game behind LBJ and Giannis imo (hard to gauge tho). Davis has the best PER this season but I feel he should be getting more wins out of his team. Harden's usage is so much higher than anyone else in the league and he is only a fraction above Giannis in PER.

To truly gauge exactly what Harden is doing, we would have to put guys like Kyrie, Durant, Dame, Curry in his situation (the only go-to guy on the team with shooters all around to space the floor) with usage rate of 39, and see what they can do. I don't know what to make of what Harden is doing. Kyrie has a bunch of other guys, Durant has Steph and Klay, Dame has CJ. Harden has no one else rn. When Paul is healthy and playing, Harden's numbers become so much less spectacular.

To his credit, he is doing it against all different types of P&R coverages, and making quick adjustments as to how to beat the different looks. But from the Houston games I've seen, teams are just not mentally locked in for the entire game and go away from their game plans. Come playoffs when teams are locked in for the full 48, that's when you see his percentages drop and everyone calls him a choker. Maybe if he wasn't so historic all the time in the regular season, people would cut him some slack in playoffs.

Can't get our names out your mouth. How do we taste?

Harden played the 2012 olympics and was very good under fiba rules so maybe you just don't like him?

Not very high.

214th

Can shoot. I don't see much else.

He looked to be fading badly in the fourth quarter chucking up garbage until the end of regulation and then that OT winner. I'm in two minds.

Yeah he is amazing. The fact that he can do a Michael flatley impression without dribbling the ball before every shot and not get called for travel is amazing.

that missed out of bounds call on KD was unbelievable in every element, both live and the fact it wasn't reviewed... surely they can see that it was out and wipe the previous score and take the game clock back to when he was out? Almost cost the Rockets the game bar Harden's incredible shot...

Today he was good enough to get his team past the reigning champs + 3 refs

in the all time top 30 already I reckon