James Harden traded to the Rockets

[air gordon]

how did he not start in OKC?

blame 2010 coach of the year Scott brooks and hi affinity for playing mediocre players like fisher and perkins

i could be wrong but this type of trade is unprecedented in nba history. 6th man of year traded, becomes the teams franchise player, and gets the max

[Andrew]

Harden does it again. 45 points on 14/19 shooting, 7 rebounds and a couple of assists, Rockets win. One imagines he's got to come back to Earth a bit at some point in the near future, but what a start to the season for him.

[shadowgrin]

The numbers Harden is putting up aren't a surprise considering he now gets to play with a PG that passes the ball.

As time goes on i think it will become more and more obvious that Harden was better than Russell Westbrook all along.

Manu Ginobili > Steve Francis

[SC1211]

WOOHOO TOLD YOU GUYS!

[Andrew]

You told us he'd be this good?

[volsey]

Judging solely off their first two games, Rockets definitely made the right move. Damn wish I would've watched the game.

What I don't understand is how the Rockets went from being a very very stringent, penny pinching team, to offering such high contracts over the past year. Not saying they weren't good moves (or signings), but just seems odd to take such a drastic change in focus or development plan.

[NovU]

Anyone wants this guy back in Dorklahoma Thunda? I for one wanted the Thunda to remain intact for one more season to see them at their best. They were a powerhouse contender as all their core players are all young and in prime(or near/entering). Even though they probably still are, with Harden, they could have been better off this season.

But can't deny part of me wanted to see this guy as a main dog. Just that... for me, his time came a year too early.

[Radioman]

I need to jump on the Harden bandwagon, would be insane if he can keep this up. Want to see the Rockets play a good team now.

[Patr1ck]

So how long before his season ending injury?

[Phil89]

So how long before his season ending injury?

Torn beard ligaments. Calling it now.


Hopefully he's fit for the November 28th trip back to OKC though.

[Lamrock]

Though it's only two games and I've thought Harden was a future all-star, but I didn't expect 41 PPG with a TS of .758%. He'll come back down to Earth, but I don't think this will be a Trevor Ariza situation. Harden can play.

[volsey]

So how long before his season ending injury?

Sadly that's what I was thinking too.

[Nick]

This Rockets team is playing some serious basketball right now. Harden is hereby officially the first break out star of the year. Him and the yellow mamba have turned out to be a really effective and dynamic duo - fun to watch! Their chemistry is so good already, it makes me wonder if something special is developing in Houston. It's got that feel about it. Like everyone says, we need to see them compete against the better teams first, but i'm loving watching the Rockets right now.

Checkity Check it.

phpBB [video]

[airBerlin]

i'm surprised that people are surprised by this...

[NovU]

but I didn't expect 41 PPG with a TS of .758%. He'll come back down to Earth,

Of course. If he keeps up PER 41 along with such a TS, MJ would have been dethroned. He was stopped pretty effectively tonight.

[Nick]

but I didn't expect 41 PPG with a TS of .758%. He'll come back down to Earth,

Of course. If he keeps up PER 41 along with such a TS, MJ would have been dethroned. He was stopped pretty effectively tonight.

He wasn't "stopped effectively". The guy has played 3 games in the past 4 nights, of which he played 40+ mins in each game. He was totally gassed.

[Mandich]

He wasn't "stopped effectively". The guy has played 3 games in the past 4 nights, of which he played 40+ mins in each game. He was totally gassed.[/quote]

I second that.

[Andrew]

i'm surprised that people are surprised by this...

Surprised by what? Not signing the extension or his performance through the first couple of games? Because there's legitimate reason to be at least a little surprised on both counts.

[airBerlin]

i'm surprised that people are surprised by this...

Surprised by what? Not signing the extension or his performance through the first couple of games? Because there's legitimate reason to be at least a little surprised on both counts.

surprised by his performance.

i wasn't saying he was going to average 41 pts or anything, but harden put up good numbers in OKC. factor in more minutes and more usage, it's not a surprise at all.

[Andrew]

How is not a surprise if he's doing better than you expected?

[Phil89]

Kevin Martin scored 28 off the bench against the Hawks. He seems to be filling his role nicely, averaging 20 ppg in the 3 games so far.

[Mandich]

Kevin Martin scored 28 off the bench against the Hawks. He seems to be filling his role nicely, averaging 20 ppg in the 3 games so far.

Wait till Westbrook and Durant go back to their usual ball-hawk selves, his ppg will drop by 5-6 in my mind.

[NovU]

Kevin Martin's been awesome for the Thunder. Perhaps there's something to look forward to in a sense that he might be perfect for his current role.

[Andrew]

Hawks still got the win, too. Martin's a good scorer which makes him a nice pickup for the Thunder but he's not the playmaker that Harden is, so they've lost that coming off the bench.

[airBerlin]

How is not a surprise if he's doing better than you expected?

because he's not doing better than expected.
james harden averaging 41pts across the span of 2 games isn't surprising.

my previous post: "i wasn't saying he was going to average 41 pts or anything"

i meant season averages.