Westbrook or Harden?

[Damon_3388]

But then no Ibaka or ayone else even semi decent, not gonna win rings with just those 3 imo.

They could have kept Harden, Ibaka, Westbrook and Durant. They just had to be willing to pay the luxury tax.

Make no mistake, it was their own cheapness that stopped them, and nothing else.

 

[Hodge2NormSmith]

Westbrook game winning 3 in OT versus the warriors.

Perfect day to vote for him.

Harden has blossomed in Houston, gets more ball and more shots now and has stepped up.

The beard was very good in OKC, he is better due to opportunity at the Rockets, but Westbrook is better... Just.

 

[djrossie16]

Love Westbrook's ultra competitiveness. He may be a big time jack but I appreciate his game a lot.

 

[Damon_3388]

Harden has blossomed in Houston, gets more ball and more shots now and has stepped up.

The beard was very good in OKC, he is better due to opportunity at the Rockets, but Westbrook is better... Just.

It could be argued that Harden isn't actually playing better for the Rockets, but simply getting more touches and more opportunity. He's not shooting as well as he did with the Thunder, and turns the ball over a heap more now with the extra touches he gets too. He may actually be a better player when he has a lesser role.

Some numbers to show the difference:

FGA per 36 minutes
OKC Harden - 11.6
HOU Harden - 16.0

Turnovers per 36 minutes
OKC Harden - 2.1
HOU Harden - 3.6

eFG%
OKC Harden - .529
HOU Harden - .508

Usage %
OKC Harden - 20.4
HOU Harden - 28.8

Turnover % (Turnovers per 100 plays)
OKC Harden - 13.1
HOU Harden - 15.3

 

[j0rdy1]

Poll is fairly poor. You would of kept Westbrook and Harden, amnestied Perk and bought in a cheap at the 5. Westbrook is far better then Harden, Harden is terrible on defense. Just need some solid shooters off the bench and someone who can set up there own shot. Hopefully Lamb develops well, Adams looks like he will quickly replace Perkins.

Houston obviously won the trade but I don't think they will ever get close to winning a ring with who they have at the moment.

 

[PykeDream]

It could be argued that Harden isn't actually playing better for the Rockets, but simply getting more touches and more opportunity. He's not shooting as well as he did with the Thunder, and turns the ball over a heap more now with the extra touches he gets too. He may actually be a better player when he has a lesser role.

Some numbers to show the difference:

FGA per 36 minutes
OKC Harden - 11.6
HOU Harden - 16.0

Turnovers per 36 minutes
OKC Harden - 2.1
HOU Harden - 3.6

eFG%
OKC Harden - .529
HOU Harden - .508

Usage %
OKC Harden - 20.4
HOU Harden - 28.8

Turnover % (Turnovers per 100 plays)
OKC Harden - 13.1
HOU Harden - 15.3

No surprise that he performed more efficiently when beating up on opposition bench units.

But it's close to ludicrous for a top 10 player to perform as a sixth man during the prime of his career.

Having said that I don't think he belonged in OKC in its current state. Two absolutely ball dominant guards, one totally inept on defence and the other a compulsive passing lane gambler probably don't fit with a ball dominant forward like Durant. Hence why Sefolosha has always been the unquestioned starting 2 guard.

Harden starting alongside a tenacious defender like Beverley with Brooks and Lin as bench guards suits him far more IMO. Particularly if Jones and Parsons can guard a wing if need be.

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

IMO they should have trade Harden and Ibaka for a star 4/5, I've never liked the idea of 'big 3' being lopsided position wise. A perfect situation would be your stars playing at the 1, 3 and 5. Miami gets by because theirs is at the 2, 3 and 4 however, sometimes the 3, 4 and 5.

 

[Upgrayedd]

I'm not sure why people think OKC should trade Ibaka, He's hitting 15PPG and 10 Boards while averaging 2 and a half blocks per game. It's perfect for a guy whos not going to get a huge amount of usage of the ball

 

[jod23]

Just realised the question in the poll too. I voted Westbrook thinking the poll question was who is better.

But it's who do you think OKC should have traded when I clearly think it should be Harden.

 

[jod23]

IMO they should have trade Harden and Ibaka for a star 4/5, I've never liked the idea of 'big 3' being lopsided position wise. A perfect situation would be your stars playing at the 1, 3 and 5. Miami gets by because theirs is at the 2, 3 however, sometimes the 3, 4 and 5.

A lot of this. Should have bundled up Ibaka and Harden in a trade. Those two would easily get you Demarcus Cousins or LeMarcus Aldridge or maybe Roy Hibbert but probably not as Indy didnt need to make a move.

Then you have the second best player in the game. A top 3 PG in the league and one of the best 5 or so PF/C's in the league. Commence domination of league.

 

[Upgrayedd]

A lot of this. Should have bundled up Ibaka and Harden in a trade. Those two would easily get you Demarcus Cousins or LeMarcus Aldridge or maybe Roy Hibbert but probably not as Indy didnt need to make a move.
.

None of those teams are losing any of those players untill they hit UFA

 

[Saintt]

Yeah I voted Westbrook thinking it was who was the better player, the poll is inaccurate.

 

[djrossie16]

There's a bird called Syd living in Harden's beard can't vote for him sorry

 

[God Save Max King]

Read that Ibaka shoots 61% with Westbrook on or something crazily high like that. Harden wouldn't bring that to the table.

 

[PP34]

They'd give up 130 points a night if they kept Harden and got rid of Ibaka.

Ibaka isn't a defensive anchor, just a good shot blocker.

They could've kept both, their owner is a massive tight-arse though. If anyone believes that OKC is still a small market team (at least financially) then they're kidding themselves.

 

[djrossie16]

As basketball fans we were robbed of seeing a great rivalry between the Heat and Thunder. Sure they laid an egg in that finals series but it would have been nice to see how that team would have rebounded the following season.