James Harden rejects OKC Offer / *Traded* to Rockets

[Tornicade]

Im not sure what finals some of you watched last year. Durant got schooled and the rest of the team broke down. westvrook was the only one that showed any heart when the team got turned on its heels

heck okc shouldnt of even been in the finals.

 

[The Process God]

Im not sure what finals some of you watched last year. Durant got schooled and the rest of the team broke down. westvrook was the only one that showed any heart when the team got turned on its heels

heck okc shouldnt of even been in the finals.

I concur. Westbrook was the best player on the Thunder during the finals, and he especially stepped up in the moments that mattered the most. Westbrook played phenomenally during the finals. Durant almost seemed disinterested at times and like he didn't want the ball a la LeBron two years ago.

 

[Triumph36]

Westbrook does that from time to time when he gets out of control and forgets he's the 2nd option on that team

with harden gone i have a feeling you'll be seeing it happen a lot more frequently.

 

[Layne Staley]

I'm just really glad that more people are starting to realize that Westbrook is nothing but fools gold. I've never been a fan of the guy as a player.

 

[Chris]

*remembers when Chris said this in the Waiters thread:chuckles:*:



Seriously though, Harden looked like the real deal tonight. I didn't think he was that good, I wanna see what he can do against a good team though.

Difference is Harden has been good for more than one game.

 

[Mdog1]

OKC end of this deal won't be able to be judged until they get those picks

If that Raptors pick is high next year they are more than likely going to take a center and let Perk walk

Could you imagine if this trade put the Thunder in a spot where they could take one of Adams, Austin, Noel, Shabazz, Mcadoo,Mcelmore (Kansas frosh sg, can shot the lights out) or Cody Zeller, I say that becase if the pick falls any where between 4-14 OKC gets that pick. I expect it to fall some where between 6-9

Protection on Raptors pick

I'm pretty sure the Raptors are going to make the playoffs this year so I doubt they get the pick this season at all. If the Raps don't make the playoffs then maybe it was a decent trade, but it still isn't a good one unless they get an all star out of it...

I'm just really glad that more people are starting to realize that Westbrook is nothing but fools gold. I've never been a fan of the guy as a player.

Isn't it funny that I would be ecstatic if Dion turned into Westbrook... A legit 25ppg scorer, top 5 defender at his position is not fools gold that's real gold. If you want to talk about fools gold let's talk about Kevin Love. 20/10 big man that allows as many points the other way.

 

[Frank Reynolds]

I'm pretty sure the Raptors are going to make the playoffs this year so I doubt they get the pick this season at all. If the Raps don't make the playoffs then maybe it was a decent trade, but it still isn't a good one unless they get an all star out of it...



Isn't it funny that I would be ecstatic if Dion turned into Westbrook... A legit 25ppg scorer, top 5 defender at his position is not fools gold that's real gold. If you want to talk about fools gold let's talk about Kevin Love. 20/10 big man that allows as many points the other way.

I agree that Westbrook is not fools gold, he's a volume scorer and sometimes selfish, but he rattled off like 20 in a row in the finals and was OKC's only source of toughness.

I can't agree that Kevin Love is fools gold. He just doesn't understand the nuances of defense yet, and he's probably not asked to play much D in whacky Minnesota. Kevin Love is the real deal, his screen setting, crazy offensive and defensive rebounding, 3pt bomb and crazy strength make Him a legit player in my mind. It's not Love personally, it's Minnesota. If he was demanded to play D I see no reason why he physically couldn't.

If u wanna talk about fools gold talk about Andrew Bynum. His knee will not last more than 3 more years in the league, and Philadelphia will never win a ring. Fools gold. Great team, hope they knock out Miami, but can't envision them winning it all.

 

[Triumph36]

I'm just really glad that more people are starting to realize that Westbrook is nothing but fools gold. I've never been a fan of the guy as a player.

still too few people, tho. on rcf in particular (hi rich!)

I agree that Westbrook is not fools gold, he's a volume scorer and sometimes selfish, but he rattled off like 20 in a row in the finals and was OKC's only source of toughness.

I can't agree that Kevin Love is fools gold. He just doesn't understand the nuances of defense yet, and he's probably not asked to play much D in whacky Minnesota. Kevin Love is the real deal, his screen setting, crazy offensive and defensive rebounding, 3pt bomb and crazy strength make Him a legit player in my mind. It's not Love personally, it's Minnesota. If he was demanded to play D I see no reason why he physically couldn't.

If u wanna talk about fools gold talk about Andrew Bynum. His knee will not last more than 3 more years in the league, and Philadelphia will never win a ring. Fools gold. Great team, hope they knock out Miami, but can't envision them winning it all.

lol

and lol @ the rationalizing with Westbrook. yeah he's a selfish volume scorer....but he had a good series so he is the real deal!!!

 

[Jack Brickman]

I'm just really glad that more people are starting to realize that Westbrook is nothing but fools gold. I've never been a fan of the guy as a player.

I don't see how anyone could possibly describe Westbrook as "fool's gold." He basically averaged 24-5-5 last year and was the second-best player on a team that made it to the Finals. He's arguably one of the top ten players in the entire league and is definitely in the top twenty.

Does he make infuriatingly bad decisions sometimes and fail to recognize that Durant is better than him? Yes, but he's still a fantastic player by any definition.

 

[RaptorFan]

still too few people, tho. on rcf in particular (hi rich!)

lol

and lol @ the rationalizing with Westbrook. yeah he's a selfish volume scorer....but he had a good series so he is the real deal!!!

cmon russel is a "point" guard not a "pass" guard

 

[Cavatt]

I don't see how anyone could possibly describe Westbrook as "fool's gold." He basically averaged 24-5-5 last year and was the second-best player on a team that made it to the Finals. He's arguably one of the top ten players in the entire league and is definitely in the top twenty.

Does he make infuriatingly bad decisions sometimes and fail to recognize that Durant is better than him? Yes, but he's still a fantastic player by any definition.

I wouldn't claim he is fool's gold, but making the right decision in order to win is very important. I knew they weren't going to win last year because there were no assists and you can't play iso against the heat. They are better at it, and better defensively. OKC has a problem because they will play Durant or Westbrook vs the other team, but not Westbrook and Durant against the other team. No ball movement/moving without the ball will not cut it in the finals. Miami learned this the hard way against the Mavs. It's a big reason for Cavs 2009/2010 failure too. Lebron had the ball and would get the points, but it would be so difficult. Orlando would then proceed to move the ball and swish wide open 3.

I think it is important for the team to realize this during the rebuild. If you want to be a contender you must have multiple stars on a team, but stars need touches to get going. The Lakers are just another example. Sure Kobe can bring the ball up and then take a guy into the post and back him down, do a turn around jumpshot falling away and get the bucket because he is really good, or he can draw the defense and dump it to Pau for an easy layup.

I guess my final point is that yes Westbrook can score 20 in a row, but how hard was that? Once the scoring barrage was over, who was ready to step up? He definitely led by example, but in the end did not use his success to get the team going or take advantage of the fact that the Heat adjusted to him and left some other area weak.

That's a big difference in my opinion between Kyrie and Westbrook. Kyrie attacked in the 4th against the Wizards, got what he wanted, and then when the defense adjusted he passed the ball to Andy, who gave it to Tristan for an easy shot. When they kept doubling and tripling him, he did it twice more to get the win. Kyrie could have kept just taking it to the hoop, trying to fight through all the defenders, but he realizes he doesn't have to and can get a much easier bucket with less effort and get his teammates involved at the same time.

 

[Mdog1]

still too few people, tho. on rcf in particular (hi rich!)

lol

and lol @ the rationalizing with Westbrook. yeah he's a selfish volume scorer....but he had a good series so he is the real deal!!!

He didn't just have one good series. Let me ask you how many players in NBA history have put up 24/6/5 in a season, and in the playoffs 23/6/6. Not to mention his 2 steals per game... Easily one of the top 10 players in the NBA, and i'd likely say top 5 with Rose inured, and Kobe declined. Really the only three players that you can't make an argument for Westbrook over in the entire league are LeBron, Durant, and a healthy Wade (oxy moron I know). He had a terrible game last night, and still put up 18/8/5. I'd be pretty happy if Dion could do that on his good games... minus the 6 turnovers, and 30% shooting.

 

[blommen]

I know you can't take too much away from the first game of the season but looking at the way the thunder played last night i do think they are in a bit of trouble. It seems they've lost a bit of their identity along with Harden and they seemed a bit aimless on the court, plus the amount of turnovers against a team like the Spurs is also a concern. They just don't seem that structured to me tbh, and they really weren't assetring themselves anywhere in the court. off all the truly elite teams i think they've looked the most critical when it comes to making it to the finals.


I don't know, i'm drunk and rambling, whateverrrr.

 

[Triumph36]

He didn't just have one good series. Let me ask you how many players in NBA history have put up 24/6/5 in a season, and in the playoffs 23/6/6. Not to mention his 2 steals per game... Easily one of the top 10 players in the NBA, and i'd likely say top 5 with Rose inured, and Kobe declined. Really the only three players that you can't make an argument for Westbrook over in the entire league are LeBron, Durant, and a healthy Wade (oxy moron I know). He had a terrible game last night, and still put up 18/8/5. I'd be pretty happy if Dion could do that on his good games... minus the 6 turnovers, and 30% shooting.

ummmm no. though i think there is a good chance westbrook himself holds this delusional belief. that would explain his selfish play and refusal to have a top 3 player in the league touch the ball on every single possession.

I know you can't take too much away from the first game of the season but looking at the way the thunder played last night i do think they are in a bit of trouble. It seems they've lost a bit of their identity along with Harden and they seemed a bit aimless on the court, plus the amount of turnovers against a team like the Spurs is also a concern. They just don't seem that structured to me tbh, and they really weren't assetring themselves anywhere in the court. off all the truly elite teams i think they've looked the most critical when it comes to making it to the finals.


I don't know, i'm drunk and rambling, whateverrrr.

when a team trades away its best shot creator and gets a selfish player with no vision in return, aimlessness and lack of structure seem like pretty likely outcomes.

i wish there were a way to view some alternative universe where the thunder traded westbrook instead of harden (for different players, obv) just to see how different (read: better) the team would be. too bad there aren't any public simulations or models that can do that.

 

[BimboColesHair]

10-13 from the floor for 25 points with 5 minutes left in the 3rd