Harden averages nine drives per game, which is fourth among players whose teams have the cameras. The top four: Tony Parker (10.8), Rajon Rondo (10.1), Russell Westbrook (9.3), and Jrue Holiday (9.2). As an aside, that Holiday number is a fantastically good sign for Philly. He ranked below average by this metric last season, and he’s piling up about twice as many drives per game this season, according to the 2011-12 data I’ve reviewed. Philly is still below average as a team in drives per game, which tells you how much heavy lifting Holiday is doing for a very limited bunch.
Back to Harden: Houston is scoring 1.51 points per possession on trips in which he drives at any time in the shot clock. That is easily the highest mark among all players in the 15-team database with more than a token number of drives. It is a mammoth number; keep in mind, teams average just about one point per possession overall. Harden has drawn a foul on one-third of his drives, which is among the highest numbers in the data set, and sort of amazing when you think about it.
He has turned over the ball on just 4 percent of his drives, one of the lowest numbers in the data set. The dude is scary. These numbers paint him as even more valuable than we might think.
I'm just surprised that a lot of people didn't see that coming. I didn't think he was good at all this year. Didn't expect him to go crazy in the playoffs. I thought with Russ out, he would get his groove back because he seems to be a rhythm scorer but that didn't happen either...
well of course and that will have more of a role in any hypothetical Memphis victory - sure Martin could totally crap out a Harden-in-the-finals like performance but hell, what do you know? Harden can do that too
Martin already has. And I don't see that changing any time soon. The Thunder are going as far as Durant and Reggie Jackson can take them. And that has to scare the bejesus out of them (and I say that as a huge Reggie Jackson fan, I'm still pissed that the OKC peached him from Boston).
SHHHH!!! Don't let IRVING read this. He'll get angry and say something like "NO E-MONK... Actually the Thunder are only going to go as far as Scott Brooks will take them."
True, once Westbrook went down Reggie Jackson became the Thunder's second option, because future first ballot hall-of-famer Kevin Martin still sucks. And Durant just isn't good enough to carry a squad on his own.
At the time I gave Presti an incomplete, because I figured that with a team on the brink that he just had to make a move to convert those assets into a player that would put the Thunder over the top. Instead what they've got out of the deal is the right to overpay Kevin Martin and a mid first round pick in the worst draft since 2000. As a Rockets fan I'm ecstatic. Thunder fans have to be sick.
Yea, but you want your third option to be able to step up as an emergency #2 for stretches in case of injury (exactly like what just happened). Kevin Martin solidified himself as a useful bench player, but nothing more, over the last few weeks.
Meh, that really depends. Perkins couldn't step up. Ibaka couldn't step up. Reggie Jackson, who is I guess the defacto guy to get overrated this offseason, didn't really step up either.
So by those standard, I guess they are all useful bench players as well.
Also, as far as the idea that they could have received more for Harden, that's possible. Maybe if they held out until this offseason, they could have done a sign-and-trade and received a pretty nice package. It's also possible they would have lost him without any compensation or very little. I am of the opinion that striking unexpectedly is the best way to get the most value. Once teams know you're on the ropes looking for a deal, they aren't too eager to give you a whole bunch.
Also, as far as the idea that they could have received more for Harden, that's possible. Maybe if they held out until this offseason, they could have done a sign-and-trade and received a pretty nice package. It's also possible they would have lost him without any compensation or very little. I am of the opinion that striking unexpectedly is the best way to get the most value. Once teams know you're on the ropes looking for a deal, they aren't too eager to give you a whole bunch.
There was no chance of him walking for nothing, because he was a restricted free agent. Worst-case scenario, you match the four-year max offer he was going to get and deal from a position of strength at the trade deadline.
However, like I've said, the Houston trade can still be salvaged if Lamb turns into a high-level third option (very possible) or if Presti can turn the 12th pick in a surprise stud (happens in the teens in almost every draft).
OKC got fair value all things considered. If you're trading a star these days you basically get rapped. Look at the Magic, although that was definitely a different situation.
If Kevin Martin resigns it will be for much less and they'll have a good third option for the price. Or they'll get a ton of cap coming off the books which could turn out to be even better. I'm not sure of OKC's cap situation, but if there's room, it wouldn't be tough to lure in a quality FA this offseason with that money.
Couple that with Lamb and another decent draft pick and I think OKC made a good deal.
If Westbrook didn't go down there'd be less people losing their minds right now. They lost their second best player and lost to a very good Grizzlies team.
They didn't get Martin to put them "over the top". No one thought Martin was going to be an improvement on Harden, so I'm not sure why you're saying that. It was very clear then that Martin was supposed to fill Hardens role, which he did quite well prior to the Westbrook injury. They did this as a money saving move and Martins huge contract is coming off the books.
Add Lamb whom most posters outside yourself see as a very solid young prospect, and another 1st round draft pick and its a very fair trade.
So what you're saying is that OKC wasn't gambling on those guys being able to put them over the top, so rather than trying to find someone that could they elected to hold onto them? Well, if you're right that should be the death knell of the "Sam Presti is a genius!" meme.
They're in better shape financially than they were if they gave Harden superstar money to be their 6th man.
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