2FOR18: Imagine Harden’s brain in JR’s body.

Maybe. I actually think Harden’s size and quickness make him better physically than JR. JR can jump higher, but that doesn’t mean much when you try to avoid contact. Harden is already a master at the Billups “rake through” at the rim play, and showing contact.

But he’s a very skilled passer and better from the time he starts his dribble to the amount of time it takes him to get to the basket. Quick and a long, powerful strider.

The level of difficulty between the kinds of shots Jr takes in this offense and those that Harden take is huge.

JR actually played a Harden role on offense a few years in the league– he posted 590-600TS when he was a catch-and-shoot, transition and drive against rotation player like Harden.

To me, the thing that seperates them the most is Harden’s playmaking in the pnr — he’s great there.

If you watch this series though, pay attention to the kinds of shots Harden gets — how he gets them, the defender’s he’s playing and how the defense defends him with Westbrook and Durant on the floor.

ruruland: 3 open 3?s off penetration, fouled twice embelishing contact at the rim — incredibly simple game. Of course, it helps that Marion isn’t the one closing out on him.

Imagine Harden’s brain in JR’s body.

2FOR18: Harden with 10 points on 3 shots at the half.

3 open 3′s off penetration, fouled twice embelishing contact at the rim — incredibly simple game. Of course, it helps that Marion isn’t the one closing out on him.

ruruland: No, actually I think the entire comparison is completely absurd. But that’s what happens when you don’t apply any context to a game and treat every shot the same.

My point was more that Anderson will struggle without Howard, though you’re right that Owen thinks Anderson is a significantly better player than Melo. (Anderson is actually one of the 10 best players in the NBA obviously)

Harden with 10 points on 3 shots at the half.

2FOR18: You pick a day when your boy goes 3-15 to mock Anderson?They both sucked today.

2FOR18: You pick a day when your boy goes 3-15 to mock Anderson?They both sucked today.

No, actually I think the entire comparison is completely absurd. But that’s what happens when you don’t apply any context to a game and treat every shot the same.

My point was more that Anderson will struggle without Howard, though you’re right that Owen thinks Anderson is a significantly better player than Melo. (Anderson is actually one of the 10 best players in the NBA obviously)

ruruland:
Ryan Anderson carrying the Magic to a game one win against Indiana.

You pick a day when your boy goes 3-15 to mock Anderson? They both sucked today.

:) I agree with ya.

Really, its not that bad – both the future (bright) and the series (not over). I know we are all snakebit and all, but maybe a little optimism is warranted sometimes? Oh, and calls to fire Woodson on the basis of this loss are just plain ridiculous.

Spree8nyk8:
Abbey, I’m not saying they won’t trap the hell out of Lin.I’m sure they will, but by doing so it should make it easier to swing the ball and get it into Melo.Maybe I’m wrong, idk, it just seemed to me like while melo was having a sumo match trying to get position for an entry pass there was like this huge ocean of space that Lin would have just driven into.I just don’t think at this point with (today put aside) as hot as Melo has been,for them to be able to double on Lin.Back when they did that Melo was playing like dogshit.Now Melo can punish them for doing that.

Is that naive? Idk, like I said I saw tons of driving space today that could have been used to drive, but our pgs are like 100 years old.I mean in the first quarter even Baron was driving into that space.

This. Back then Lin was getting trapped in pick and rolls. We’d be asking him to beat his defender 1-1, making it 4 on 3 or 5-3. (Lebron being behind Melo essentially picking himself)