- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Great article on Ibaka, Harden, and the Thunder by Zach Lowe
Posted on 5/29/14 at 3:42 pm to castorinho
Posted on 5/29/14 at 3:42 pm to castorinho
Yeah. You forget how badly they exposed Harden in the Finals the year before. And Russ would have been out for the series. That's a pretty important cog in the machine.
0
Posted on 5/29/14 at 3:43 pm to castorinho
quote:
Well That's just stupid. Heat were scary good last year and so were the Spurs.
The Heat weren't playing anything close to their best ball at the end of last season.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 3:47 pm to Boomshockalocka
Uhhhhhhh
When they beat the Spurs they weren't playing good ball?
When they beat the Spurs they weren't playing good ball?
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:01 pm to Boomshockalocka
I guess you missed my :nb4: directed at Rockets fans in the OP?
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:05 pm to Matisyeezy
quote:
When they beat the Spurs they weren't playing good ball?
Yea they were playing good but you could tell that it wasn't their best ball. You'd like to think that both teams are at their best in the finals but something was a little off with the Heat. They def weren't firing on all cylinders.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:10 pm to Boomshockalocka
Gotcha. So a Westbrook-less OKC team would have been able to exploit that.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:21 pm to Matisyeezy
Don't reply to him and therefore encourage his idiocy.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:31 pm to Matisyeezy
With harden? Best SG in the league? Yea I think they would've won it all. I'm far from the only person with that opinion. 
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:33 pm to Boomshockalocka
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:34 pm to Matisyeezy
quote:
Look at Tony Parker/Manu/Timmy. Earlier in their career I guess Parker would have been considered 3rd banana (you could maybe make an argument for Manu, maybe). I'd say his game has matured nicely.
Yeah but that's just for 3 players. OKC currently has their version of a Big 3:
1.) KD
2.) Westbrook
3.) Ibaka
Maxing their 4th guy would have created a super top heavy team; even more so than they are now.
ETA: I warned you to stop replying to Boomtard
This post was edited on 5/29/14 at 4:35 pm
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:36 pm to Boomshockalocka
The Thunder's season was over the very second Westbrook went down, Harden or no Harden.
Now if you're arguing that Westbrook would not have had to play as many minutes and therefore might never have gotten injured if Harden was still there, then that's a reasonable claim to make I suppose.
I could also buy the "No Harden on the Rockets means no Rockets in the playoffs means no Beverley in the playoffs to hurt GOATbrook" line of thinking.
But there's no way the Thunder beat the Heat or the Spurs by simply exchanging Harden for Westbrook.
Now if you're arguing that Westbrook would not have had to play as many minutes and therefore might never have gotten injured if Harden was still there, then that's a reasonable claim to make I suppose.
I could also buy the "No Harden on the Rockets means no Rockets in the playoffs means no Beverley in the playoffs to hurt GOATbrook" line of thinking.
But there's no way the Thunder beat the Heat or the Spurs by simply exchanging Harden for Westbrook.
This post was edited on 5/29/14 at 4:36 pm
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:36 pm to okietiger
I don't completely disagree, but how do you see that impairing Harden's development? If anything I'd imagine Ibaka would see less touches on the offensive end.
They would absolutely be a thinner team, and Lowe points that out.
They would absolutely be a thinner team, and Lowe points that out.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:38 pm to NawlinsTiger9
Naw dawg, OKC would have cruised through Memphis and the Spurs with Harden last year. And easily beat the Heat cuz Harden owns the Heat; especially in the playoffs.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:40 pm to Boomshockalocka
quote:go rewatch the 2012 finals....
OKC would have won the title last season had they kept Harden. There's not much doubt in my mind at all.
This post was edited on 5/29/14 at 4:44 pm
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:42 pm to LSUTIGER in TEXAS
why do you guys keep responding to him?
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:43 pm to Matisyeezy
quote:
I don't completely disagree, but how do you see that impairing Harden's development? If anything I'd imagine Ibaka would see less touches on the offensive end.
They would absolutely be a thinner team, and Lowe points that out.
I am of the opinion Harden has grown because the offense runs through him. OKC really needs a catch shoot guy as the main one off the bench. That's not Harden's game. They looked awesome last year with Martin in the catch and shoot guy off the bench until Westbrook went down.
And the depth is what pushed this thing over the top for Presti based on the data he had available at the time. He's a Spurs guy: they value depth. Again I'll ask: What the hell was OKC supposed to do if they maxed Harden AND kept Ibaka and couldn't win a title? You're fricked at that point and forced to deal somebody. Probably for less than they for Harden to boot.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 4:50 pm to okietiger
quote:
That's not Harden's game
Eh. It was a pretty good look for him when they went to the Finals. He did have a poor Finals, but he absolutely destroyed San Antonio in the WCF.
I think they chose wisely in trading Harden. But I also think Bennett is cheap. Not because of Harden, but the lack of moves to push a title contender over the top since that deal.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 5:05 pm to corndeaux
The main problem IMO is Perkins not being as good offensively as he was in Boston.
To keep Harden, you have to amnesty Perkins.
And then what the hell are you supposed to do at center?
Keep Cole Aldrich and have Hasheem Thabeet as backup?
No thank you
To keep Harden, you have to amnesty Perkins.
And then what the hell are you supposed to do at center?
Keep Cole Aldrich and have Hasheem Thabeet as backup?
No thank you
Posted on 5/29/14 at 5:10 pm to okietiger
Nothing he wrote is anything new. If you had to pick one you were going to pick Ibaka because it was a better fit and Ibaka was going to be a little cheaper. But, like Lowe said, it never had to be an either/or type situation. You match whatever contract Harden signs and then trade him or amnesty Perkins if you are really that concerned about money. Or you just don't be cheap and keep a finals team together.
Pretty stupid statement. What options would they have if one of their three stars suffered some permanently damaging injury? Losing Westbrook derailed their season last year. If Ibaka would have been out longer their season would have been derailed this year. At least you can maybe think that having a fourth guy that can step up would have solved those problems.
quote:
If one of the four stars suffered some permanently damaging injury, the Thunder would have been stuck without options.
Pretty stupid statement. What options would they have if one of their three stars suffered some permanently damaging injury? Losing Westbrook derailed their season last year. If Ibaka would have been out longer their season would have been derailed this year. At least you can maybe think that having a fourth guy that can step up would have solved those problems.
Posted on 5/29/14 at 5:29 pm to ZTiger87
Here's what you're saying:
+ Harden
- Perkins AND Adams
That's an extremely small team. I know Miami rolls with Bosh at the 5 but they can get away with that because Lebron is the most versatile player in the league, if not of all time. Durant permanently at the 4 just would not work in my opinion.
Based on all the data available at the time, Presti made the right call. And if Adams can become a serviceable NBA starting center, Lamb is more consistent, Jackson keeps moving in the right direction, and they add a piece with the increase in cap space, you've gotta believe OKC will be just fine; no matter how good Harden has become.
The problem is so many people just want to see this as a:
Harden
VS
1 year of K-mart, Jeremy Lamb, Steven Adams, 2014 Mavs 21st pick eval
It goes much beyond that. The deal was still a good one for both teams in my eyes.
+ Harden
- Perkins AND Adams
That's an extremely small team. I know Miami rolls with Bosh at the 5 but they can get away with that because Lebron is the most versatile player in the league, if not of all time. Durant permanently at the 4 just would not work in my opinion.
Based on all the data available at the time, Presti made the right call. And if Adams can become a serviceable NBA starting center, Lamb is more consistent, Jackson keeps moving in the right direction, and they add a piece with the increase in cap space, you've gotta believe OKC will be just fine; no matter how good Harden has become.
The problem is so many people just want to see this as a:
Harden
VS
1 year of K-mart, Jeremy Lamb, Steven Adams, 2014 Mavs 21st pick eval
It goes much beyond that. The deal was still a good one for both teams in my eyes.
Page 2 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News