Thunder cruising so let’s get hypothetical! Was Harden right choice?
By Editorial Staff
This has gone on long enough. I toss and turn every night wondering if the Thunder made the right choice in drafting James Harden. It’s taken complete control of my life. Not really but it’s an interesting question that I have debated with many over the past couple years. Ok City is cruising into the playoffs pretty much guaranteed the 4th seed so you don’t need recaps about them beating stiffs like Golden State and Phoenix. Actually the Warrior game was great and I started writing something about it but just wasn’t feeling it so just check out ESPN for the recap.I know, I know my recaps are so much more entertaining but this subject needs to be brought up to the masses here at fansided.com.
There were some interesting options in the 2009 NBA draft, and the Thunder had the #3 overall selection. I remember it like it was yesterday. My friend Devin and I were at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club in Lakewood, Washington ordering everything on the menu in preparation for one of our favorite days of the year. His father, the Mayor of the city got a hefty bill for that day if I remember correctly. Anyway, at this point Westbrook wasn’t a top 5 point guard like he is now and the Ricky Rubio hype was crazy. Tyreke Evans was available as were some of my other favorites Stephen Curry and Brandon Jennings who had just been the first player to skip college and play a year overseas, rather then go to college. I suppose you could throw DeMar Derozaninto the conversation as well.
I wasn’t completely sold on Westbrook as a point guard and “experts” were thinking that maybe he would be better as smaller 2 guard thanks to his penchant for turnovers(which he still leads the league in). Luckily Memphis drafted bust of the decade, Hasheem Thabeet or I’m almost certain the Thunder would have grabbed him as they seem to take a horrible project center every chance they get. I could be wrong though as it seems they prefer taking American born white centers though so maybe they would have passed on the big guy.
Chad Ford or some ESPN guy on the error had mentioned that the Thunder really wanted Harden or “Old man game” as Chris Webber calls him.This was upsetting. I always get sucked into the flashy players and I wanted Rubio and if not him then Curry or Evans. I would have even been happier at the time if they took Jennings and moved Westbrook over to the 2. This seems dumb now as Westbrook is one of the best point guards in basketball, though I still think he could play shooting guard, but is Harden still a better choice then Curry or Rookie of the Year, Tyreke Evans?
Up until the rookie vs. sophomore challenge during this past all-star weekend I was still thinking the Harden choice was horrible. As I mentioned earlier Evans won rookie of the year for the Sacramento Queens, joining a select group of players to average 20-5-5 over a season. This strengthened his argument for going before Harden, strongly. Curry of course, lit it up for the Warriors playing in the back court with another combo guard, Monta Ellis, showing he was a good enough distributor to run the point at the NBA level. I wondered constantly how come experts never brought up the fact that the Thunder should have made a different choice. I pondered how Harden could be coming off the bench behind Thabo Sefalosha, who is supposedly a good defender but doesn’t do anything else. Until the aforementioned rookie-sophomore game Harden had underwhelmed me to say the least.
The rookie/sophomore game is known for having no defense but Harden looked like a man possessed, showing more athletic ability then I knew he had, throwing down windmills and many more thundering dunks. He seemed to be trying to prove a point after only being a replacement player in the game because Evans was hurt. The number 3 pick from the year before had to be a replacement selection for the sophomore team? That tells you how successful his NBA career had been up to that point. Anyway so he totally got off in that game and then the news came that Jeff Green was being traded, meaning that some offense was needed from someone else. Harden and Serge Ibaka were the biggest beneficiaries of the trade becoming vital parts to the team.
Harden still comes off the bench, as coach Scotty Brooks seems to think it’s better to have him out there with the second unit, providing much needed scoring. I’ve never fully understood these methods by coaches. The best players should play the most minutes and be respected with a starting job. Put the best players on the floor.
Tyreke Evans has been hurt with foot problems for a good portion of the year so it’s hard to say if he has improved. It’s said around the league that he has tunnel vision and takes some bad shots, though as mentioned earlier he always seems to rack up a decent amount of assists. He also seems to have had a little bit of an attitude problem which Harden most definitely has not had. So based on injuries, attitude, and Harden being more of a prototypical shooting guard I’ll say Harden is the better pick which is a far cry from how I felt just a couple months ago.
The one guy I still think could maybe have been a better fit is Steph Curry. Curry dropped 35 on the Thunder just 2 days ago and the guy can really stroke it. He would work in the same backcourt with Westbrook, with Curry always taking the smaller or least talented opposing guard. Curry does not have Harden’s size or athletic ability but he is 4th in the NBA in 3 point percentage and he takes a lot of them. He has unlimited range and is a better passer then Harden. I’m not sure who will turn out to be the better NBA player or the better fit but I think the Thunder are pleased with who they selected and G.M. Sam Presti got me again. I always bashed him but a lot of his moves have worked out when I didn’t think they where the right ones. I still think I could do his job.
So all that writing and still no real conclusion? I think at this point I really might go with Harden just because he seems like he will be a good fit going forward. Maybe one day he will actually starts. It’s crazy how a couple months can change my opinion so much on this. Curry looks really good though and he might have worked out. I just can’t answer this. Trust me I could have written a lot more, but I’ll save that for when I’m getting paid more. Let’s revisit this then. On to the last couple weeks before the playoffs, where the real fun begins.