The 2018-2019 Around the NBA thread

[CardsSunsDbacks]

It sometimes feels like the Suns are their farm team with 6 former Suns on the Rockets and Harden a former Sun Devil. It's amazing how Harden is carrying the team.

Capela is a fourth year player so I'm not overly concerned about him playing better than Ayton.

I agree on that point. I was simply pointing to the fact that even with Paul out it's not like Harden has absolutely no one around him either. He has role players that play good defense and make threes and he has Capela who is extremely efficient and protects the rim. If you replace Harden with Booker on that team they wouldn't be as good as they are, but they wouldn't be terrible either.

 

[Mainstreet]

I agree on that point. I was simply pointing to the fact that even with Paul out it's not like Harden has absolutely no one around him either. He has role players that play good defense and make threes and he has Capela who is extremely efficient and protects the rim. If you replace Harden with Booker on that team they wouldn't be as good as they are, but they wouldn't be terrible either.

Looking at it this way, knowing Booker is not Harden, maybe the Suns should be using the Rockets as a role model as to how to maximize a roster.

Always a lighting rod issue with Suns fans but I think DA deserves some credit as well.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think they're mostly talking about his role and usage, compared to harden.

Given Bookers attributes he's more like a Thompson, with less height and way less D.

He's nothing like Harden but he's nothing like Klay either. Although they do have a few things in common. For example, Booker's defense isn't good but it's made out to be far worse than it is and Klay's defense isn't bad but it's made out to be far better than it is. Advanced stats aren't in Klay's corner when it comes to D. I'd take Klay over Booker but for one reason only, he stays healthy. Otherwise I'd much rather have Devin.

 

[slinslin]

I really wish people would stop comparing Booker to Harden. That is an apples and oranges comparison. Completely different players. If you want to compare Booker to anyone, compare him to Klay Thompson.

WTF

You are really taking absurdity to the next level.

The only thing Thompson and Booker have in common is that they are lightskinned.

Harden is a much much better comparison for Booker.

 

[1Sun]

WTF

You are really taking absurdity to the next level.

The only thing Thompson and Booker have in common is that they are lightskinned.

Harden is a much much better comparison for Booker.

Harden is far better at creating his own shot, far better at dribble penetration, much quicker, much stronger and is a more accurate passer. Booker is better as a catch and shoot player with the occasional crafty drive, a la Thompson.

 

[AzStevenCal]

WTF

You are really taking absurdity to the next level.

The only thing Thompson and Booker have in common is that they are lightskinned.

Harden is a much much better comparison for Booker.

Harden of 5 or 6 years ago might be a good comp for Booker but not today's Harden. Maybe Booker develops like James did but until it happens, they really aren't that much alike IMO. For one thing, Harden almost always makes the read and the right call with the ball, Booker still struggles there.

 

[Suns_fan69]

For Booker to get to Harden's level, he really needs to work on his handles and shooting off the dribble. And, if I'm being honest, how to work the refs. That's what makes Harden so unguardable.

 

[AzStevenCal]

For Booker to get to Harden's level, he really needs to work on his handles and shooting off the dribble. And, if I'm being honest, how to work the refs. That's what makes Harden so unguardable.

You might be underselling Harden a bit there. He does get a lot of referee breaks but he's a top 5 player even without the gifts from the men in stripes.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

You might be underselling Harden a bit there. He does get a lot of referee breaks but he's a top 5 player even without the gifts from the men in stripes.

A lot of the fouls he gets aren't because he is "selling" the foul either. It has a lot more to do with him baiting players into reaching in and then creates contact with their arms when they do. They are ticky tack a lot of the time, but they are in fact actual fouls.

 

[Cheesebeef]

You might be underselling Harden a bit there. He does get a lot of referee breaks but he's a top 5 player even without the gifts from the men in stripes.

agreed. the difference right now between Booker and Harden is that Harden can get to the hole at will, which means he can draw defenses in to create an entire offense. Book's handles and ability to get to the hole any time he wants it keeps him from being a Harden-level player right now.

 

[BC867]

Right now we're looking at Super Harden (not to be confused with a Viagra commercial).

Funny, Steve, funny! I guess his lasts longer than most

The earlier post about Houston playing only six players (or even seven) . . . well, we know what that leads to come crunch time.

 

[sunsfan88]

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[sunsfan88]

For Booker to get to Harden's level, he really needs to work on his handles and shooting off the dribble. And, if I'm being honest, how to work the refs. That's what makes Harden so unguardable.

I don’t think Booker willl ever get to Harden’s level and I hate the Suns put it in his head to try and be it. Harden is gonna retire as a top 4 player all time at the SG position. He has incredible vision and feel that Booker does not have.

I’d rather Booker try and emulate DeMar DeRozan or Bradley Beal. Or even prime Brandon Roy.

Booker trying to be Harden has led him to becoming a turnover machine and taking incredibly difficult shots that he doesn’t have the ability to make (unlike Harden).

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I don’t think Booker willl ever get to Harden’s level and I hate the Suns put it in his head to try and be it. Harden is gonna retire as a top 4 player all time at the SG position. He has incredible vision and feel that Booker does not have.

I’d rather Booker try and emulate DeMar DeRozan or Bradley Beal. Or even prime Brandon Roy.

Booker trying to be Harden has led him to becoming a turnover machine and taking incredibly difficult shots that he doesn’t have the ability to make (unlike Harden).

Booker is 22 years old. Harden wasn't even close to Harden at that age. Had you asked a 22 year old Harden to do what he is doing right now he would have fell flat on his face. We have no idea how good Devin might get in the next 5-7 years, but it could very well be to the level that Harden has gotten himself to.

 

[1Sun]

I don’t think Booker willl ever get to Harden’s level and I hate the Suns put it in his head to try and be it. Harden is gonna retire as a top 4 player all time at the SG position. He has incredible vision and feel that Booker does not have.

I’d rather Booker try and emulate DeMar DeRozan or Bradley Beal. Or even prime Brandon Roy.

Booker trying to be Harden has led him to becoming a turnover machine and taking incredibly difficult shots that he doesn’t have the ability to make (unlike Harden).

Bingo, and that's the point I was trying to make.

 

[1Sun]

Booker is 22 years old. Harden wasn't even close to Harden at that age. Had you asked a 22 year old Harden to do what he is doing right now he would have fell flat on his face. We have no idea how good Devin might get in the next 5-7 years, but it could very well be to the level that Harden has gotten himself to.

Booker doesn't have the strength and athleticism to do that, and he never will. He just isn't that type of player. It might seem a bit old school, but for a ceiling, the player I really see in Devin Booker, if used properly, is Reggie Miller. The problem is that too many are telling him he should model his game after MJ, Kobe or Harden instead.

 

[sunsfan88]

Booker is 22 years old. Harden wasn't even close to Harden at that age. Had you asked a 22 year old Harden to do what he is doing right now he would have fell flat on his face. We have no idea how good Devin might get in the next 5-7 years, but it could very well be to the level that Harden has gotten himself to.

Harden had way, way better ball handling ability and vision than Booker at the same age.

There are many who believe that Harden is arguably the greatest offensive player in the history of the league.

I don’t care if Booker is 14 years old or 22 years old, he’s not gonna be Harden. And I’m gonna spoil the suspense and declare it now itself that he won’t be Michael Jordan either.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Cavaliers released McCaw to sign Cameron Payne to a ten day contract.

It looks like I'm not the only that finds McCaw's sign and release by the Cavs to be a bit fishy. The NBA is reviewing it as requested by the Warriors. I'm pretty sure it's going to turn out to be a form of collusion although I don't know if it's far enough over the line for the league to do anything about it. But it sure was strange the way it went down.

 

[Mainstreet]

It looks like I'm not the only that finds McCaw's sign and release by the Cavs to be a bit fishy. The NBA is reviewing it as requested by the Warriors. I'm pretty sure it's going to turn out to be a form of collusion although I don't know if it's far enough over the line for the league to do anything about it. But it sure was strange the way it went down.

I agree it was fishy. The Cavaliers sign McCaw then turn around and waive him, only to sign Payne.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I agree it was fishy. The Cavaliers sign McCaw then turn around and waive him, only to sign Payne.

I think the actions are unrelated. This has more to do with the history between McCaw and the Warriors. I suspect the Cavs did an agent a favor and signed him to what was really nothing more than a bogus contract so that Golden State would have to let him go.

 

[BC867]

There are many who believe that Harden is arguably the greatest offensive player in the history of the league.

Wilt Chamberlain is rolling over in his grave.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think the actions are unrelated. This has more to do with the history between McCaw and the Warriors. I suspect the Cavs did an agent a favor and signed him to what was really nothing more than a bogus contract so that Golden State would have to let him go.

I have no sympathy for the Cavaliers since they signed Payne who I had been watching since his release on waivers.

Mostly joking about Payne.

Your instincts about the situation was right.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Wilt Chamberlain is rolling over in his grave.

Yeah but is he alone in there or working on 20,001?

Wilt Chamberlain was nowhere near as good as Wilt Chamberlain, if you know what I mean. He was the most dominant player ever whenever he chose to be. He's one of the few players that you could take out of that generation, throw him into today's game and still watch him dominate. He rarely gets mentioned for greatest player ever and that's probably justified but his best was much better than anyone else's best.

 

[BC867]

Yeah but is he alone in there or working on 20,001?

Wilt Chamberlain was nowhere near as good as Wilt Chamberlain, if you know what I mean. He was the most dominant player ever whenever he chose to be. He's one of the few players that you could take out of that generation, throw him into today's game and still watch him dominate. He rarely gets mentioned for greatest player ever and that's probably justified but his best was much better than anyone else's best.

Just like Babe Ruth when he hit 58-60 home runs per season and the runner up had somewhere in the teens, for awhile, IIRC.

Not just individual stats but, as you said, how much better he was than anyone else.

I see your punchlines now involved s-e-x. Harden. Wilt the Stilt.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Just like Babe Ruth when he hit 58-60 home runs per season and the runner up had somewhere in the teens, for awhile, IIRC.

Not just individual stats but, as you said, how much better he was than anyone else.

I see your punchlines now involved s-e-x. Harden. Wilt the Stilt.

Sure but until Babe Ruth started doing it baseball purists viewed it like 80's coaches viewed the 3 point shot.

And I assure you, the 2 mild sex jokes today were purely coincidental. It's a real challenge not to recall Wilt's claim of 20,000 different sex partners every time his name comes up and the Harden line was to head off even worse jokes. Most of my fantasies revolve around good food and Zion Williamson. Good food I can get, Zion's a long shot though.