Russell Westbrook versus James Harden

[ScoobyDoo]

At the time of the trade, I thought it was a huge mistake on OKC's part when they traded Harden instead of Westbrook and I still do.

I've never been a Westbrook fan though - I think he's too rash & hot tempered and while that may be a big reason for his success, I think it's even more of a negative that cause greater  weaknesses - IMHO.

Basketball personality aside, the problem I saw / still see, with a Westbrook/Durant duo leading the charge is that neither is a great facilitator and Westbrook is an erratic score to boot. So when Durant is off or sits, often times they're in trouble.

With Harden, you have a great scorer who can also facilitate "very well" from the two spot.

I thought OKC's rise a few years back was in large part to the play making ability of Eric? Minor and Harden when Durant or Westbrook, or both were sitting.

I think the current OKC team would be significantly more difficult to manage with a Reggie Jackson, Harden, Durant trio than Westbrook/Durant dominant offense.

I know what's done is done but I'd be curious to know what people think after watchign OKC since the trade. 

[LarBrd33]

Clearly they were smart to keep Michael Westbrook.  He's a way better Wide Receiver than Harden. Once those two step into the octagon, my money is on Westbrook.

[Donoghus]

Michael, huh?

Helluva catch in that Colorado-Michigan game back in '94.  Didn't live up to his billing in the pros, though. 

[D.o.s.]

After watching Harden underperform in what feels like almost every playoff game he's even been it, I think OKC made the right choice.

[timobusa]

[PhoSita]

After watching Harden underperform in what feels like almost every playoff game he's even been it, I think OKC made the right choice.

Yeah, I'm starting to think Harden is really just a very good version of Jamal Crawford or a more durable Manu Ginobili.  Not really cut out to be THE guy.  Houston needs to add one more dangerous offensive weapon to balance things out a bit.  Parsons is nice, but he's not quite on the level they need.

[fitzhickey]

Westbrook is underrated as a playmaker, IMO. His rebounding is stellar for a point guard, and he can score very easily. His defence is also very strong, which is very unlike Harden.

No way would I keep harden over Westbrook.

[Birdman]

If OKC would had keep Harden, I say they would had won a championship by now

[Endless Paradise]

After watching Harden underperform in what feels like almost every playoff game he's even been it, I think OKC made the right choice.

Exactly, I'm not sure why people think OKC would've been better off having traded Westbrook with Harden's documented struggles as "the man" in the playoffs.  At best, it'd be a wash.

[slamtheking]

After watching Harden underperform in what feels like almost every playoff game he's even been it, I think OKC made the right choice.

Exactly, I'm not sure why people think OKC would've been better off having traded Westbrook with Harden's documented struggles as "the man" in the playoffs.  At best, it'd be a wash.

from where I sit, Durant would have still been the man.  not harden.   replace westbrook with a decent PG that gets the ball up court, hits a respectable jumper, facilitates the offense and plays a little D and OKC would be a better team.

[jambr380]

After watching Harden underperform in what feels like almost every playoff game he's even been it, I think OKC made the right choice.

Exactly, I'm not sure why people think OKC would've been better off having traded Westbrook with Harden's documented struggles as "the man" in the playoffs.  At best, it'd be a wash.

from where I sit, Durant would have still been the man.  not harden.   replace westbrook with a decent PG that gets the ball up court, hits a respectable jumper, facilitates the offense and plays a little D and OKC would be a better team.

Yeah, I don't necessarily think that Harden is better than Westbrook, but it does seem clear that a good pg is easier to come by than a good sg - this may have benefited OKC.

[Endless Paradise]

from where I sit, Durant would have still been the man.  not harden.

Based on what, though?  Harden being elevated from the third banana and leader of the bench to the starting guard and one of the team's two cornerstones alongside KD - who's to say it wouldn't turn out exactly as it seems to be turning out for Harden in Houston?  Especially considering Harden would also be aware of the fact that OKC effectively chose him over Westbrook.

[Moranis]

Westbrook has always been the better player and frankly it isn't that close.  That said, you can't do this hypothetical without knowing what trade was out there for Oklahoma City.  I mean if you are talking about trading Westbrook for Rondo (or maybe something like Conley and Allen) and keeping Harden and Durant, then sure that team would have been better, but that team also still has all of the cap problems that OKC wanted to avoid by trading Harden anyway.

[Endless Paradise]

I personally agree that Westbrook is better than Harden, but I don't think the gulf is as large as you seem to be suggesting.  Harden's much more poised, a better shooter, more efficient at scoring, better at controlling pace, and slightly better at not turning the ball over for his career (though since being made a full-time starter, he's roughly on par with Westbrook for TOPG).  Westbrook's obviously far more athletic, much quicker, and more effective at breaking down the defenses just because he's so explosive. 

I give Westbrook the edge primarily because of his energy and effort: he rebounds like crazy, he can play some extremely intense D when focused, and no one can ever accuse him of not leaving it all on the court when he's playing.  Harden, on the other hand, has been the worst starter on the defensive end throughout these playoffs so far, not to even talk about how much of a sieve he's been during the regular season.  While Harden can bail out a team with timely scoring, I don't think that's quite as necessary on a team featuring the best scorer in the league in Durant.  I find Westbrook's passion to be much more complementary for a team that often goes through emotional lulls.

[More Banners]

It was a tough call.

The way things turned out, the league went from PG-starved to PG-heavy in a few years.  It was weird.

In any case, a wing attack of Harden/Durant, with a competent PG that can run the show and a strong front line of role players, or better, IBAKA and someone else, and the team could be a steamroller, with a Durant/Harden/Ibaka trio, and fill-out veterans at PG and C.

They might have turned out a bit better with Harden than Westbrook, based mostly on the ability of a competent PG to balance out a Durant/Harden/Ibaka attack, rather than a knock on Westbrook.