Holy crap. Let me just say that watching the NBA last night was incredible. We're talking, "Don't talk to me and if you're louder than the TV, I'll spike the remote off your face" kinds of excited. And, yeah, it's only been two nights of games, but I already have some thoughts I need to share.
James Harden Looked Good. Let's Not Anoint Him Yet
Only a few days after the Thunder shipped him off because of a failure to renegotiate his contract, and on the day that he signed a five year, $80 million max extension with the Houston Rockets, James Harden went OFF last night. 36 points, 12 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals and a block in a victory of the Pistons.
Two things stand out about this to me. First, with the complexity of NBA offenses, he was able to pull off a night like this with only a few days of practicing with his new teammates. You know when you walk into a game of pick-up with a few guys you are familiar with, but don't play with on a consistent basis? It is MISERABLE. Guys don't cut when you expect them to, they throw up shots that make you cringe, and they hedge picks when they should switch. Everyone and everything is different. Harden shrugged it off, switched into beast mode and owned the floor. He officially closed the book on the Yao Ming/Tracy McGrady era and gives Houston, along with Jeremy Lin and a host of other young guys, a little hope for the future.
The second thing isn't quite as positive. Sample sizes, folks, samples sizes. Yes, Harden played an outstanding game. But that's not plural. Game. James Harden is definitely one of the best shooting guards in the league, but let's wait more than one game to coronate him a franchise saver. Because frankly I think he is the second best player on a championship team when he is playing at his absolute peak. Houston fans have a reason to be excited, absolutely, but I hate to see the media react this way each time it happens.
Two More Examples of Sample Sizes
The Lakers started the season 0-2 and looked bad while doing it. And while this makes me giddier than a kid on Christmas, we all know that this won't last. Kobe, Nash, Howard and Gasol are too good to continue to have these struggles. Mike Brown will do his damn hardest to coach them out of games, but a few weeks from now we will look back on the sudden panic from the media and shake our heads as alley-oops come crashing in on them from every direction by Howard and Nash. The 06-07 Dallas Mavericks won 67 games, after they started 0-4 (and yes, we will overlook the fact that they were the first #1 seed to lose in the first round of a seven game series that year too). The Lakers have lost 100% of their games so far, but they've only played 2.4% of the season so far. So let's take our fingers off the panic button please.
One of those teams that beat the Lakers was my own Portland Trail Blazers. And the Blazers beating the Lakers is like THIS kid on Christmas. It was an all-around team effort, but it's hard to overlook the individual play of Damien Lillard. The kid came out and ran the court like a general despite never having seen an NBA game before. After one game, he and Anthony Davis are the front-runners for Rookie of the Year.
Here's the thing: I would still bet a large chunk of money, barring injury of course, that Anthony Davis wins in a landslide. He's the better player already and will affect the game hugely on both ends of the court. That and he doesn't play point guard. Rookie point guards not named Chris Paul typically don't fair well in the NBA. Sure there are guys who have played well in recent memory (Brandon Jennings, Derrick Rose, Kyrie Irving), but even they took their lumps hard their rookie year. Running an NBA offense compared to a college offense is like giving the keys to a Lambo to a 22 year old after he's been cruising around in a Chevy Malibu. Same basic principal of driving, but wildly different dimensions and capabilities. Lillard is coming back down to Earth, probably as soon as the next game. But I'm okay with that, because through those failures he'll learn to be a better point guard and hopefully add stability to a position that has haunted the Blazers in year's past.
What I am listening to: Fineshrine - Purity Ring
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