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James Harden grew to become a 35-point scorer each time Kevin Durant or Russell Westbrook sat, flashing glimpses of his future stardom.
Practically a decade in the past, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded away James Harden, a future MVP in solely his third season, for Kevin Martin, rookie Jeremy Lamb, two future first-round picks (Steven Adams and Mitch McGary), and a future second-round choose (Alex Abrines). Numerous retrospective articles have echoed what some critics did on the time: Clay Bennett and the Thunder ought to have simply paid the additional few million to maintain an all-time nice participant.
The group had loads of indicators. In 2012, regardless of average per-game averages, the 22-year-old guard completed second within the league in true taking pictures, seventh in Field Plus-Minus, and thirteenth in Worth Over Alternative Participant. The previous third total choose had improved each 12 months of his profession. Oklahoma Metropolis had reservations about handing out one other max contract to a participant that is likely to be nothing greater than a perennial Sixth Man of the Yr contender. Possibly his success was only a product of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, who made First-Staff and Second-Staff All-NBA, respectively, in 2012.
We all know for certain now — the Thunder made a mistake. However the group didn’t want to have a look at superior statistics or Harden’s ends in Houston to determine this out. It merely had to have a look at Harden’s numbers when he didn’t need to play the third wheel to Durant and Westbrook.
Under are the statistics for Harden, Durant, and Westbrook within the 2011-12 season. It contains statistics per 75 possessions to mirror a participant’s numbers in the event that they have been to play starter minutes. For instance, Harden primarily got here off the bench to attain 16.8 factors in 31.4 minutes. Prorating that to the enjoying time of most starters, 75 possessions per recreation, he scored 21.3 factors.
Maintain these season averages in thoughts, as these are the commonest splits used to research gamers.
Now let’s work out how effectively Harden performed with out the group’s stars. Did he change their scoring? Did he keep environment friendly? How did he play when he couldn’t choose on an opposing group’s third defender? (Trace: sure, sure, and really effectively.)
James Harden with and with out Kevin Durant
When he shared the courtroom with Kevin Durant, James Harden regarded like a medium-volume environment friendly scorer, leaving the powerful buckets to Durant. He resembled a Joe Ingles-type — a top quality shooter that contributed just a little little bit of passing as effectively — however nothing spectacular.
Take Durant off the ground and Harden regarded like, effectively, James Harden. He grew to become an uber-efficient, high-volume scorer with good passing expertise. This was the James Harden everyone knows. Now, keep in mind, these numbers are from 2012, Harden nonetheless performed for the Thunder. Merely take away the second-best participant within the NBA, and instantly Harden had the trail to be an all-time nice.
James Harden with and with out Russell Westbrook
The identical sample repeats itself when Westbrook and Harden performed collectively. Harden put in an environment friendly 14.6 factors per 75, together with just a little little bit of rebounding and passing. Nothing particular.
When Westbrook sat and Harden took the courtroom, Harden grew to become a star once more. His effectivity elevated even whereas his scoring greater than doubled. He additionally flashed the passing expertise that flourished in Houston as his assists crept as much as 6.1 per 75. Take away an All-NBA guard from the courtroom and Harden reveals off his suppressed stardom.
The Thunder had a star sitting proper of their lap. When both All-NBA participant sat, James Harden had the liberty to place up ridiculous scoring numbers on all-time effectivity. Oklahoma Metropolis made an enormous mistake and left a warning for future groups — if you will commerce a participant, be certain that he’s not already enjoying like an all-time nice.
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