Replace Harden with AD are rockets still No 1 Seed?

[Professor Emeritus]

CP3
Gordon
PJ Tucker/Green
AD
Capela




That team could frighten Golden State, legit and balanced on offense while being monstrous on defense. Houston's offense can absolutely run with just one playmaker, they did it before CP3 got there. Not to mention that Gordon is just fine as a secondary playmaker. They need CP3 and Harden on the court at the same time because Harden is unreliable as a primary playmaker in the playoffs, not because the offense requires two such players.

If CP3 stays healthy, then the Rockets would definitely be better with AD than with Harden.

 

[KingJay]

Why do you think so?

I believe Harden is a perennial choke job on offense, and doesn't play any defense to make up for it

It's also a lot easier for GSW to check a guard like Harden than it is a 6'11" do-it-all PF like Anthony Davis.

Take out game 1 when the Rockets lost by double digits and the Warriors intentionally let him go ISO to sabotage the rest of the team, Harden put up 26.7/5.8/5.8 with 5topg on 38.6%FG and 20.3%3PT You can keep in game one and he still played like shyt. Dude just totally disappears in big moments. Did against Miami in the Finals, had the WOAT performance agains the Spurs, choked against GSW, I can't trust him in the playoffs until proven otherwise.

AD puts in work agains the Warriors and in the playoffs so far, and would be even scarier with CP3 throwing dimes, all of Houston's 3PT shooters spacing the floor, and the ability to gamble more defensively knowing Capela has his back. He'd give a nice consistent option that an offense like Houston's needs.

 

[El Coupeacabra]

Ariza left as a free agent. He's on the Suns now, 1 yr 15 million dollar deal.

CP3
Gordon
?/Tucker???
AD
Capela

Not too shabby That's a team thats bound to give somebody problems

I forgot all about PJ Tucker

That team is gross defensively

CP3 playing crazy ass on ball defense, with Tucker, Davis, and Capela switching on your perimeter players

Gordon is the only possible liability but he always seems to play decent defense

Plus CP3 and Gordon are PnR gods in the D'Antoni system and would be lobbing to Davis and Capela or knocking down 3's all day

Ion like thinking about this Warrior brehs

 

[El Coupeacabra]

AD puts in work agains the Warriors and in the playoffs so far, and would be even scarier with CP3 throwing dimes, all of Houston's 3PT shooters spacing the floor, and the ability to gamble more defensively knowing Capela has his back. He'd give a nice consistent option that an offense like Houston's needs.

The thought of Anthony Davis switching out on your PG and staying perfectly in front of him like

and forcing the pass with CP3 just waiting intm the passing lane like

And Capela at the rim like just in case you get by...

That's some spooky shyt

 

[1thouwow]

I guess I’ll say it. AD is overrated.

 

[ProlificLurker]

I forgot all about PJ Tucker

That team is gross defensively

CP3 playing crazy ass on ball defense, with Tucker, Davis, and Capela switching on your perimeter players

Gordon is the only possible liability but he always seems to play decent defense

Plus CP3 and Gordon are PnR gods in the D'Antoni system and would be lobbing to Davis and Capela or knocking down 3's all day

Ion like thinking about this Warrior brehs

Tucker is solid, but in that (high unlikely) hypothetical line up with Capela and AD in the front court where do you play Tuck?

The 3?

Back up 3?

Back up 4/Back up Small Ball 5? (MDA used Tucker a lot as a small ball 5 vs the warriors, did fairly well in that role tbh)





Interesting options

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

No one can guard AD
AD is abnormally disruptive on the block & in pick and roll D. AD is a bigger offensive threat...

Dribble Dribble hoist my ass

I thought you weasels said you hate 90s ball?

 

[King Jove]

rockets would be worse.

harden is a much more impactful offensive player than anthony davis because of his slashing, shooting, free throws, and passing while not being nearly bad defensively as the coli tries to make him.

 

[Mars]

Rockets would've won the Championship last season with AD instead of Harden.

 

[Cladyclad]

They wouldn’t had that 0-27 drought

 

[No..Money..Mo..Problems]

AD is better but he's also 4 years younger and still trying to learn how to win on a consistent basis like harden has. In a year or 2 AD will be competing for championships.

 

[ALonelyDad]

Top 2 team, not sure if they win as many games with AD that they did with Harden

 

[Bubba T]

As everyone said.. offense is Taylor made for harden.. players I could replace harden with are curry, Klay, kyrie types...not a big men.

I don't mean to be that guy, but

 

[Sinnerman]

CP3
Gordon
PJ Tucker/Green
AD
Capela




That team could frighten Golden State, legit and balanced on offense while being monstrous on defense. Houston's offense can absolutely run with just one playmaker, they did it before CP3 got there. Not to mention that Gordon is just fine as a secondary playmaker. They need CP3 and Harden on the court at the same time because Harden is unreliable as a primary playmaker in the playoffs, not because the offense requires two such players.

If CP3 stays healthy, then the Rockets would definitely be better with AD than with Harden.

Came in to say no, but this is a great point

 

[Professor Emeritus]

rockets would be worse.

harden is a much more impactful offensive player than anthony davis because of his slashing, shooting, free throws, and passing while not being nearly bad defensively as the coli tries to make him.

AD is a game-changer defensively. At BEST Harden is below average. It's a huge difference.

And against the Warriors Harden shot 41% from the field and 24% from three while averaging 6 assists and 5 turnovers a game. 6.5 fts/game doesn't make up for that. AD shot 48% against the Warriors on the way to averaging 28 and 15, and that was within an offensive system that gave him far less space than what the Rockets would have him operating with.

AD has been a monster in the playoffs. Harden consistently chokes whenever the going gets tough. I don't know how this isn't an obvious pattern by now.