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The Rockets will be interesting, but it remains to be seen how well Harden and Chris Paul play off each other. Each is very ball dominant and Harden will have to give up a lot of shots and touches to make this work.

The next rumored domino is getting Paul George to join them.

I actually don't think this move puts Houston much closer to unseating the juggernaut Warriors.  

CP is a HOF player but he's not getting any younger and the real question is can he stay healthy?   Then there's the unknown chemistry with how he fits with Harden who likes his touches and likes his shots even more. 

Personally, I dont think adding guards is going to make the difference nor is playing the GS game.  To beat Golden State you need to throw size and physicality at them and Houston just dealt their best defensive/size guy (Beverly) to get Paul.  

Time will tell but the Warriors and Cavs are still clearly the two best teams and everyone else is far behind.  I think the Cavs window is narrow as LeBron will probably bolt after this year but I don't see GS going anywhere soon unless they do something really dumb or suffer bad luck with injuries. 

Last edited by Tschmack

To beat Golden State you need size? Really? I'd like to see size chasing all those crazy quick slick shooting Warriors players. Actually, I don't think anyone has figured out how to beat the Warriors quite yet. Not this year's version, anyway.

Goalline posted:

To beat Golden State you need size? Really? I'd like to see size chasing all those crazy quick slick shooting Warriors players. Actually, I don't think anyone has figured out how to beat the Warriors quite yet. Not this year's version, anyway.

I agree. I think the only way you beat Golden State is to have defensive players that can switch the screens. They arguably have 3 of the top 10 shooters of all time (Curry, Durant, and Klay T.) and giving any of those 3 open shots from anywhere inside of 25 feet is like giving up layups. The reason the Cavs were able to hang with them until this year is that Tristan Thompson is a good enough big defender to not be embarrassed when he ends up matched up against Curry on a switch. You put those 3 guys out there with Iguodala and Green (who on most normal teams you'd want to prevent getting open shots)  in the death lineup and I'm not sure anyone can compete.

It took Green getting suspended to get beat in 2016 when they had Harrison Barnes in that group. Essentially trading Barnes for Durant makes it ridiculous.

Paul George is a player that could make a difference against them. He's a great defensive player who can play the switches (and at least put up some resistance to Durant 1 x 1) who is also a load on the offensive end. If you put him on the Cavs instead of Kevin Love, that means Green and Iguodala have to match up on LeBron and George and can't help out on Curry's guy.

You saw this year in the playoffs what happened when teams tried to run and gun with Golden State.  It didn't work.  They are simply that much better at that style of play than anyone else. 

Teams that have had success against them did so by having defenders with length and quickness to make it more difficult for them to get so many open and uncontested looks.   I also don't think they respond well when you get physical with them which is what OKC and Cleveland did against them last season. 

 

Tschmack posted:

You saw this year in the playoffs what happened when teams tried to run and gun with Golden State.  It didn't work.  They are simply that much better at that style of play than anyone else. 

Teams that have had success against them did so by having defenders with length and quickness to make it more difficult for them to get so many open and uncontested looks.   I also don't think they respond well when you get physical with them which is what OKC and Cleveland did against them last season. 

 

That was 2015-16. I think Durant changes that equation. I'm not sure he's guard able 1 x1 even if you get physical with him. 

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