What If... James Harden stayed with Oklahoma City Thunder instead of Russell Westbrook?

by Matthew Wellington from http://www.sixthmanjournal.com/2014/11/12/when-the-mighty-fall/

          The arrival of James Harden to the Houston Rockets has made him an All-Star if not a Hall of Famer. He has revived the city of Houston thanks to his ability to break down defense averaging over 25 points per game in each of the three seasons with the Rockets. My question is what would his impact  if he stayed and played alongside Kevin Durant instead of Russell Westbrook. Would they have been a better duo than Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook? Let's think about it and see the differences between the two dynamic superstars. Both players are ball dominant meaning they're effective when the ball is in their hands. They can create their own shots and there has been many controversies in a few instances when Westbrook attempts more shots than Durant. But when Westbrook is on his A game, there is no one who is as fast and aggressive as he is. On the other hand, James Harden has numerous isolation moves making him hard to predict what's his next move. If I have to pick which player would be better, there is so many other factors to take into consideration.

          Let's compare Russell Westbrook and James Harden side by side. From a free throw standpoint, James Harden is a better free throw shooter and goes to the line more often. But that's not to say Westbrook doesn't go to the line as much. On average, Harden attempts 9.0 attempts per game and Westbrook attempts 8.6 per game. Both players are always in attack mode and as a result, this category would have to go to James Harden by a small margin because he has the ability to create space with his fancy footwork. Durant would be glad whomever is his sidekick because there is less pressure and knowing there's another player he can kick the ball out when he a double team comes to him. Moving on, the fast -break department would be in Westbrook's favor. As Steve Smith of NBATV quotes "little rage", Westbrook is fearless on the break. He can stop on a dime and pull up for a jumper. His ability to blow by two or three players and score with his speed is amazing to watch and soak in. Sometimes people refer to him as the one man's fast-break. They are special in their own ways which is why both players earned a spot on the All-Star roster.

          When it comes to the other categories, Westbrook is the better rebounder especially playing the point guard position. He can really get up there and one of few point guards who has an inside and outside game. As for passing, both players can distribute the ball, keeping their teammates involved. They can also get you a couple of steals a night which shows you James Harden can play defense. When James Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets, people were noticing more on his defense than offense. On several occasions, he can be a little tired but that's because he consumes his energy on scoring. His defense is undervalued and he has improved over time. Overall it's tough to say which is the better teammate for Kevin Durant if he had to pick one. Who would you pick?

What if... the Portland Trailblazers had a New Year's Resolution, what would it be?

by Jesse Johnson from http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/01/05/trail-blazers-timberwolves-nicolas-batum-wesley-matthews/1811637/

          The Portland Trailblazers are on the verge of homecourt advantage in the playoffs. Separating them from the 8th seed is only five games. There is no room to slack off if they want to maintain their position as the 3rd seed of the West. With rising point guard, Damian Lillard, and team leader, Lamarcus Aldridge, their star duo are capable of bringing their city a championship. That is to say if Aldridge does not re-aggravate his thumb forcing him to have surgery. What's their resolution? Staying healthy just like last year. Between the starters for the Blazers, they have only accumulated 13 missed games total which was all from Lamarcus Aldridge. That is a remarkable number considering the number of minutes they play each game. This year, they have played numerous games without Robin Lopez, Nicolas Batum, and Lamarcus Aldridge. The chemistry will be a bit off because it won't be as consistent as last season. It's tough to past the first round like last year. Any team they face in the first round will be a worthy opponent whether it's the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, or last year's matchup, Houston Rockets.

          Chris Kaman has been a great addition who adds a post-up game and solid offense whenever Aldridge heads to the bench. The key to the Portland Trailblazers doing well in the playoffs are Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum. Matthew's 3-point shooting is important when Lamarcus Aldridge is double-teamed and needs someone to kick out for an open jumper. We can't give Batum enough credit. He has to defend the elite wings like Lebron James, Kevin Durant, and Paul Millsap. Sometimes he has to guard the quicker guards like James Harden, Demar Derozan, and Monte Ellis. Nicolas Batum may not have plays called for him but he keeps the job done. It's great to have a player like Batum on your team because he's not a one-dimensional player. Let's hope the core of the Portland Trailblazers stay for many years to come.

What if... the Phoenix Suns had a New Year's Resolution, what would it be?

by Reuters/File from http://www.christianpost.com/news/la-lakers-trade-rumors-news-2014-eric-bledsoe-trade-would-be-unlikely-126722/

                                         
          The last spot in the Western Conference playoffs is between the New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Phoenix Suns. This will be an on-going battle for the rest of the season. The West is just so deep and the position of the teams in the West will come down to the wire. Much similar to a team like the Atlanta Hawks, the Suns have great players but not superstar players. The Hawks have improved dramatically because of the return of Al Horford. He is the anchor of their defense and without him, there's no rim protector. As long as they play team basketball, they will win games with a record of 37-8, a franchise best.

          Alex Len of the Phoenix Suns, has been a nice addition since being inserted into the starting lineup. He has provided a solid contribution with increased minutes since his rookie season. What he needs to work on is his body because he's going to take a beating if he wants to compete with other centers in the league like Dwight Howard or Marc Gasol. We will see where he progresses from here. But signing the Morris brothers in the offseason, which I thought, was a great decision for the organization. The Suns have enough stability in the forward position and Markieff Morris, at times, can play center if they decide to go with a smaller lineup. Both Markieff and Marcus can shoot the ball as well as handle the ball which is a great skill to have if you're a big man. I think their resolution should be defense. We know what they are capable of scoring but defense wins championship.

          The three-headed monster between Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Isiaah Thomas is a match-up nightmare for the league. Just not when they play defense. The Suns score an average of 107.4 points per game, good for 3rd in the league. But that doesn't generate wins as they allow 105.3 points per game. I believe they are one player away from contending for a title. Someone like Jimmy Butler or Draymond Green who can guard Lebron James and Kevin Durant. They could work on their interior defense as well. Until they change from their high octane offense system, they are only trying to get into the playoffs. The West is just too competitive as they are in the 8th seed for now. Don't be surprised if they fall down one or two spots. Can they commit themselves defensively for 48 minutes?

What if... the Philadelphia 76ers had a New Year's Resolution, what would it be?

by Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports from http://www.usatoday.com/sports/services/photos/USATSI-186772/

          The fans were joyous when Andrew Bynum joined the 76ers. Unfortunately, he played no games and they were in the bottom of the East. Jrue Holiday made the All-Star team when Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young were with the team but the organization decided to head towards another direction and draft Michael-Carter Williams. Last year, it was bad luck of Nerlens Noel  missing the whole season due to ACL injury. Now this year, young prospect Joel Embiid, is injured and will miss the whole season as well. With what we know so far, it's not looking good for Embiid. Rumors has it, he gained extra pounds and hasn't participated in mandatory workouts. The 76ers need a veteran player who brings leadership like Andre Iguodala when he was with the team. They are building through the draft like Oklahoma City Thunder. Imagine where the Thunder would be if they still had James Harden along with Serge Ibaka, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Durant as their core roster. Be sure to check out my other blogpost, "What If... Oklahoma City Thunder still had James Harden?" for more information.

          The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to solidify their team and have a foundation of young players with high draft picks every year. In time, Nerlens Noel will be in chase for Defensive Player of the Year and develop an offense game with post up moves. He is a high motor guy much like Kenneth Faried who has years to improve. So far he is averaging 1.6 blocks as well as 1.6 steals. He can give these goodies and they are great for your fantasy league team but his free throws are an issue. Like Blake Griffin, I can see him work on it in the gym and gradually improve to a 70% free throw shooter. Until they make a trade for a superstar, the 76ers are not ready for the playoffs. Fans will have to wait a few more years until big things happen in Philly.

What if... the New Orleans Pelicans had a New Year's Resolution, what would it be?

by Pace Maier from http://isportsweb.com/2014/01/10/new-orleans-pelicans-eric-gordon-trading-block/

          In his third year in the league, Anthony Davis will most like start for the West in the All-Star game. So far this year, he is averaging 24.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks. At times, the Pelicans look like a great team but due to the depth of the West, teams like the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns, will have a tough time making the playoffs. Davis was part of Team USA and he has grown to be the team leader. He has a good work ethic and has improved his body so he can handle the front court presence of the opposing team. But we all know you can't win a basketball game with just one player. Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans has done a decent job running the point guard position. With the addition of Omer Asik, Ryan Anderson is coming off the bench and provides a scoring punch from the second unit. Anthony Davis needs another superstar on his team to make the playoffs like Oklahoma City Thunder with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

          Eric Gordon has been a disappointment after signing a four year, $58 million dollar contract. He has not played a full season in his career due to his injuries and his points averaged has decreased each season he was with the New Orleans Pelicans. He has gone from 20.6 points to 17 to 15.4 to 11.8 this season. Gordon has not shot higher than 46% from the floor. As a player who is 26 years old and entering their prime, his numbers are going down. That is not attractive when he becomes a free agent. Will the Pelicans decide to hold onto Eric Gordon or will they look for another shooting guard like Jimmy Butler who can help Anthony Davis make the playoffs?

What if... the Boston Celtics had a New Year's Resolution, what would it be?

                                      by Brian Robb from http://www.celticshub.com/2014/02/09/report-hawks-interested-trading-jeff-green/                                    

          

          The Boston Celtics are in a rebuilding stage after trading away Rajon Rondo to the Dallas Mavericks. It's obvious they are not ready compete against teams like the Golden State Warriors or Chicago Bulls. After the acquisition of Brandon Wright and Jae Crowder from the Dallas Mavericks, their roster is filled with more good players, not great players. They have a young star in Marcus Smart who was a great offensive player in college. With a few more years playing with one another, each player from the Celtics should understand their roles better. 

          I want to talk about Jeff Green for a moment. He was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2011 so he can backup Paul Pierce and replace him after he leaves the organization. He averaged around 15 points and 5 rebounds before he left the Thunder. I assumed he would play a major role because he had to play behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Those are pretty decent stats playing behind two superstars. His first season with the Boston Celtics was a tough one as he went from averaging 37 minutes to around 24 minutes. After Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce left for the Brooklyn Nets, many people assumed it was the year Jeff Green was going to have a break-out season. Unfortunately, it was another disappointing season for him. Fast-forward to his 5th season with the Boston Celtics, he is finally posting career high 18.5 point per game through 29 games. He produces monster statlines sometimes but sometimes is not enough. Green needs to be more consistent for the Celtics to have a chance winning against teams above .500. Another player who needs to improve his game is Jared Sullinger. Analysts have compared Jared Sullinger to Kevin Love when he just entered the league. He has great size and range for his position. What he needs to work on is his defense and mobility. In time, the Boston Celtics would need Jeff Green to become their veteran leader. Budding young stars of Jared Sullinger and Marcus Smart are key for the Celtics if they want to make the playoffs. They might have a few more disappointing seasons but through the draft and experience playing together, the Boston Celtics will be an elite squad sooner rather than later.

What if... the Atlanta Hawks had a New Year's Resolution, what would it be?

by Lauren Moranor from http://www.sportsworldreport.com/articles/18083/20130712/milwaukee-bucks-rumors-jeff-teague-asks-atlanta-hawks-match-offer.htm

                                       
          Surprisingly, the Atlanta Hawks are in a great situation. Who would've thought they would be the second best team on the East with a remarkable 23-8 start. Even though the Hawks are off to a great start, they need a few more adjustments to make it to the next level and call themselves title contenders. They need to find that one player who can make the last shot of the game whether it's Jeff Teague, Al Horford, or Paul Millsap. In order for the Hawks to advance deeper into the playoffs, I believe Teague has the ability to take that one extra step and be that team leader. We all know what Paul Millsap is capable of with his mid-range, post up, and defense tenacity. Kyle Korver is a great teammate to have who can shoot the three and DeMarre Carroll is a player to watch out for. He's the type of player who can defend Lebron James or Kevin Durant. He won't stop them but he will slow them down. Al Horford is coming back from a shoulder injury and should play like the way he did a season ago. Jeff Teague has shown improvements and could be the go-to player for the Atlanta Hawks in a few years.

          The team has a great starting five led by head coach, Mike Budenholzer. Last year, they made it to the playoffs but it was as a eighth seed with just a record of 38-44. This group of players has been meshing for a few years and their chemistry will grow game by game with the return of Al Horford. In order for the Hawks to be a threat, Jeff Teague must make himself a leader how Mike Conley Jr. did for the Memphis Grizzles. It's not going to happen overnight but he will gradually learn. The Atlanta Hawks are in a good spot and their fans should be proud of them.

"Holiday Edition" - What If... the All-Star game started next week, who should be on the team?

by Yahoo, @CHold from http://solecollector.com/news/damian-lillard-wears-fan-designed-adidas-rose-3-5/

       
          Welcome to the special edition of theNBAwhatIF. Today, we created a list of starters and reserves who should be on each side if the All-Star game was next week. The list includes first time all-star, Brandon Knight, who is averaging 18 points, 5 assists, and almost 5 rebounds. The Milwaukee Bucks, as of now, are in the 6th seed of the playoffs who has exceeded their expectations so far into the season. We also have Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant on the roster even though their teams aren't in the playoffs. I would've placed Russell Westbrook in the starting lineup but he missed a few games and the Oklahoma City Thunder are a few games below .500 With Kevin Durant back they should be heading nowhere but up in the West. I would love to see Marc Gasol in the starting lineup with averages of 20 points, 8 rebounds, and almost 4 assists. Stephen Curry should belong with the starters as well who is averaging 23 points and 8 rebounds. We would also like to note the Golden State Warriors are off to a 23-4 start which is the best record in the league. Should there be any changes? Let us know in the comments below!


Eastern Conference

John Wall, Washington Wizards, starting guard
Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors, starting guard
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, starting forward
Chris Bosh, Miami Heat, starting forward
Pau Gasol, Chicago Bulls, starting forward

Brandon Knight, Milwaukee Bucks, reserve guard
Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers, reserve guard
Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks, reserve forward
Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers, reserve forward
Demar Derozan, Toronto Raptors, reserve guard
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks, reserve forward
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls, reserve guard

Western Conference

Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, starting guard
James Harden, Houston Rockets, starting guard
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans, starting forward
Marc Gasol, Memphis Grizzles, starting forward
Lamarcus Aldridge, Portland Trailblazers, starting forward

Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers, reserve guard
Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, reserve guard
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers, reserve forward
Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers, reserve guard
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder, reserve guard
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, reserve forward
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs, reserve forward

* exception to Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, and Dwight Howard for missing games

What If... you can repick the top 5 picks of the 2007 NBA draft?

by Clark Mitchell from http://www.chatsports.com/san-antonio-spurs/a/Report-San-Antonio-Spurs-To-Target-Grizzlies-Marc-Gasol-If-Tim-Duncan-Retires-10-192-358

          If we were to start all over with the picks of the 2007 NBA draft, Greg Oden who was originally the top pick of the draft, should not belong in the top ten. But injuries are part of the game and Oden was an unfortunate player to have multiple leg injuries throughout his short career. So far, the favorite to come first out if we were to restart the draft, it would be Kevin Durant no questions asked. In his first 8 years of his career, he has claimed himself as one of the most lethal shooters in the game. As the 2nd pick of the same draft, I would go for Marc Gasol, who was actually traded for his brother Pau Gasol. He has been as good as his brother if not better. For the third pick, it would be Joakim Noah, who is a very underrated center in this league. He is a tenacious defender who will frustrate the opposing player on every possession. Moving on to the fourth pick, Al Horford who is a center who has a quiet well-around game. For a big man, he has great quickness and footwork to go along with an mid-range shot. For the last pick, it would be Mike Conley,Jr., a crafty player known more for his picky defense. His offense wasn't quick there in his first few seasons but kept working hard and did well after receiving his new contract. Overall, my top five draft would be Kevin Durant, Marc Gasol, Joakim Noah, Al Horford, and Mike Conley, Jr.

What If... you had to pick one player to take the last shot to win, who would it be?

by Tim MacMahon, Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports from http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/mavericks/post/_/id/4699325/35-year-old-dirk-goes-off-for-40 

                                                 
          Dirk Nowitzki has to be the guy to take the last shot for me. He had an unguardable fade-way jumper. At seven feet tall playing power forward, on most night, could shoot over players at his position. Many people would say either Kevin Durant, Lebron James, and Kobe Bryant. To me, Nowitzki has the most patented shot because he shoots it all the time in game and in practice. He is capable of making mid range shots and three pointers. Kevin Durant has learned from Nowitzki and added the one legged shot to his arsenal. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki are making young players of the league look silly. Both are thirty-six years old and in their father times, yet could create problems for the opposing teams. Nowitzki has the better overall game and shot selection. His releases are quick and at the high point of his release so he doesn't get blocked often. I like James Harden also but he over dribbles and sometimes would turn the ball over in the last few seconds of the game. Nowitzki is the safe pick for me. Others would argue why Nowitzki? This is my thoughts on the question and in full support of it. Sorry for the haters. There are good choices out there but Nowitzki is who I would choose to take the last shot of the game.

What If... Anthony Davis fell down to the 2nd pick of the NBA draft?

by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com from http://photos.nola.com/tpphotos/2013/10/anthony_davis_pelicans_vs_heat.html

          It would be highly unlikely to have Michael Kidd-Gilchrist over Anthony Davis but at the time they were both rookies and the league didn't know what to expect from college players. It went the same for Greg Oden over Kevin Durant as the first pick of the NBA draft. There are many draft pick busts in each year's draft but Anthony Davis surely wasn't one of them. Hypothetically, if he was dropped down to the second pick, how would the now Charlotte Hornets be positioned in the Eastern Conference?

          Alongside with Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker, they would create a force to be reckoned with. With years of experience together, they would probably reach the playoffs and pass the first  round. Anthony Davis has improved his game dramatically since his rookie year as he developed a mid-range game to go along with his handles and quickness. For a big men, it is such an useful asset to blow by defenders who are unable to keep up with his speed. Lance Stephensen would be a complementary player and be the glue guy for the test and play a similar role when he was with the Indiana Pacers. Kemba Walker would play the facilitator role and make outside shots when Davis and Jefferson are double-teamed. There would be a lot of help in Charlotte and easier to reach the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. The New Orleans Pelicans are going to have a tough time reaching the playoffs because the Western Conference is so crowded and stacked. Hopefully, Davis won't be too old by then.