Who’s Better: DeMar DeRozan Or James Harden?

Has there ever been a point like this in NBA history? So many young players. So many good young players. Back in the day, unless you played three or four years in college and dominated, you were catching bench splinters for your first few runs in the NBA. Now kids come in ready – physically and mentally – to play at 19, 20 years old. By 22 or 23, the best are already aiming at the All-Star Game. Basketball is a young man’s game. But never before have we seen so many ready to overcome the customary rookie hazing to impact games.

Two of those newcomers are James Harden and DeMar DeRozan, a couple of swingmen who have the talent and skills to make the jump to star status. Will they do it? It’s hard to say. One is on a team looking to win a title. The other plays for a squad that just wants a little respect.

But who do you think is better: DeMar DeRozan or James Harden? We argue. You decide.

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DEMAR DEROZAN
What does James Harden have on DeMar DeRozan? He has Oklahoma City. DeRozan has Toronto. Harden has Kevin Durant. DeRozan has… Andrea Bargnani. We love Harden’s beard. We love how he became the anti-Westbrook in last year’s playoffs. Basically, we love everything about Harden: he’s the X-factor, he’s a funny-looking dude, and at this point, he shoulders no real pressure in whether OKC wins or loses. DeRozan has none of that for better or worse. But it’s not exactly his fault.

We’ve all been so quick to claim Harden as a future All-Star that we forget for the 54 games last season before the All-Star break, Harden barely averaged double digits. He shot 41 percent.

Oh, so you’re saying give Harden a starting spot and he’d flourish? Perhaps. But the stats say in five games last year as a starter, the Beard shot 38 percent, and averaged 11 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists. Those aren’t exactly “next Paul Pierce” numbers.

DeRozan wallowed in the depths of basketball purgatory last season, the Raptors one of the most irrelevant teams in the league. If you take a quick look at his stats, they show a solid offensive player (17.2 points, 47 percent shooting) who still needs work on his jumper (just nine threes in two seasons even though he shoots it just as well as Harden out to 23 feet) and his ballhandling (1.8 dimes a game last year). But peel back the coating and you’ll notice in April, he averaged 23, five and 2.3 assists a night. DeRozan’s scoring numbers jumped every month of the season â€“ his scoring shooting up four points a night in the second half of the season. Even as the Raptors shuffled in mediocrity, DeRozan was busy laying a foundation to make the move from good young player to rising star. Too bad none of us saw it.

I wouldn’t count DeRozan as a natural talent. He has smooth athleticism and fits the physical build that you want from a two guard. But he’s never made it easy on himself. This dates all the way back to high school when DeRozan was unknown nationally for the first half of his high school career. He eventually developed into one of his class’ best players but even at USC, he averaged just 9.8 points through his first nine college games. Where’d he go from there? To end his only year in college, he scored at least 16 in his final seven games. That run included a 25-point masterpiece, which netted DeRozan the Pac-10 Tournament MOP and USC it’s first Pac-10 title. Who did they beat that night? Arizona State and Harden, who scored only 10 against DeRozan.

At this point, I won’t sit here and try to say DeRozan is a better creator, or that he’s a better defender. But I do know that he consistently improves. Each week. Every month. He’s a better player now than when I saw him at SoCal. He’ll be better next season. At 25, he’ll still be improving. Has Harden really improved all that much since college? He was doing the same things then that he’s doing now. His numbers will grow as he’s given more time, but DeRozan is still in line to make another jump. I can see him making an All-Star team down the line. As long as he’s only the third-best perimeter player in OKC, Harden has virtually no chance.

The fact is that DeRozan has always been overlooked (even 2K12 dissed him). Put DeRozan on a young and exciting team like Oklahoma City and I’m sure he would be talked about more often. But any way you look at it as an individual player, he’s done at least as much so far in his career as Harden. Harden has the hype. DeRozan has the potential. I’ll take the latter.
-SEAN SWEENEY

JAMES HARDEN
On a last second whim during this past season’s trade deadline, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded away one of their better offensive talents in Jeff Green for Celtic defensive specialist Kendrick Perkins. There was a lot of banter about it, mostly coming from Boston where it felt like the Celtics traded away their championship aspirations. Lost in the public’s analysis of the trade was something that the Thunder organization had known for years: it was finally time for James Harden to come out of his shell. Prior to the end of the 2010-11 season, James Harden was well revered for having the league’s best beard. Now that he has had a chance to showcase his talent, people better get used to the furry two guard making big-time plays.

Most notable for Demar DeRozan last year was his appearance in the Dunk Contest. Harden doesn’t have nearly enough bunnies or athleticism to compete with DeRozan, but he is still the superior player. The numbers don’t reflect it, but James Harden is much more of a team player than DeRozan. Despite barely edging DeRozan in assists per game, this past season Harden passed for five or more assists in a game 13 times compared to DeRozan’s two. Harden is also 100 times more consistent shooting the ball. While Harden knocks down well over a three per game, DeRozan musters up only half of an attempt. His lack of a jump shot has been one of his main hindrances throughout his young career.

Defensively, both players are versatile. Despite being smaller than DeRozan, Harden inches by DeRozan with an incredible 6-10 wingspan. Their lanky bodies allow both players to close off passing lanes and pick up the occasional block. Harden, however, is set up to be better defensively in the future. With tree trunks like Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins protecting the hoop, Harden can afford to pressure defenders and take some gambles.

I am a true believer that you become a better player by being a part of meaningful games. In somewhat of an unfair advantage, Harden will be perceived better because of the success of the team he’s playing on. Having already played in 23 playoff games, Harden understands the pressures of big time games and can hold his own. This past postseason, he averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 31.6 minutes of play. The teammates you have around you often make you the player that you are. With all of the star power that Oklahoma City has, Harden can play his role without having to worry about carrying the whole squad on his back. Tough for DeRozan to say the same. Stuck in Canada with a team under construction, DeRozan won’t have nearly as many opportunities to play in important games.

I know people are going to say, “Well if DeRozan was on the Thunder, then he would be the better player.” Personally, I don’t think he would fit at all. Durant alone is enough to shoulder the scoring load for a full team, but throw in a ball dominant point guard like Russell Westbrook and there is simply no need for another aggressive offensive mind. Harden may not be faster or more athletic than most, but that’s why he deserves all the credit in the world. For being only 22 years old, his basketball IQ is off the charts. He can shoot from both deep and midrange, attack the hoop, distribute, and of course, defend. Although it’s only summer pick-up games, Harden looks improved this offseason and ready to build on his breakout year. Sure DeRozan is flashy and exciting to watch, but if you’re looking for a player who can mesh with any player or team, then James Harden is your guy.
-KEVIN SMITH