James Harden, the third overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder, is quickly figuring out how physically demanding it is on the professional level. The rookie out of Arizona State got hit in the eye in the first day of training camp and then sprained his ankle on the second day.
The good news is that Harden’s injury isn’t believed to be serious, although he could miss a few days of training camp. The Thunder begin their preseason schedule with an October 7th game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
If Harden can rebound from his ankle injury and …read more

I know we’re still in NBA playoff mode (speaking of which, how good was the Bulls/Celtics series??? I didn’t want it to end!), but I took it upon myself to look ahead, just a bit, to the upcoming 2009 NBA draft.
Short of creating a mock draft, I listed which players I personally think rank in the top ten as far as prospects go. I think they are the cream of the draft crop. Whether or not NBA scouts agree with me is another question.
Lyndsey’s Top Ten 2009 NBA Draft Prospects

From what I hear OCATDS’s Bubba Greer has a mean hook shot and a sensational beard that rivals James Harden’s.
Hopefully Bubba will stick around for next year.

The Onion

The 6′5 Arizona State sophomore received zero! votes for my poll question of ‘most overrated’ player.
I got to thinking, maybe there’s a simple reason nobody thinks Harden is overrated—maybe nobody even knows who he is?

On the Surface
Started every game for ASU so far this season, shoots 52.7% from the field, gets to the line 8 times a game (shoots 75%), averages almost 6 rebounds and just over 4 assists (3.5 turnovers) a game and leads the Pac-10 in scoring with 21.2/gm.
Extra
Leading ASU to a 10-4 Pac-10 mark thus far, a top 15 ranking, and almost assuredly a 3 …read more

I can’t figure out this Arizona State team just yet.
First, the Associated Press 16th ranked Sun Devils (15-3, 4-2) lose to a what I think has become an overrated USC team on Thursday 61-49 at USC. James Harden was held to a career low four points in the loss.
Today they go to UCLA where they’ve lost seven straight to the AP’s ninth ranked Bruins and pull off the upset in overtime 61-58. The win also snapped the Bruins (14-3, 4-1) 10-game winning streak and 15-game winning streak at home.
I guess every good team and its star player are entitled to …read more

The Bears pulled off a nice 87-78 upset win against number 14 Arizona State in the semifinals of the 76 Classic in Anaheim late Friday night.
The 6-0 record is the school’s best start in eight years.
The Bears were lead by LaceDarius Dunn with 27 points and Curtis Jerrells had 22 points.
James Harden continues to be a beast for Arizona State. He scored a tournament-record 32 points, 24 in the final nine minutes.
Baylor will play No. 19 Wake Forest for the championship on Sunday. Wake Forest advanced with a 82-79 win against UTEP on Friday.
With a win tomorrow, I think …read more