James Harden's Defense

[columbiaa14]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2033 ... g-national

Saw this article posting some mind-numbingly bad examples of Harden playing defense. Wanted to ask the fans who watch every game--is this a regular occurence, or did bleacher-report just do a great job handpicking the specific lapses? Don't want to be affected by representative bias here.

If his defense really is as bad as it seems, why does McHale allow it and still give him all the monopoly power on offense & minutes?...

[texasholdem]

It's pretty bad but he's shown flashes of good D. But his effort is not always there.

[ChokeFasncists]

It's definitely a regular occurrence. I think he's got the least mileage in the league or something. McHale's definitely pampering him, he's not a championship coach. One possibility is that McHale got a whole group of veterans upset several years ago and now is very careful about it to make his job safer. Another is that he rides Harden to get easy wins but doesn't take this team to another level to make his resume look better. Harden is capable of good D, just pampered, it's totally laughable that the team has to sacrifice offense and use Beverley to cover his a$$, it's a shame. Hopefully a high level coach will be hired in the offseason.

[kam_soluusar]

I think Harden is capable of playing solid defence, he just chooses not to for whatever reason. If McHale isn't going to chastise him for this, I actually think it's on Dwight to get stuck into him, Parsons too.

When you have dominant ring protectors, it is too easy to think that they will block/alter the shot all the time. His lack of D, (so far this season) would be my only criticism. And I think it is what separates him from the truly Elite players of the game. In saying this, the regular season is long, and that is what can burn players out. Harden is expected to play awe inspiring offense, and then be a dominant ball stopper????? I think it is a bit unfair, especially given the amount of minutes he has played to this point. Being an on ball defender is a lot harder than defending the 4 and 5 spot.

What IS annoying, is the fact that "scrub" players are made to look better than they are when Harden is defending them. You could probably handle it going back and forth between Harden and Wade/George/Bryant ETC because they are star players, but seeing someone like Sefalosha go off for 20+ when Harden is guarding him, is a bit difficult to stomach.

[Maudlin17]

I'm pretty sure a HOF player like McHale knows exactly how to coach a player like Harden. I don't really think a guy that got a MAX contract for his offense should worry too much about defense. He needs to save energy for his late game isos. You see how tired he was at the end of OT in last night's game? He spent too much energy trying to slow down his man.

[Screwston]

I'm pretty sure a HOF player like McHale knows exactly how to coach a player like Harden. I don't really think a guy that got a MAX contract for his offense should worry too much about defense. He needs to save energy for his late game isos. You see how tired he was at the end of OT in last night's game? He spent too much energy trying to slow down his man.

Hm... Every elite player need to do it on both ends of the floor. Guy is the best SG in the league, he should be able to play D. He'll never be top 5 player or MVP unless he steps his D up

[ChokeFasncists]

Sarcasm?

[13th Man]

Harden places all emphasis on his offensive game, the coaches need to remind him from time to time that it's a 2-way game.

[northernpuppy]

Don't mean to troll, but it made deadspin.

http://deadspin.com/the-ultimate-james-harden-doesnt-play-defense-video-c-1564651403

Also, whoever posted that a MAX player doesn't need to play defense needs to watch more basketball.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highest-paid_NBA_players_by_season

Look at that list. The only conceivable SG in recent memory who made the big bucks and had spotty defensive efforts would be Michael Redd.

[ChokeFasncists]

Also, whoever posted that a MAX player doesn't need to play defense needs to watch more basketball.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highest-paid_NBA_players_by_season

Look at that list. The only conceivable SG in recent memory who made the big bucks and had spotty defensive efforts would be Michael Redd.

Unfortunately, you also got Amare and Melo there, well, no wonder those two never won anything.

[northernpuppy]

Also, whoever posted that a MAX player doesn't need to play defense needs to watch more basketball.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highest-paid_NBA_players_by_season

Look at that list. The only conceivable SG in recent memory who made the big bucks and had spotty defensive efforts would be Michael Redd.

Unfortunately, you also got Amare and Melo there, well, no wonder those two never won anything.

You'll notice the term SG in my post.

[KungFuJoe]

Harden is a cancer. He fools you into think he's legit because he IS an offensive force and has hit some clutch shots.

But he's the reason why those clutch shots are even necessary in the first place.

[ChokeFasncists]

Also, whoever posted that a MAX player doesn't need to play defense needs to watch more basketball.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highest-paid_NBA_players_by_season

Look at that list. The only conceivable SG in recent memory who made the big bucks and had spotty defensive efforts would be Michael Redd.

Unfortunately, you also got Amare and Melo there, well, no wonder those two never won anything.

You'll notice the term SG in my post.

I did see SG, I was just saying. I mean, if they can, Harden can. There's no reason to believe that the position they play would make a whole lot of difference. Hope he learns from their mistakes.

[Destructor]

I'd be very frustrated if my marquee player didn't play a lick of defence
There reeally is no defending Harden on that end of the floor, this team has enough offensive talent for him to put some effort on the defensive end

[ChokeFasncists]

I'd be very frustrated if my marquee player didn't play a lick of defence
There reeally is no defending Harden on that end of the floor, this team has enough offensive talent for him to put some effort on the defensive end

McDumbHell!

Or maybe he is Harden's puppet?



No surprise he gets zero vote. Stotts' got some tho, very dangerous, so did Jackson and Brooks.

The mob at CFasncists must be real disappointed.

[panarama]

Good defense requires a long attention span, an ability to see plays ahead of time that requires a bit of braincells which Harden does not have.
Same goes with his offense game, Harden only sees what's in front of him and stands around until he gets the ball and he does well with scoring with his athleticability in spurts yet, more importantly he does not have ability to see 2 to 3 plays ahead of time to make any type of impact plays for the rest of his team mates to benefit.

But what frustrates me the most is McHale's willingness to go with what ever Harden wants.
While neglecting to fully utilize stack talents that the Rockets has.

From the management to the media, they already have built a shrine for Harden on the highest pedestal at this pt. and they are determine to prove themselves that they are right all along while truly neglecting a real potential for this team. As we all know the NBA already created countless "superstars' yet the most of them came up short since those players like Harden rely heavily on athleticism and not enough of smart nor any leadership skill(leaders' communication skill requires a bit of usage of reasoning and some respectable vocabs and dictions tho it's only the NBA).

In order for the Rockets to succeed, Harden needs to come off the bench as an instant scoring threat yet who am I fooling right? Or, at least, have him play a role of traditional SG. The dude has no business of running the floor even if we play a free flowing game which does not require a true PG since the amount of scoring that Harden provides us right now doesn't mean anything when in reality he gave up more pts away to scrubs at the other end while destroying flow/morale of the game.

[Zubby]

Maybe I have forgotten game 1 already, but I dont recall Harden's defense hurting the team nearly as much as his lack of offense.
Hopefully Harden will improve his "vocabs and dictions" so Houston gets the win tonight.

[panarama]

Maybe I have forgotten game 1 already, but I dont recall Harden's defense hurting the team nearly as much as his lack of offense.
Hopefully Harden will improve his "vocabs and dictions" so Houston gets the win tonight.

That's good one brah.

I said his reasoning and vocabs and dictions should improve immensely if he want to play the role given by the management. Since, no amount of reasoning nor perfectly executed communication skills would justify/inspire and gather up followers if he plays in such manner on the court as a "leader". Plus, speaking as followers' POV, I was never impressed with how Harden summarized the games at the end of games during his interviews.

Also, I was talking about his career as a whole not just the last game since the league and the management treat him as if he is the bonafide "superstar", only focusing on grooming Harden while neglecting to utilize/groom other talents to their potential esp. D. Howard and other young talents we got on the squad.

Though, I still think we can get by this series with our current situation but it sure isn't fun to watch when Harden runs the floor while scoring 40 pts. since it's soooo predictable. *yawn*

[Zubby]

That's good one brah.

I said his reasoning and vocabs and dictions should improve immensely if he want to play the role given by the management. Since, no amount of reasoning nor perfectly executed communication skills would justify/inspire and gather up followers if he plays in such manner on the court as a "leader". Plus, speaking as followers' POV, I was never impressed with how Harden summarized the games at the end of games during his interviews.

Also, I was talking about his career as a whole not just the last game since the league and the management treat him as if he is the bonafide "superstar", only focusing on grooming Harden while neglecting to utilize/groom other talents to their potential esp. D. Howard and other young talents we got on the squad.

Though, I still think we can get by this series with our current situation but it sure isn't fun to watch when Harden runs the floor while scoring 40 pts. since it's soooo predictable. *yawn*

So Harden can't be a leader because his speech isn't charismatic enough for you? We're talking sports not politics you don't need to be articulate to be a leader in a damn game. You ever listen to Derrick Rose? I would not be surprised if he read at a 3rd grade level. You watch the Rockets so I know you've heard Cylde's bumbling speech.

Come to think of it no one on this team speaks well, maybe only TJones & Dmo(and English is probably his 2nd language).


I think they have done a good job in player development, who in your mind isn't being groomed? Dmo? What should we play him 30 min a night? Were guys like Parsons, Beverley, Jones, Smith in such high demand before they became Rockets? Could Dwight be used better? Sure but that would involve getting players that can throw a decent entry pass to the post. Too many times I see Harden, Lin, & Parsons look him off when he is in prime position, only to give it to him 5 secs too late.

[panarama]

That's good one brah.

I said his reasoning and vocabs and dictions should improve immensely if he want to play the role given by the management. Since, no amount of reasoning nor perfectly executed communication skills would justify/inspire and gather up followers if he plays in such manner on the court as a "leader". Plus, speaking as followers' POV, I was never impressed with how Harden summarized the games at the end of games during his interviews.

Also, I was talking about his career as a whole not just the last game since the league and the management treat him as if he is the bonafide "superstar", only focusing on grooming Harden while neglecting to utilize/groom other talents to their potential esp. D. Howard and other young talents we got on the squad.

Though, I still think we can get by this series with our current situation but it sure isn't fun to watch when Harden runs the floor while scoring 40 pts. since it's soooo predictable. *yawn*

So Harden can't be a leader because his speech isn't charismatic enough for you? We're talking sports not politics you don't need to be articulate to be a leader in a damn game. You ever listen to Derrick Rose? I would not be surprised if he read at a 3rd grade level. You watch the Rockets so I know you've heard Cylde's bumbling speech.

Come to think of it no one on this team speaks well, maybe only TJones & Dmo(and English is probably his 2nd language).


I think they have done a good job in player development, who in your mind isn't being groomed? Dmo? What should we play him 30 min a night? Were guys like Parsons, Beverley, Jones, Smith in such high demand before they became Rockets? Could Dwight be used better? Sure but that would involve getting players that can throw a decent entry pass to the post. Too many times I see Harden, Lin, & Parsons look him off when he is in prime position, only to give it to him 5 secs too late.

Harden talks like a doofus given that all the credits he's been awarded premutually by the media, the league and the management. Players like D. Rose or C. Drexler earned their respect from their peers by knowing how to play the game properly so their actions speaks louder than their words besides those guys are far more articulate than Harden ever wish to become.

As long as Harden is the primary ball handler then this team is under utilizing the rest of talents.
And we do need to get Howard going and once again Harden isn't a distributor nor understands the game to make anyone better. Only time he makes rest of guys better is when there is no defense. And you can't blame other guys not been able to feed the big guy inside since they aren't the primary ball handler like Harden is. Heck, Harden does that to pretty much rest of the team by feeding them when he runs out of option 5 seconds left. Though, I got to admit, Harden is a willing passer once he gets going, gets calls and when there is no defense.
I know Harden isn't in there to distribute but if you are a primary ball handler then Harden is abligated to make smart decisions to make others around him better which I highly doubt. That's why McHale needs to use Harden as a SG not as the next MJ who by the way was very articulate.