James Harden was the best post defender last year

[GusT15]

An example of my issue with Harden's defense.

Watch on YouTube

Against a taller/longer player like Siakam.Harden's core strength is on display,but

-His right hand is constantly checking Siakam,while his left hand is swiping at the ball.
-He noticeably has two hands on Siakams back when he turns to the basket.
-He goes for the block,gets arm with right hand,left hand still on Siakam's back,Siakam losses the ball,no foul.

Now,growing up many years ago,none of those is a foul for me personally.
Hell,Shaq was getting mauled,swiped,slapped in the post and they were calling the 6th foul commited.

But when i see Harden try to lure players to touch him on offense to get to the FT line and i see that much contact allowed for him on defense,i absolutely have a problem with it.

I've seen him defend Aldridge,Giannis,Valanciunas and so many others with that exact playstyle.Hand checking,swiping,both hands pushing.
You can't have it both ways.If a touch contact is a foul on his stepback 3,a two hand checking is a foul on him on his post defense.

[red96]

So many strong reactions. I'm surprised no one posted any numbers to back them up.

[infinite11285]

Seriously.

Read on Twitter

The entire organization is filled with the most insecure, least self-aware people in the league. It's incredible.

"When he wants to play defense"

The cocaine in Houston must be out of this world.

[SpreeS]

Hardens DFG% (less than 6ft) was 299th last year.

66.1% WOW

Harden better scorer than MJ, Harden the best post defender, I am MVP....this kind of **** comes every week from HOU camp. They all deserve each other: Harden, Westbrook, D’Antony, Morey and new owner.

[infinite11285]

Hardens DFG% (less than 6th) was 299th last year.

But what's his DFG% when he WANTS to play defense?

[Wooderson]

An example of my issue with Harden's defense.

Watch on YouTube

Against a taller/longer player like Siakam.Harden's core strength is on display,but

-His right hand is constantly checking Siakam,while his left hand is swiping at the ball.
-He noticeably has two hands on Siakams back when he turns to the basket.
-He goes for the block,gets arm with right hand,left hand still on Siakam's back,Siakam losses the ball,no foul.

Now,growing up many years ago,none of those is a foul for me personally.
Hell,Shaq was getting mauled,swiped,slapped in the post and they were calling the 6th foul commited.

But when i see Harden try to lure players to touch him on offense to get to the FT line and i see that much contact allowed for him on defense,i absolutely have a problem with it.

I've seen him defend Aldridge,Giannis,Valanciunas and so many others with that exact playstyle.Hand checking,swiping,both hands pushing.
You can't have it both ways.If a touch contact is a foul on his stepback 3,a two hand checking is a foul on him on his post defense.

Like this. With the ref staring right at it too.

[gh123]

Rockets and Harden have been under attack and "no defense" crap for years. Now people feel obliged to be offended that Rockets tackle that bs. This is some CNN crap, shame on you, op.

[Ree4erMadness]

I mean, of course he can defend the post. It just takes strength. Defending on the perimeter involves moving laterally, fighting through screens, and just a LOT more movement altogether. Having to defender shooters, run out and challenge the shot, recover, rotate, switching. Just because he's a good post defender doesn't make him a good OVERALL defender. He's a guard. His perimeter defense needs to be MUCH better.

End of story.

[SpreeS]

Hardens DFG% (less than 6th) was 299th last year.

But what's his DFG% when he WANTS to play defense?

This anomaly is too small to effect something, so it doesnt matter.

[Ice Trae]

Not surprised. I lost count of how many times I watched him get switched on a big and he d's them up perfectly. Dudes can't even back him down and I feel like he gets a ton of steals/poke-aways.

[drekwins]

Idc what the data shows, Harden is not the best post defender in the league. First, Harden is a guard. Guard's rarely post up and when they do, it's not their strength. Second, the sample size is small. Third, the post game has been nearly eliminted from all of basketball.

Therefore, why does this even matter? It doesn't.

[freethedevil]

If only the topic wasn't exclusively about post defense.

Stay on topic, or read.

You're the one off-topic. Apparently Harden was the no-qualifier needed best post defender last year. It was only an issue if he tried.

Stay on the topic that the Rockets owner is an insecure moron.

are you willing to pull up the stats that TF is talking about in order to disprove them? Obviously need to look at the stats before you work to discredit them based on your "eye-test"

The rockets defense was worse with harden on the floor, whatever value stat you use.

/thread

[zzaj]

In other news, Eric Moreland was the NBA's most efficient 3pt shooter at 100%...tied with Jordan Sibert, Scott Machado, and Trevon Duval, of course...