The role players have let down Harden more than the other way around. Harden overall has been quite solid. As far as his horrendous defense goes, this is once again on the coaching staff playing him too much. If you limit him to 30 minutes a game, he no longer has an excuse to not go all out for those 30. Weren't we supposed to be a super deep team on paper? We should be able to throw out a few rotations that are effective without Harden on the court. I imagine those would include Ty Lawson.
his horrendous defense is on the coaching staff? no. when you're constantly making the same mistakes over and over. its on the player. nothing to do with the coaches. the player is the one who has to want to change and play defense. That minutes defense is pure scapegoat and anyone who believes harden defense would somehow be dramatically better are kidding themselves.
The #1 problem is coaching. Yes, I get that ultimately it's the players that are out there. But also, ultimately, the players are what they are. For example, Harden will never be more than an average defender. Noted, he is below average in that category this year, as much do to effort as anything, but he'll never be great. But Steph Curry is not a good individual defender either, but has great defensive ratings fitting within his team system. The Rockets don't have that personnel, but they do have personnel to field an above average defensive scheme. McHale grew on you as a coach. He legitimately WAS good at the "non-coaching" coaching stuff. Managing relationships, personalities, injuries, etc. But he was not a good coach, AND AS IMPORTANTLY, they he didn't make up for his deficiencies in their assistant ranks. Harden is a flawed player, but obviously isn't "THE PROBLEM". Same with Dwight - but the issue with Dwight is contract, age, injury history. Get a legit coach in there and this team is a top 3 team in the West.
I have been saying that for more than 2 years a guy with about a 1 to 1 assist to turnover ratio does NOT have elite court vision. He is an ok passer as a SG, but if he is asked to be our PG, that is a terrible rate. OP - Yes, Harden in one of the main problems, not the only one, but one of the biggest due to his lack of discipline protecting the ball or on defense. He is also the solution - if Harden would simply play smarter/harder the team will follow his lead. Chemistry and accountability are the top issues atm. Too many 3pters......the league has adjusted. DD
Clutchfans told me McHale was the problem...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
The defense is the problem, we are a top 10 offense. Harden is a big part of it, but so is everyone else. Even two years ago with him slacking and the famous video, we were like 12th in defense. Not elite, but not nearly as bad as we are now (24th).
Harden probably thinks if Dwight isn't expected to bring his "A" game until the playoffs why should I bust my tail every night in the regular season.
watch carlisle's inbound plays vs our barely even being able to get the ball inbounded, and it's clear as day our coaching staff has no f'n business being employed in this league.
History shows the answer to this seems to be yes - see Harden on the Olympic squad. But more than James, it's not like the rest of the team is playing fundamentally sound. There's a consistent lack of hustle from EVERYBODY. And even when they do hustle, there are some basic, fundamental basketball things they do horribly. Picks, inbound plays, boxing out, etc.
The rockets are good on offense now that they are taking more mids and better ball movement on perimeter with less ISO. Lack of athletic defenders with excellent lateral quickness is the issue. Aside from bev , no other starter is quick enough to guard premier perimeter players. Ariza is average, harden is slow, Jones/capella/dwight cant guard quicker players. This issue causes defensive breakdowns to where the bigs have to constantly get out of position to help which turns into offensive rebounds
don't think that is much of an example. The olympic's experience as far as coaching is no where near what goes on over the course of a season in the NBA. The talent level on team usa is just above and beyond others that the coaches in place just put out the basics and allow the players to do what they do. The true amount of coaching in the olympics is minimal and doesn't involve the day to day grind and study of the NBA in a season
way to misuse numbers. you said he has 1 to 1 assist to turnover ratio but if you actually watch games you notice his turnovers are due to him mishandling the dribble. He is fast so it slips more than other players.. doesnt excuse him but his turnovers are rarely because of lack of court vision. Lack of court vision is him throwing it to the other team or not knowing where his team mates are going and that is RARELY the case. I personally think harden is slightly below having elite court vision.. and better than average but dont misuse numbers like that Signed DD
GSW and SAS are on a higher level than houston because of the type of players they have. The system they run cant be duplicated by houston because Houston doesnt have as many shooters or defenders. Draymond Green himself one of the top power fowards in the league at his size and the rockets have no one that compares to him but the spurs have Diaw who can do the same things as Green to a lesser extent. Spurs have Leonard who is the leagues top perimeter defender and best 3pt shooter. Rockets are just on a lower tier and less versatile than the top west teams.
Bad passes are the majority of his turnovers my friend or not being aggressive and defenders knocking the ball away from him.
