He's an SG on offense and an undersized PF on defense. He actually defends the post pretty well as long as it's not a guy 6'10" and above who can just shoot over Harden.
Well apologies I didn't list every attribute at midnight here I'll indulge you size 222lbs, 6'5, 6'10 wingspan, athletic (not tricky athleticism), first step, speed, handle, deadly PnR threat, ability to finish with arms extended -> FT line, assortment of in-out hesitation moves, bully getting to the basket, explosive first step. Also draft express lists off ball defensive and commitment to playing defense as strengths, nailed that one aye HAHAHA Also why do you use two accounts? Why u do dis
How would Harden guard Durant in a series? Answer is he wouldn't. Parsons is going no where or he would have been dangled in trades. Harden was doing just fine on Crawford. How many quick athletic 2s can Harden not guard? Collison is a pg not a 2 so yeah he had trouble with him, but how often does that happen?
You all make some great points about which position Harden can Def. pretty well. A similar example of players guarding bigger opponents is in 04-05 when we played against Dallas (reg. season and playoffs) with McGrady. JVG called on T-Mac to defend Dirk, and he did MUCH BETTER than anybody else the Rockets threw on him.
Agree with Harden defensive strengths and weakness. Harden has problem guarding quick and speedy guards. Seen it all of last and this season. When the opponent play two quick guards and both of them are shooting a high %, I think it makes sense to move Harden to the 3 (defensively) and have Bev and Lin (or even Hamilton if he's capable of guarding taller 2) lineup a shot.
Sorry but Lin already cornered the market on "first step", and you used it twice here. Otherwise, good job!
So ****ing stupid. The best 2 guard in the league and he is out of position...oh shut it. What you are saying is what I've said for months. James Harden struggles to defend ANY PLAYER that moves without the ball who is quick. He is a great defender when his opponent doesn't have that advantage and likes to score in the block or in iso situations. It has nothing do with being in position or out of position. Then it gets even worse, you want to move Harden to the 3 or 4, to keep Lin (let me guess, start at the 2?) and trade our third best player, the glue that keeps it all together. Here is an idea, find a James Harden thread that already exists and post your thoughts in there rather than creating a new thread that the members can shake there heads at in shame.
You can only do that when both Point Guards are playing well. Lin has played like utter trash since the All-Star Break.
Harden wouldn't guard Durant, in last year's playoffs, Harden guarded Ibaka on a fair amount of possessions.
Harden is a shooting guard. He's nothing close to a tweener. Too much overanalyzing on a simple subject. If you haven't figured it out yet, Harden can play defense when he wants. He just doesn't want to until after the AS break. Even then, it depends on the team/matchup. Also, the reason why he's clutch, is because he saves energy to be able to make big time plays down the stretch. Because he's crafty, we forget how young he is. He'll mature and iron out the bad a little more each season. Will also have better a roster by then, so he can have more faith in his cast members. Currently we have no third scoring option, and at many times it's dreadfully obvious.
If you haven't figured it out yet, Harden never wants to play defense. He does it when enough people complain and goes right back to being a turnstile the minute the noise dies down. Don't go making excuses about saving energy to be clutch. Gimme a break. He'll never play D. We've seen it for 2 years now. He's devoting all his efforts on offense only and it'll stay that way.
The guy gives no effort at defense sometimes. It's not who he's guarding it's more the lack of effort on his part.
That was my line of thinking if they traded Parsons for Rondo. Rondo, Bev, and Harden in the backcourt.
That would be the worst backcourt ever! How is ball dominant Rondo who can't shoot fit with Harden? Harden got all the skills he just lack defensive effort.
Maybe this guy was on to something lol. Harden is the stretch 4 some of you have been looking for all year.
I think the team has found his defensive match-up. He cannot guard quick 2s; he does better guarding slower 3s and 4s. Against 4s though (like Josh Smith tonight), he expects help from TJones and in one early sequence, he scolded TJones for not being there for the help defense.
