<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Harden simply can’t perform offensively when he’s tasked with defending a key offensive player. JJ backed him down to death</p>— Haralabos Voulgaris (@haralabob) <a href="https://twitter.com/haralabob/statuses/451186306513506304">April 2, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>he DGAF RT <a href="https://twitter.com/jandavidjansen">@jandavidjansen</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/haralabob">@haralabob</a> I’m paying a little more attention to Harden play D. He doesn’t even care does he?</p>— Haralabos Voulgaris (@haralabob) <a href="https://twitter.com/haralabob/statuses/455862809369116673">April 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Speculating why Harden DGAF about D - he tried vs LBJ in Finals. his offense fell off a cliff. He’s too out of shape to play both ends.</p>— Haralabos Voulgaris (@haralabob) <a href="https://twitter.com/haralabob/statuses/455863576247300096">April 15, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Really looking forward to a Houston vs Portland playoff series - up close look at the worst defensive guards in the league, by far.</p>— Haralabos Voulgaris (@haralabob) <a href="https://twitter.com/haralabob/statuses/455552519674933248">April 14, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I wasn’t being sarcastic, I really like watching points. Harden and Lillard are gonna go off, so is whoever they are guarding.</p>— Haralabos Voulgaris (@haralabob) <a href="https://twitter.com/haralabob/statuses/455552888593334273">April 14, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I agree with him. Being bad at it and not giving effort are 2 different things. The no effort kills me
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Kyrie and Jose are up there, but right now there isn’t a worse defensive SG than James Harden. He’s having a career year.</p>— Haralabos Voulgaris (@haralabob) <a href="https://twitter.com/haralabob/statuses/455553674366840833">April 14, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> Haralabos loves Harden on offense too and had him as an All NBA first teamer
We forget how young Harden is. His defensive issues are similar to Westbrook e.g losing guys on backdoor cuts which are habits he hasn't broken yet. Yeah, his gas tank is also an issue as well as just being a poor defender.
So are we going to make a thread about every random gambler's NBA thoughts? Not like he's an NBA insider, plus everyone knows Harden and Lillard suck on defense.
I like to see Harden work his but off in the off-season and trim some of that fat, turn it into muscle and start defending. Can you imagine how good he would be??
Harden has to understand that once you shut down a guy on the first few possessions, you break his confidence and not allow him to get comfortable and on a roll. Thus he would be able to coast until the end of the game on key possessions. There are only a few guys that this rule doesn't apply to and that are the stars of the league which he wouldn't be his primary defensive assignment anyways. We are really missing a defensive wing on this team. As for harden's shape, i really cant take an educated guess because his beard prevent me from being able to tell whether he is gasping for air or not.
He isn't sharing anything earth shattering. We all know harden's defense is inferior....nothing new here folks.
He maybe a douche but don't attack the truth. I always believe Harden is immature when it comes to playing D. Playing D is all about desire and effort. If Harden truly wants to be elite, he must grow up and set an example for the rest of the team.
Sampson kind of hitt he nail on the head though, he doesn't play defense outside the 4th quarter except against select opponents.