Video: James Harden, Defensive Mastermind (2013-14)

From the title I thought you were being ironic, lol

 

Great work. That lack of defense by Harden in the original video was just stupid, you could do that with any player in the league.

I noticed you don't have many of him actually playing man defense though, just of him jumping passing lanes. :grin:

 

He has really good hands. Now he just has to work on positioning and concentration.

 

Harden should be offended he didn't make an All-NBA Defensive team.

 

You know, I spent all season thinking Harden was just an awful defender (don't get me wrong, he's not a good defender... but he's not HORRIBLE either)... I mean, I had to think that because I had only seen him in a handful of games last season due to CSN.

But I watched him carefully in the playoffs. What I noticed was that he didn't focus. He ball-watched when he wasn't guarding the ball, which led to him getting beat a lot.

So I started to watch him guard the ball... and what I saw was actually pretty good defense. I mean, any time his opponent tried to drive the ball, he played good defense for pretty much the whole drive and then at the very end he gave up and hoped Dwight or somebody was there to help him on the layup.

I don't think he will ever be an outstanding defender... not even close to All-NBA defensive team, but I think he can be good defender. He just needs to focus off-the-ball, and stop giving up the last step when his opponent drives.

 

He'll never have the lateral quickness of the better defenders, he doesn't have it on offense either so it's not as though it can be expected to appear on defense.

 

In all fairness he did get a vote...very likely AndySwanny was that vote.

Insider status confirmed.

 

You're definitely right, he'll never have that lateral quickness.

But he does a decent enough job of staying in the way of the ball-handler, he just stops trying at the very end. Making the layup attempt easier than it should be.

 

IMO Harden gambles way to much thus when it comes off it looks nice with a steal or block leading to a fastbreak, but we all know how poor his defence really is when he has to stay between the basket and his man

 

His low post defense is amazing. He's a better post defender than Jones.

 

Getting a few steals does not mean you're a good defender. Harden needs to learn how to switch, play team defense, stay on his man, etc

 

So this is how he got those 2 All Defensive Team votes. Lolol.

Harden has the capabilities to be a plus defender. He has the strength, and the basketball IQ to be really good defensively. But it's just focus and endurance. It's hard to be a great defender and be the number 1 option. I think he is going to take a step or two in the right direction this season.

 

He has the ability. There was a stretch when the rockets were on a streak and playing really well when he consistently played solid defense. Then Sampson left and things went to hell.

 

It amazes me how short sighted some people can be. A year ago, everyone was praising Harden as the next great 2 guard in the league. Now because he had one bad season on defense, people just want throw him under the bus mock him. The dude isn't even 25 yet, it's not like he's going to stop growing as a player.

 

Harden can improve this season on his D and I am sure with all the negative talk it will fuel him to prove the naysayers wrong this season. It will fun to watch this season.

 

Nice post. For him to be a good defender, the offensive load needs to be eased off of him a bit.