This. I don't know why some people are advocating to get a defensive wing players. We already have one. His name is Ronnie Brewer. The question is, whoever this defensive wing player is, will he get much PT playing behind Harden and Parsons? And if he is not also a 3pt threat like Garcia, will he get on the floor at all? The only way to improve our perimeter defense is either get Harden to play defense or trade him for a two-way superstar. I don't know which of these options is easier. To be honest, I am quite disappointed with Harden so far this season. He did some good talks before the season about how he's committed to winning and improving his defense, and we were pumped. But he's basically the same player as last season. We were saying that he's only 24 and still could improve. Well I haven't seen any improvement so far. I hope he proves me wrong.
I don't know. I think before you trade Harden, you have to change coaches and see if a different coach with a more defensive minded approach who will not hesitate to bench Harden if he doesn't make the effort, might change things around for this team. Harden's attitude is definitely a problem. Because if Harden and Howard and setting by example, and they're the leaders of the team, then what does that say to the rest of the guys? It has to start at the top, that means the coaches and the stars. You have to give Harden some lee-way because of injury, but at some point, he has to stand up and be counted. Also I'd like to, from time to time, hear harden in an interview take more responsibility for when the team loses. Not we need to do better. 'I need to do better. I'm the star, I'm going to do better and show you how it should be done.' Maybe that's asking too much out of a 24 year old. That's why I say that perhaps the solution is to change the coach if things don't improve. I'd give McHale till the ASB to turn it around.
I'm not exactly sure what position or role this team needs to be successful and take the next step forward, but I will say that whoever it is, the best thing they might be able to bring would be a coach on the floor ability. Shane Battier ala 2008 would be perfect. One thing I do know is that Morey is great at finding these kinds of players, and we might be shocked at who he brings in that ends of being that difference maker. Might even be someone from Europe for all we know. I will say this though about position- Unless its at the 4 spot, or we are upgrading the PG position, That player needs to be incredibly versatile. Someone like a Nick Batum would be great because they fill the need of great perimeter defender, can really help offensively, and can fit in multiple lineups playing the 2 through the 4 spot. -Batum -Gallinari -Millsap -Deng -Granger (if healthy) -Ilyasova -Anderson & Steimsma combo (Anderson alone...mehhh) all seem like obvious candidates, but I think there are more players out there that nobody sees coming. Some other dark horse guys are Marion(puke I know), Shumpert, Kidd-Gilchrist(even at a young age can help), & Afflalo. I think any of these guys could help out tremendously with their needs. Obviously there are dream guys like LaMarcus Aldridge, Love, etc. but for sake of fantasy, I'm leaving them out.
Since it seems unimaginable that Harden is going anywhere, and expecting defense from him akin to a pipe dream, we are left with improving the defense at those positions around him (1-3-4). And since perimeter defense seems the most obvious flaw to date, narrow that mostly to the 1 & 3. As you already pointed out, we have a defensive wing in Brewer already and he rarely gets to the court due to poor offense. So we need a 2-way 1 or 3. The question becomes, can some combination of Parsons, Lin, Asik, filler, and picks get this player? I am in the camp that although our current staff could mature or grow to fill our needs, the clock is ticking on Howard's contract, and unlike pre-Howard, we shouldn't waste 2-3 years to on player development. We need to solve the problem at our earliest opportunity.
I don't understand and will not accept this idea that we just forget about Harden playing defense. Because you might be able to cover it up in the regular season and against mediocre teams. But in the playoffs against Miami/OKC/Spurs/Clippers we will get destroyed. Look at the finalists and championship winners. Are these teams where their number 1 player doesn't bother to play defense? Even kobe makes an effort. What you're talking about is saying that you don't want the Rockets to ever win a championship.
Firstly, its not up to me or you to whether Harden plays defense. But observation of 100 Rockets games with harden on the team doesn't suggest to me he is turning the corner on his defensive approach. I don't want the Rockets to win a championship? Where did you get that? While Harden playing "D" makes this easier, we can win at the highest levels without Harden playing stellar defense. But we cant with the 1-2-3 all playing no "D".
Beverley is supposed to be a 2-way PG. He's not very talented on offense. But he was supposed to be good enough playing alongside Harden's offense. And Lin while not a defensive stopper in any sense of the term, he's not a leaky sieve either. So I think the combination of Beverley and Lin is not a problem defensively. Parsons is not going anywhere. He is probably the third untouchable on the roster.
Let's not fool ourselves here, thinking by sorrounding Harden with elite defenders, Rockets' team defense would suddently be elite. As I said previously, team defense can only go as far as the weakest link. No matter how great you're as a defender, you cann't be expected to play good defense if you're constantly worried about helping JH. If JH got beaten, you help and your man is open. Chain-reaction from there (there are some many instances like this just from the handful games we've played so far). It is just like unplugging a hole to fill another hole. Soon, you have holes everywhere. If you've ever played organized sports, you'd know this. We do not need JH play great defense but we do need him play "acceptable" defense for the team to be successful.
That's not asking too much out of a 24 year old. Lin did that all of the time and when he was 23. I need to get my team mates involved, I need to take care of the ball, I didn't do a good job containing the opposing point guard, I had to knock down that open look or free throw and when he did well he would even credit his team mates as they got the ball to me or they knocked down the shots when I threw it to them. It's accountability. Harden's a good guy, I think he is. But if he's going to get superstar status and prestige, he has to take the responsibility that goes along with it and improve his game. He has some things to work on and if he's repping the team, he's a leader and should take responsibility for things he did in games that contributes to losses and say where he needs to and plans to improve.
you don't have to trade him, this is how you handle this situation using the 3 options. 1. A coach that will bench harden in the 4th if he is not showing effort in a close game is one way. this sends a message that it doesn't matter how good you are on offense that if you are not playing D, we can't go far in the playoffs. I would rather lose a game with him being benched because lack of defense early in the season vs letting the problem continue all season and him not being held accountable & we have a first round exit because no discipline route was ever taken. 2. You get a wing defender than can take bevs spot someone who is taller and bigger and can at least bring the same offense as bev (which is not much), You put this person on the hottest perimeter player & put harden and parsons on the other 2 perimeter players. 3. You hold parsons and harden accountable by calling a timeout and getting on them as soon as you see a problem. You call them out in the huddle personally and bench them if you see lack of effort after that time out. You put their egos to the side.
Yeah, good take. It's early. I was very impressed for most of the game. Wow, the Rockets showed serious explosiveness. Defense will come around.
You seem to forget that game we purportedly "stomped" Dallas in was closely contested after the 1st quarter, with Dallas being right there in the 2nd half and actually outscoring Houston in the 4th. It's been the tale of the season. Rockets defense consistently letting the opposition back in the game. No team can sustain lights-out offense for a season, let alone depend on it during the playoffs.
Any good coach adjusts to any given situation, and gives consideration to situational players/line-ups. Ronnie Brewer is currently a zero on the offensive end, so McHale 'naturally' doesn't play him at all and instead insists on a struggling Garcia no matter the situation being that we've put up well over 110 points and are still being outscored. Ideally, management should look to obtaining a defensive specialist that can knock down the outside shot at a decent rate. Until then, using Ronnie Brewer over Garcia when we're in desperate need to give hot opponents a different, more defensively competent look would be a nice start. Harden and/or Parsons picking up their defensive games being a must, goes without saying.
