ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Kings 12/15/2015

Good question. Did anyone have an embellish data to answer this question? The team's defensive rating with Harden on and off the court?

 

The Burden of proof is on you. Show me the stat that says Harden is the worst defender on this team. Even though this argument wasn't just about his defense, lol.

 

Just for an example, watch this play again. https://www.instagram.com/p/_VwXvJIC-T/

Harden spends literally the entire possession watching the ball. Not once does he even glance around to try and find his man. He doesn't realize Gay is standing wide open until the pass is already in the air. THIS is the kind of defense we criticize Harden for. How do you play good team defense when one of your defenders doesn't even attempt to do his job?

 

HALF COURT =/= TRANSITION.

 

FIXED/

 

Who said it's just his defense? It's his 'I'm going to float around around the free throw line' defense, his turnovers and his desire to take 7+ threes points per game thinking he is Steph Curry. When your best player did a combination of all those things, you aren't going to be an elite team.

 

No it actually is not. It's only you and Jaygoogle who argue that Harden is not to blame most of all for the bad defence. So since it's you who goes against the major opinion the burden of proof is on you.

BUT I will do it. I will try to find some stats but keep in mind is difficult because of the amount of time he plays. I dont' know where to look I will have to search if perhaps there is some up in some advanced stats sites. But I will look for it and post some time later.

BTW I shouldn't have because the proofs is right there if you just watch a game. If you need explanation about defensive rotations then I will be happy to help, because defence is not easy to recognise by first looks, and it needs more experience to see who is to blame.

For example in the Denver game that I rewatched yesterday a lot of the defensive problems in halfcourt were due to DMO but I didnt' see anyone mentioning it.

 

Yes, one player can hurt a defense but I'm telling you. As a Rocket fan that watched JVG-Thibs coached teams, it doesn't happen over and over and over again. A good coach realizes a mismatch, adjusts, and makes a change to plug that hole in their defense.

Also, if the idea is that Harden plays a zone and others don't...That is a bad defensive design since there is no unity in that. They don't always do this but I certainly see it, it's just asking for failure. So you can't blame Harden for doing what he's told to do. The coaches should challenge him. THAT'S what Coach K did, that's what Thibs did when they had a chance to coach him. The results was a new mindset. This is not an alien idea, many coaches with young superstars will tell that superstar to go guard the best player. Just to challenge them. Isntead the coaches are actually encouraging his bad habits.

Any ways, transition defense is more varied than that. Yes, if Harden is beyond the 3 point line and not rebounding it's on him. But in all it's on whoever is nearest to the ball to stop it. You'll even see bigs jsut stop the ball and rotate back when the guard or wing player picks up their man again. It's not all on Harden.

The biggest thing with transition is to just take good shots. We just chuck up 3 after 3 and turn the ball all over the place it's no wonder these guys play bad defense. They spend most of the time chucking up 3s and trying to defend fast breaks lol.

 

I BLAME THE LOSS ON JB WHO BENCHED THORNTON ALMOST WHOLE GAME!!!!!

 

First off, yet again the discussion was on whether the entire blame was on Harden for everything. I already know his defense is bad. But me and Jaygoogle were not defending him on just that point. The argument is that overall Harden is a positive to the team where players like Brewer, Jones, and Lawson are not. Second you are the one saying he is the worst on defense so where is your proof?

 

And Transition defense is not all on Harden. I've said that many times now.

You are saying that our bad transition defense is on Harden. I think that's going way overboard with it.

 

They have no proof at all, lol.

 

No, he shouldn't be the main guy. He is no Hakeem. Harden isn't either.

Dwight isn't the reason why the Rockets are failing as a team.

To be clear: I don't think Dwight will ever win a championship as the main guy either.

 

If you'd best player is not a positive for your team, than all hope would be lost. Harden right now is barley a positive.

 

True but Harden is making less and is younger but yet we don't put as much pressure on Dwight as Harden.

 

He has the lowest DRPM on the team at -2.25. Next lowest is Ty Lawson at -1.90. Defensive metrics aren't terribly accurate, but DRPM is the closest thing there is.

 

Everything of Rockets are inconsistent...

 

Who can tell me did Harden find his attack mode this game?

 

No one is the sole reason the team is failing.

Basically, a lot of players are sucking at the same time.

 

But he is a positive right? Where as, Jones, Brewer, Lawson are not. Those spots can be filled with players who can make layups and play solid D and rebound.