The media agenda regarding James Harden's "defense"

It's actually interesting to chart that stat. Harden really doesn't dribble the ball as much as a lot of players, including obvious ones like Paul or popularly coveted ones here, like Dragic.

He does end a lot of possessions with the ball in his hands though, which probably takes a toll on teammates who start to lose interest when the clock winds down. Players tend to stand around and watch (we saw it with McGrady, too). There's also an element of becoming predictable to the defense when you rely on something too much.

But at the end of the day Harden is still incredibly effective. You'd just like to see a coach come in and alter the scheme a bit so the offense could come easier to him and his teammates.

Offense is not our problem but we definitely have to work too hard for it.

 

You have to remember that nowadays...80-90% of the narratives people try to push on this website are almost entirely emotionally driven.

 

Or at least until the Rockets aren't still fighting for the 8th seed by March, for god sake.

 

If he's not dribbilign down the shot clock, but also ends it with it in his hands it's because the other gusy couldn't get anything going for the first 10-15 seconds, so you're worried about them standing around and watching for the last 4 seconds while he tries to create something out of nothing?

 

The nature of what you're saying is bad offense. When we had Parsons alongside Harden there was a lot less breaking down on offense. When Harden was in OKC there was a lot less breaking down. When DMO is in the lineup there's less breaking down.

So yes, I am worried. Not about Harden but the scheme and the nature of the offense in general. I'd like to see Harden in the post, coming off screens, coming off double screens, cutting, etc... instead he gets the ball with a few ticks left while everyone stands in a corner and watches.

 

If a man is going to give us 14 assists and only 1 turnover on top of a pile of points, I don't really care if he plays defense.

It's the 5, 6, 7, 8 turnover games when everybody is clanking from 3 that are too much for us to overcome.


Morey needs to pick a direction this summer. Either get 3 guys in here that can flat light it up from distance and go for 140+ a night or get a true point guard in here that will create open looks for everybody while taking care of the basketball and helping cover for Harden defensively while Harden scores the ball on a huge usage rate.

 

This. Our schemes are pretty basic and predictable. Another thing that I think could help our offense in general is getting the ball across halfcourt faster. It seems like we're consistently about 3-5 seconds (eye test no research) slower getting into our plays than the other high powered offensive teams.

 

houseofhighlights an Instagram account with a lot of followers posts mostly terrible defensive plays by Harden and sometimes by Dwight, but lately its all about shunning Harden

 

IMO there are plenty.... Of plays during the season they could have chosen to put on their page, but this one just didn't make that much sense to me.

He had four fouls, it wasn't his man, he wasn't the weak side defender responsible for helping out, and his man was in the corner. Had he slid over to force him to pass it, it would have gone to Hardens man for an open 3. I get as angry as anyone when Harden is lazy on D, but this is just stupid. The man had an absolutely outstanding game and this is the best ESPN can come up with?

Reminds me of the night Curry had 51 and Harden had 46 and the first like four articles were about Curry's 51, and absolutely nothing about Harden..... 5 point difference and to not even say anything about it? Considering that 46 came against at the time one of the hottest teams in the NBA and also the team that BEAT Golden State by 30 in the Blazers, it's just ignorance that he's not talked about.

I use to just tell people they were reaching when discussing how the media treats the Rockets but now, it's just getting out of hand. Attack how our team as a whole is playing. Don't attack a player who went 40/14 at Toronto because of one play.

 

hmmmm . . . let's see, how does this work? Is any evidence for this claim? in other words, "Why don't you actually prove it?"

heh heh :grin: couldn't help myself. And I'm not picking on you, just thought the irony here was too funny.

 

Read again what he wrote: NARRATIVES PEOPLE TRY TO PUSH ON THIS WEBSITE. The Evidence is on here

 

Hypocrisy abounds here, on both sides of the fence, including myself of course. It's human nature to only see your enemy's flaws and not your own.

 

BTW - there is no media agenda - they are just reporting that he plays crappy defense.

When he stops doing that, they will talk about how much he has improved.

It is all up to Harden, there is no magical conspiracy here, Harden is lazy on defense.

DD

 

Agreed, that's why Curry's lapses on defense are always front and center of ESPN... Oh wait.

 

They could have chosen many other plays that made more sense than this. I guarantee if someone would have watched every game going on that night, Some player did the exact same thing as Harden did.

Do you know what the reaction would have been if Harden left his man wide open to help on the driver? "Great, Harden leaves another guy open for a 3." Personally I prefer him staying with his man rather than risking his 5th foul and an open 3. We know his defense sucks, but this play was just a stupid choice for ESPN just to get kicks from everyone outside of Houston.

Be honest, if Curry put up 40/14 and did the same thing on that play, would anyone at ESPN even notice? I understand curry's d isn't as lazy as Hardens, but in all seriousness, no one at ESPN would have even thought it was a bad defensive play.

 

Perhaps because they have shown to be leaders of teams that win rings?

James does not get the recognition for his current form... but jeez. This year he has been flat out awful. I'm not in the mood to pat mr. 200 million$ on the back because the media are calling him out for being the leader of seriously the most unattractive team I have ever seen.

Yes, it's fun to watch now and then, but the bad games.. I don't mind losing, but does it have to be so unattractive? Does it have to be with such a lousy effort?

Lebron, Curry, Kobe... someone who does not see that they have much more spirit and are better in motivating the team is seriously in need of prescription glasses.

And yeah, it's the team, it's the coaches, it's the managers. But being a fan I'm thoroughly disgusted with being served the crap I got served this year. I'll defend this team when they give me something to be proud of again.

/rant

 

I will give you one guess as to what those three have in common

 

Yes because that was the obvious lede of any account of the game or Harden's play on Sunday.

 

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