The media agenda regarding James Harden's "defense"

You can find Curry doing the same thing..giving up back door layups and dunks. I've seen it. It happens.

Curry also isn't being asked to shoulder the load on one end of the court the way that James is. In fact, no one is being asked to shoulder as much of a load on the offensive end of the court as James is.

 

ESPN does not hate James Harden, they just love him if he can bring the clicks when he will be playing well, at the same time, when his defense is a joke and ESPN knows people will love to make fun of it, of course they will sell it.

 

The Rockets were a much better defensive team last year, Harden had a defensive highlight reel, and still hot takes on Harden's defense & vines were flying around the interwebs.


Do you think Harden should have taken his 5th foul on the play in question here?

 

I think the point here (about that specific play) is NOT that James should have taken his 5th foul right there and then, but rather that he just basically stood there flat-footed and waved at the play from the outside looking in. And those who want to say "he was guarding PPat in the corner against the 3," there is absolutely no way James could have gotten to PPat in time from that defensive posture of flat-footedness. So that's a moot issue.

SamFisher, I think ballplayer said it best:

 

obviously he doesn't have the physicality to become some elite stopper. he fights over screens better, moves his feet with effort, hands can react as quickly as his shot for deflections. His fundamentals have just overall improved from years before. Credit to GS though, they have a very good defensive game plan/system but Curry overall understands what he needs to do within this. he is very competent on guarding within his own capabilities and responsibilities.

 

This excuse of shoulder the load has just became plain ridiculous and was even more ridiculous when JH openly commented on it. When was the last time a legit "star" in this league said something like that. That's like openly admitting to the world you can't be that guy. Never mind being good defensively, were just talking about effort here. There's a difference.

 

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Yes, I do. Because that would've been good defense. He's a two, he can play with five fouls. Plus, he finished the game with only four fouls anyway.

I'd bet that he would've made that same play 30 seconds into the first quarter. James takes a lot of undeserved critism around here, but any and all aimed at his defensive effort is warranted.

If his lack of consistent defensive effort wasn't a topic of discussion, then we wouldn't be discussing it.

 

Yes, I know that's the general defensive book on Curry.

So maybe you can answer my initial question though:

 

Truth

 

Well, now you're just being flat ridiculous.

A low percentage contest for a player in foul trouble who constitutes literally all of your offense might be "good defense" but it's horrible move if you're trying to win games.

BTW he picked up his 3rd and 4th fouls early in the 3rd - so he was playing with foul trouble most of the night.

Also, he was a total beast and the main reason why the Rockets won - did you see the game?

 

Who posts large images like that?

Have some common courtesy for crying out loud.

And all you Hardennetes stop whining.

DD

 

lets push this to the next page shall we..

 

ill help.

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Can't read this page at all

 

so letting someone just go by you without any effort is good defense to you when you're down 2? picking up a 5th foul with 2 minutes left is not a big deal at all especially for JH.

Beverley made a great decision to help here and came over to try to get a charge. That's great effort and a very good defensive play. He was just a tad late to get set but that's exactly what good defenses do.

 

I'll help too @rocketshopeful

 

lol nice. U win!

because I would hate to cherry pick James getting a steal. or a block. god knows hes never recorded one.

 

Again, Harden is capable of playing with five fouls. And if this were a one off occurrence with Harden then you'd maybe have a point. But obviously that play was par for the course.

I'm fine with even conceding that one play over to you. Because recent and not so recent history tells me that his play will support my argument every single time that he steps on the court.

He's lost the benefit of the doubt because of the way that he's chosen to play defense up to this point. He regularly gets torched whenever he's responsible for guarding any player with a decent jump shot or tasked with rotating to help.

Harden is other-worldly on the offensive end, but on any given night he'll allow his man on defense offset a chunk of the value that he brings on the other end of the court.

Edit: And stop with the f'n oversized pics. Damn jackasses.