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Collins got Hardens Motor Running (nba.com article)

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Beard, Dec 20, 2012.

  1. Beard

    Beard Member

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    http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/12/20/collins-got-hardens-motor-running/

     
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  2. SuperVon

    SuperVon Member

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    I loved this part!
     
  3. Patience

    Patience Member

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    Maybe we should call Doug Collins "Thunderbolt", 'cause it sounds like he put the Yee-haw back into Harden's motor and transmission.
     
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  4. QdoubleA

    QdoubleA Member

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    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
     
  5. NL Rocket

    NL Rocket Member

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    The most telling part is that Harden used to take it easy and was just chill and luckily he admits he's still like that. Guess it wasn't a deception but we sometimes see from him and I hope it will be gone because his T-mac like non-defense drives me crazy.
     
  6. Rokman

    Rokman Member

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    Lol. Awesome!
     
  7. REEKO_HTOWN

    REEKO_HTOWN I'm Rich Biiiiaaatch!

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    The whole, "Harden doesn't play defense" myth is amazing. Not surprising from you but frankly it's a joke lie. He guards an defends on plays and doesn't cheat trying to steal the ball either.
     
  8. BigShotBob

    BigShotBob Member

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    would rep.
     
  9. just a word

    just a word Member

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    I'm personally leaning towards the fact that he's trying to never get in foul trouble, and be able to stay on the floor longer.
     
  10. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
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    Very nice column from Fran. I've given him hell in the past (and he deserved it back in the Spring of 1986, when he picked the defending champion Lakers over our own Twin Towers, and the deepest team we've ever had. The nerve!), but leaving the Chronicle has been a tonic for the guy. I may even become a fan of Fran! Good find, OP.
     
  11. NL Rocket

    NL Rocket Member

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    Key word was 'some times' and tell me you do not see him at times relaxing on defense and letting guys blow by him who shouldn't.
     
  12. REEKO_HTOWN

    REEKO_HTOWN I'm Rich Biiiiaaatch!

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    Yeah when you're the best player on your team your coach actually begs you not to risk fouling. Kobe does it at times too.
     
  13. NL Rocket

    NL Rocket Member

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    Guess you have a point there. Doesn't mean that I like it and I just hope he will continue to improve and one day he can go night in and night out be a monster on both sides of the ball.
     
  14. torocan

    torocan Member

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    Say what? Harden does MORE than his fair share of cheating trying to steal the ball.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FTAWs3dy1g&list=UUSpvjDk06HLxBaw8sZw7SkA&index=1

    Rockets defensive breakdowns starting at 5:27, Harden cheating on a poor attempt on a steal at 5:42.

    Or then there's this one from the Thunder where he falls into no man's land.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2Fq2SgbJ4M

    Our entire team makes defensive errors, Harden included.
     
  15. just a word

    just a word Member

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    Yeah, or at least learn some more from the Battier school of D; where it's more about body-movement than arms flailing. That should help him conserve energy too, while being effective at the same time.
     
  16. BeeBeard

    BeeBeard Member

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    You're motoring? What's your price for flight?
     
  17. torocan

    torocan Member

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    Harden is a fairly average defender in some ways, but horrible in others.

    The most immediate of defensive weakness I see is his lack of contesting on shots. Aside from closing out (which he often doesn't do), more importantly he often doesn't put his hand in the face of the shooter. Hand in the face alone is enough to drop shooting percentages by 10%.

    Even if Harden never learned to body up his man correctly, or to funnel his opponent to help defense, just closing out and putting his hand up would improve his defensive effectiveness tremendously.

    That and he needs to resist cheating so far for steals. Cheating for a steal in itself isn't bad, but it is VERY bad if you cheat for a steal and then do NOT attempt to close out and contest.

    Lin is guilty of cheating on steals sometimes as well, but he generally tries to close out and contest and is often fast enough to get away with it.

    Close out. Hand up. Those 2 simple adjustments and Harden would be much more effective defensively.
     
  18. JayGoogle

    JayGoogle Member

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    I'm glad he said it.

    I didn't want to say it, but watching him lately has reminded me of a mini-Lebron James.

    NOT THAT HE'S AS GOOD AS LEBRON JAMES!

    But he literally does the same thing that Lebron does. He'll bring the ball up...create some times...bully his way into the lane...get fouled... I mean just watching them they look very similar on offense.
     
  19. alethios

    alethios Member

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    To be honest, nobody gave us a chance to beat the Lakers in 86. But that's what made it so much sweeter when it happened. I had to pleasure of watching that series when my bud who was a huge Lakers fan (we were working in Sacramento at the time), and he kept telling me how great the Lakers were and how great Pat Riley was, blah, blah, blah. He wouldn't speak to me for a couple of days after that, and I hadn't even said a word.
     
  20. RedDragon01

    RedDragon01 Member

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    I'm a BIG Harden fan, but I have to agree with torocan here. I can understand trying to not get into foul trouble. But he gambles too much away from his man, allowing his man to get into the paint. He doesn't close out fast enough. And when he is defending, his arms are almost never up.

    He's got a ways to go on defense to really be where he needs to be as our franchise player.

    But offensively, the kid's amazing.
     

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