I just think that if Harden played solid defense so we don't need to hide him from the other team's wing scorer, we'd have more flexibility to rest Parsons, play Lin more, or even play Brooks. But we can't have two defensive liabilities like Harden and Brooks on the floor at the same time. Lin guards some players well and some not well. Beverley isn't much on offense. And Parsons need fresher legs (as do Harden). It's a tough one, but the best solution is of course getting Harden to play better D. He is getting lit up by defensive specialists or role players while being hidden on D against scorers. The difficult thing to swallow is that he talks on interviews so much about defense, but doesn't play much of it. I hope he improves over the off-season.
Is it me or the other team's SG often lights up when they face us? I see players with like 5-8pts/game go 20 pgts on us pretty often. I don't have the stats, but if someone does that would be great to take a look. I also noticed in quite a few games, Harden and Parsons would switch on their man I guess to hide Harden from the better player. I think Harden's defense intensity has improved quite a bit over the season, the first half of the season his man was often open, the last 10 games or so, at least you can tell he's trying to defend.
It's pretty much a given that the opposing SG will have a career high when defended by Harden. Just an inevitability that we have all come to accept. Harden has given more effort at times these past few games though.
This. Harden is more than capable of being an above average defender, he has good athleticism but he just doesn't seem to care on defense and that seems to be the general theme on this team. Asik, T-Rob and maybe Parsons are the only players who seem to consistently plat good defense. Harden is the star and he needs to lead by example. I'm not a McHale hater but this team would benefit greatly from a defensive minded coach.
it was a bad loss to a good team. the rockets don't match up well with them, they are very physical and have maybe the best offensive big man in the league.
WTF? Hibbert is shooting 43% this year and averaging 11 pts a game. Even when he wasn't hampered by a wrist injury, last year he averaged 12.8 pts a game on 49% shooting. "Maybe" the best offensive big man in the league???
you're right, that was stupid, but he also gives miami trouble on the offensive end. he's just big and he has a true back to the basket game that most teams aren't geared to defend including the rockets
He was on Stephenson, a guy who averages 8 a game but put up 21. Why would McHale put harden on George, their best offensive option ( well, aside from Hibbert, who still only averages 11 ) when he has trouble with average players.
But he's not a rookie at 23. He came from a well coached team that played respectable d. I would think that would matter.
it's not my job. it is the coach's job. they got paid to do that. i got freedom to express my opinion here for free.
Harden sucks at D. I'm sure he's heard it over and over. He'll work on it this offseason because unlike one way players, Harden seems to want to be in that elite status, which requires playing average to exceptional D. There's only so much he can do right now though. It's tough to focus on it right now, especially since his offense is more important to the team.
#1 it is "defense" and not "defence". If we were playing soccer in the UK it would be "defence". #2 Yet another thread of Harden's defense... sorry, "defence".... Maybe you can follow it up with one complaining about McHale or Lin's turnovers... since that is what the GARM has turned into. #3 Harden split time on Paul George who was almost as miserable as Harden from the field, so not sure this would be the game to rely on making this thread.
Harden has star syndrome right now. He's feeling like a badass scoring. After he gets used to being a scoring leader and media star, he'll focus more on winning games and think of sharpening his game, and defense will be a big place to start. Yeah, he's too careless on defense now.
