[ClutchFans] James Harden works out with Hakeem Olajuwon (Video)

The only thing I'll add to this great post is that Harden's greatest advantage over other Guards is his core strength. In addition to his footwork, this is the biggest contributor to his success slashing to the hoop and pick + pop accuracy.

Footwork + core strength = effective post play

Take a look at Lebron:

Spoiler

His sledgehammer dunks and overpowering play from the Left block seem to indicate that he must have bulk. As you can see the dude seems skinnier than his strength would indicate. So it is easy to see how important his core strength is to his game.

Of course, his ability to bang in the paint doesn't take away from his range. This is one of the reasons why Lebron is so damn good.

 

LOL...what?

"Core strength" is the new "twerk" at Clutchfans. Some folks new what it meant for the last decade. Others just found the term and can't wait to abuse it.

 

The importance of core strength can't be overstated. I work out with my brother-in-law and all he does is work out his biceps/chest so he can look good in a shirt but I'm always telling him to do work on his core/back/and legs. Just how it is with youngsters. I've been pushing weights for 20 years now and only the superficial cats focus on the arms. Hardens gonna be off the hook this year!

 

Interestingly enough, I twerk to improve my core strength.

 

Kobe went to Hakeem for vindication of his ego as Hakeem acknowledged that there is not much that he can teach him that he did not already know. It was and continues to be all about Kobe's ego. Lol, Kobe did not start learning to play in the post at 31.

 

that's basically what he said

is this statement true or false?

Kobe started working with Hakeem when Kobe was 31

 

It's misleading. Kobe started working with Hakeem when he was already a pretty good post player in his own right; he already had the fundamentals nailed down from his upbringing in the sport. It will obviously takes some time for Harden to have any refined post up game whatsoever but at least he will have something to fall back to when his body wear out unlike DWade who is nearly done at 31 and DHoward who is probably too old to modify his game extensively.
To be perfectly clear, I'm not criticising Harden for diversifying his skillset but rather the assertion that he could be more suited to posting up than Kobe based on his superior core strength while ignoring things like sound fundamentals and footwork.

 

lol @ Dwight spending the entire video practicing free throws. Let's hope it pays off. His form is still so ugly but he was hitting a lot of them at least. I just don't understand why can't he extend and lock his shooting arm? It is a very obvious fault in his form that he could easily see on tape.

Drooling @ Harden incorporating dremshakes.

 

Aleron I am 6'1 and I know how post a joker up. Anybody can post up if they have the will and desire to do so homie.

 

post game and defense.

two glaring weaknesses of harden.

 

The coaching staff has to hold harden accountable on the defensive end. Harden's a great athlete; he can be a top tier defender if he wants to be.

As far as becoming a great post scorer; I don't even see that as something the team needs. He's already a great slasher and can score effectively from behind the arc. Let Howard score in the paint and let our 1's 2's and 3's spot up and knock down jumpers.

The magic had extraordinary success feeding the ball into their center and then letting them kick back out to their shooters for many years with both shaq and howard. There's no reason why the rockets can't have similar success.

 

I don't know if kobe received any training on post scoring from phil jackson or from anyone on the lakers coaching staff. Kobe did however, study everything michael jordan down to the very last minutiae, and imitated jordan's post up game down to the very last detail.

Jordan was kobe's true master, not hakeem.

 

How many championships does the.magic have?

 

Let's hear it from Hakeem himself.

http://on.nba.com/16PJFxX

Kobe did have good footwork, apparently, before he worked with Hakeem. But Hakeem is Hakeem, it's a different level. And so I'm glad Harden is working with him when he's 24 rather than waiting until he's 31 like Kobe did. That can only help Harden achieve earlier success if he listens to what Hakeem is telling him and works on the moves.

 

And where did Hakeem implied that Kobe lacked fundamentals? The very reason he was trying to skip steps is because it just came so easy to him since his game was aleady fundamentally sound. God, I'm starting to sound like a kobetard now when I actually despise the guy.

 

Absolutely. Kobe imitated Jordan's high post game, along with the hands on hips pose, tongue wagging gimmick, etc. Kobe is one of the biggest insecure imitator in NBA history.

 

Harden's ability to imitate hakeem's post moves is not going to be a deciding factor as to whether the rockets win a chip or not.

 

Howard was an 80%+ free throw shooter in practice last season. Unfortunately he was still the worst free throw shooter on the team, both in practice and in games. :/

 

I disagree. Harden has a bigger chance of developing a legit post game than Howard who has been trying and failing for some years now. Harden with a good post game along with his slashing abilities is more important for the future of the franchise. You can only go so far with the Howard bamboozling his way to the basket or passing it out for the 3pt shot strategy.I think Howard made the Rockets relevant again but achieving perennial contender status depends more on the development of Harden and of the other young players.

 

What's your beef with howard, lol. Are you that enamored with asik that you think that howard "bamboozles" his way to the basket? lmao!