Video Request: compile all Harden's no effort plays last night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejPYMpp7pLM
there you go

 

Maybe McGrady is rubbing off on him, after their conversation during the preseason. Your post gave me deja vu.

 

Because the vitriol LOHs post is much more tolerable? lol, I had not once even thought of LOFs in relation to this thread until reading your post.

 

Unpleasant, isn't it?

 

Just watched it. Brutal game.

Hardly breaking news here, but there really are very few players who are as bad and care as little about playing defense as Harden does. He's a bottom-20 defender among rotation guys for sure (and that may still be too kind) and a lot of those other guys (Al Jefferson, David Lee, Bargnani, etc...) at least try.

Not yet sure if it's compilation-worthy. Gotta sort through the clips first. Harden probably had ~20-25 poor defensive possession, though some are borderline and only about half ultimately factored into the Suns getting good looks.

 

How would you compare his defense to his Kevin Martin's?

 

Good question. Martin obviously isn't particular great on defense himself, but I want to say he tries (a little) harder than Harden and isn't quite as bad in as many areas (not as prone to ill-advised gambles, doesn't give up on as many plays, isn't quite as magnetic to screens, not as prone to ball-watching, probably not as bad in transition, etc...)

That said, Harden's poor D and lack of effort may stick out to me more, since I've watched every Rockets games this year, whereas I've only watched 3-4 T-Wolves game this year so far (I like DVRing games and then watch a bunch of games of certain teams in a row -- haven't done so with MIN yet).

 

If you do decide to make a compilation, maybe you could include some of the other Rockets as a comparison.

 

you're right. in fact, i hope they just go ahead and ban anyone who criticizes Harden, McHale, or Beverley. I think we should include some knicks like Melo and Ray Felton on that list too.

 

Kevin Martin isn't the face and annointed "the man" of our franchise. Harden is. Harden also has the permanent green-light to do whatever he wants offense. Some more hustle on defense should be expected. The effect on morale on the rest of the team is not good (see Dwight's comments).

 

Please, please, don't do this again in future. Not for Harden, not for Dwight, or Bev, or Lin, or any Rockets player. Just don't. Please.

 

Well said, I'd also like to add that Martin is disadvantaged on D because of his frail frame making it easy for stronger players to get to the rim just bulldozing through him.

What I'd really like to know is what's Harden's explanation of his defense and how he views himself as a defender...
If I remember correctly Harden said in the offseason, he wants to be the guy who guards the opposing team's best player. Whatever happened to that?

 

Nothing's wrong. The dude is a star but not a super star, alpha male of championship team. But those are the expectations now so he's falling short. Win or lose with Harden? Now seems pretty clear to me Asik/Lin/Parsons helped make Harden look real good last year. If he was with the Wizards he would've become JOhn Wall. he gets his but the team loses, but Wall seems to be turning a corner finally.

 

I love Harden but when I see Aaron Brooks playing better D than he does you know something's gotta give.

 

I actually believe he plays better D. Sure he disappears in the 4th but he at least tries. He is fragile as hell and not as athletic as Harden but he at least tries some what

 

martin actually gives effort on D…..he's just so rail thin that he gets abused by the more physical players. harden, OTOH, looks very disinterested at times

 

Kmart's defense is underrated, he is the 1st player to come to mind to most people when talking about bad defenders, and it's kind of an undeserved reputation. Since NBA players are all okay defenders at least, it's hard to determine what bad defense really is and what it looks like for the layman.

Harden provides a solution for that since his bad defense is obvious and even people watching basketball for the first time would pick up on it.

 

Exactly. These fans for some reason cant understand that the SUPERSTAR gets held to a higher standard.