Can we start giving Harden props for his good defense lately?

Harden became a serious MVP candidate for the first time in his career when he started playing defense which contributed heavily to beating some really good teams. Coincidence? Give the man his props. He is no longer Haren. Django Unshaved..."The D is not silent"

 

lol stop fooling yourselves Harden is still an awful defender

He tries though.

 

Awful?



Have you been watching the games? Harden has been defending his ass off. Harden got caught ball watching far too often earlier in the season and giving half ass effort. Maybe it was partly due to injury or maybe not, but their has been a noticeable improvement. There aren't very many guys in the NBA that can play elite level one on one defense. Look at how hard and tightly Wes Matthews, who is known as a good defender, guarded Harden last game and he still was forced to succumb to a historic performance. All you can expect from him is the effort. Make guys work and give your help defense a chance because the help defense is really what makes most of these guys look good anyways. He has been doing that and his post defense has been elite level.

 

I don't think anyone expects Harden to become an all NBA defender.

As long as he's *TRYING* and working to improve on his defense, I don't think most folks are going to complain too much.

It's when he's checked out and not even trying that folks get the most riled up.

As per the OP, No. I'm not going to give Harden props for *TRYING* on defense. It's something that he should have been doing from the start. You don't get a pat on the head for putting in the minimum level of expected effort.

If I pay you $15M/year, putting in good effort EVERY day is NOT an option. It's not considered above and beyond the call of duty. It's not something that you should get rewarded for or lauded for. It is expected as the MINIMUM.

That doesn't mean I expect Harden to dive on the floor or into the stands on every loose ball. That's the kind of effort that goes above and beyond, and I don't expect that from every player in every game on every play. That's the sort of effort that deserves extra recognition. It's part of why Pat Beverley is so liked... he WILL dive on the floor on almost every possession. However, that's above and beyond the norm and I think most fans recognize that.

However, basics like contest the shot, know where your man is, keep your hands up, and *try* to be in the right position should be expected of *every* NBA caliber player, especially a veteran max player like Harden.

I will give Harden props for being self-aware enough to recognize that he wasn't doing enough. Not everyone has the self-awareness to see when they're not doing enough to win instead of pointing fingers and blaming others.

For being willing to change, that I'll give him some props.

Sadly, the NBA has a history of far too many players that are unwilling to improve or adjust their game or attitudes and instead choose to blame the coaches or their team mates.

 

How's your other back hand? Surely you can use that one next to give Harden a compliment.

 

He is at the very least All-NBA 2nd team if he continues his current level of play.

If Rockets finish 3rd or 4th this season then All-NBA 1st team is his to take.

 

I would say his defense has been better lately but i would not consider him on any All-NBA defense team.

 

All-NBA team, not NBA All-Defense team.

 

Maybe you and I just have different expectations.

I wouldn't give props to employees for showing up to work on time, filling out required paperwork, wearing suitable workplace attire, or being honest in how they handle money.

The difference is I can fire an employee that isn't doing the minimum expected. You can't really do that with Harden. His position as the "superstar" on a guaranteed contract means if he *really* wanted to, he could tell the coach to F Off and say, "I'm a scorer, if you don't like it put more defenders around me."

So, I do give him props for not abusing his position of power and choosing to improve his own play versus telling the Rockets to take it or leave it.

Let's put it this way.

Let's take DMC. Great talent, crappy attitude. Would YOU give him props for NOT going off on officials, attacking other players and drawing techs? Or would you EXPECT that's how he's supposed to behave as a Professional?

I expect *every* player on the team, regardless of skill and ability to TRY to play good defense. Some will be great, some won't and that's something I can accept. If they just don't have the skills or athleticism, that's okay. We can work with them, accept it, or get rid of them. However, effort should never be the reason they're not defending.

Harden's issue was never skill or athleticism. It wasn't because he wasn't capable, it's because he could NOT be bothered to put in the effort. We can say that with 100% certainty because he's playing MUCH better defense now. In other words, he COULD have done it from day 1, it just took 1.5 seasons for him to get his head together and actually do it.

So no, I won't give him props for playing defense.

I WILL give him props for being mature enough to recognize that just because you CAN get away without putting in the effort -- that it was in his (and the team's) best interest to put in that effort.

If anything that should make you more enthusiastic about Harden because it's the self-aware players, the players that realize that there's always room for improvement and change that become the truly GREAT players.

Lebron knows this. Kobe knew this. Jordan knew this.

Live, learn, grow. If you have the potential AND the work ethic, it will eventually all work out well.

 

Kobe hasn't played defense with any consistency since 2002.....so you lost me there.

Also, part of the issue Harden had earlier were really banged up ankles and feet. I don't think it is coincidence that when he rested and healed, his defense improved.

Harden overall has not been a liability defensively for months. He has had bad games, but he has had very good ones as well.

 

Yes!. Not just his defense is overall hustle. I always see him diving for balls even if he doesn't get him. My guess is his ankles are feeling better and he's pumped because of the teams success

 

People who chide Harden about his "D" obviously has not played basketball. NO PLAYER CAN PUT OUT 100% ON BOTH ENDS, EVERY GAME!!! Not even the great MJ. The top players pick their spots, mainly in the fourth quarter to play defense.

That's why you see the top wing players guard the other team's weakest wing player, rarely do would you see a top player guard another top player.

 

This is a point that MUST be emphasized. It's impossible to "give 100%" on every play. People need to know that everyone take plays off, but you have to be smart about it. If you go 100% every single play on offense and defense, you'll tire yourself out in the first few minutes.

However MJ had a higher VO2 Max (higher endurance/stamina) that allowed him to compete at higher levels longer than others.

 

Patrick Beverly would smack you for this.

 

lol you kids will find any reason to b**** and moan about Harden for anything. He's carrying us on offense while playing defense. He's been playing like top 5 player ever since his foot got better and you're still writing essays whining about him.

Harden needs to switch over to Beats.



[youtube]3yUj0Ta44DI[/youtube]

 

Patrick Beverley doesn't have anywhere near the same offensive responsibilities as Harden.

If Bev had to do what Harden did on offense, I don't think he would be able to do what he does on defense.

 

I think the Rockets team doctor deserves most of the credit. The doctor must have finally realized by Harden always playing the ball on defense and not his man that he has attention deficit disorder and Harden is now taking his adderal.

 

Plus defense takes away a lot of energy very quickly compared to offense.

 

100%?

Hasn't it already been proven that Harden is among the league worst in distance traveled per game?

I'm not even asking him to change that stat. All he needs to do to change his reputation is stick to the fundamentals of defense to avoid embarrassing situations like the clippers game.

The dude has no excuse for the incessant ball watching, non-existent boxing out or his lazy "reach around" defense.

Having said that, there has been a marked difference since we've been winning. Beyond the defense, he seems to have also stepped up his rebounding effort by actually jumping for the board as opposed to letting it come to him.

Keep it up

 

You should probably make mention of his injury somewhere.

Implying his poor defense early on was only because of his lack of effort is disingenuous (not saying it isn't partly true).