How does a guy whose best season is 12.8 points per game(Leonard) qualify as a two way player? I know he's bumped it up to 14.7 this year. He's practically Chandler Parsons.
I never understood why to be considered a "2 way player" you had to be elite on the defensive end and good on the offensive end? Why can't it be the other way around? Be elite on the offensive end and good on the defensive end? No one in the league right now has the offensive burden that Harden has -- none of the other MVP candidates this early season do. I wonder how they would have fared if they did. On the same side outside of Anthony Davis who is an elite defender - you have a good defender in Marc Gasol and and average defender in Curry (who also has improved from last season) To me right now Harden isnt an elite defender but is a good defender I would play him above average. The fact he went from being possibly one of the absolute worse to good isn't something that needs to be trashed but celebrated. I think a lot has to do with Harden himself. He isnt the mold of the "jordan SG" the league has been obsessed with. You had Kobe, TMac, Carter, Wade and then really no one else that could have been that mold (LeBron is his own freak as a SF) but SG wise all those guys had a game similar to MJ. Harden is not like MJ at all -- he shoots more 3s than MJ and just drives and gets to the line. the midrange and post game MJ used is not used at all by James. The narrative the media wants is not there for Harden - so he must be torn down at any possible moment. Its silly - I don't think any rational person is trying to say Harden should win DPOY right now - but with so many national pieces putting him down because they say he doesnt play defense -- those are just flat wrong and a complete discredit to the world of journalism. At this point the majority of these articles are not journalism but just gossip and propaganda. Whats also a shame is so few of their fellow peers feel the need to call them out at the lack of true research and maintain the integrity of their profession
Great post. Rep'd. Even good bb writers (not all) are discounting the work put in by Harden to lead his team to victories. They better be careful as it really dimish their credibility.
I mean, Harden isn't going to change his defensive play overnight. I don't think this article is a such a big deal. There are some points. Is he nitpicking or is he making fair points? Hard to say. Harden does seem to ball watch at times and recover late still. So what does that say? It says Harden has room for improvement after 20 GAMES INTO THE SEASON. Ok. Why is everyone so bent out of shape. Maybe some criticism and nitpicking is good - make Harden even better. Maybe Harden shouldn't take any possession off and try to make less mistakes. Isn't that kinda the point if you want to be an MVP?
Typically speaking, MJ wasn't called a 2 way player either, the way its used is like "hey this guys defense is great so it makes up for his spotty offense"
it's funny/silly to say "he's not a 2 way player"...by saying he's a fine but not great defender. And then list guys who are equally "fine but not great" offensively and great defensively, and call them 2 way. Basically, he's picking a definition of "2 way player" and applying it..stupid. edit: looks like yoyo made the point in a better way above. ah well, agreed!
Klay thompson a two way player my azz. All he's good at is spotting up. And Jimmy Butler??? cmon man.
Don't be an idiot. It's obvious that you haven't seen these two play lately. To say Klay Thompson is a spot shooter is just moronic.
James Harden is one of 4 players you can build and entire offense around in the whole league. LBJ, Harden, Cp3 and Curry. Now you tell me that klay Thompson or kawi leanard are this elite on offense? and if their defense is so revolutionary it compensates for the lack of offensive output? I think not. All four of those players are doing things only 10-15 players in league history have ever done these guys are true mvp caliber players. James and Harden are Imo actually the only two elite 2 way players in the league in the sense that there the best players on the planet and can lock anyone up 1-4 for clutch situations. Cp3 and curry just can't do that because of their stature. I think the NBA media needs a reality check. Calling james harden a 2 way player or in the same breath as DURANT and LBJ is not insane it should be the standard. Harden is the real deal and their the only two players that could have gone 7-3 with this roster over the last 10 games. He needs to bring this play and winning results to the post season but this season so far he's been hands down the best player in the league.
Lets not kid ourselves here. Only a massive homer would say that Harden is now a good defender. After a sample size of about 20 games, playing above average D doesn't compensate for his poor defense in the past. Maybe if he keeps it up for the entire season, we can then proclaim him to be "good" or "above average".
He's been an average to above average defender up to this point in the season...which is what we're discussing.
In the post above me, we have someone proclaiming that Harden is one of two elite two way players in the league. That is the homerism that I am referring to.
How many players in this league have shot game winners ontop of getting a game-winning defensive 1-on-1 stop ontop of carrying the offensive load for a shorthanded team that is currently 16-4?
This was a really long, drawn out, spacific way of saying James Harden IS NOT a perfect defender.... Thanks guy! We really appreciate it...
I've been tweeting him the last couple of days, and he responds with @AminESPN: @megastahr @BenDuBose open invitation to come on my web show this Thursday night if you feel so strongly about this. Anyone with a better stats knowledge want to take up the challenge ?lol
well Bill Simmons >>> Amin who? He was so butthurt on his twitter that he had to write that bad article haha
The world already has video evidence of Harden's work on defense this year. Amin has to produce his own video of Klay's defense as evidence. Can't just talk out of his a**
