Can Harden defend Draymond effectively?

Just wondering, after once again watching Harden deal Aldridge fits defensively, do you think he could replicate that against Draymond?

Specifically, can he make Draymond's post up possesions inefficient possessions for the Warriors?

Could he stymie Draymond when Draymond turns and faces him 15-17 feet out while in the triple threat?

Would he be willing to play Draymond straight up for 7 games and accept some limits on his offensive energy because of handling Green defensively?

This man demonstrated once again last night how absolutely ridiculously strong he is. He flat snuffed out a skilled seven footer in the low post, a former all-star no less, multiple times. He's got to be the strongest point guard/shooting guard in the Association. And he's got to be stronger than 95% of the wings and power forwards as well.

In fact, when I'm watching games and I see opponents trying to run post up against him I anticipate good results. I know those are high efficiency defensive possessions that more often than not result in stops.

So I'm confident he can defend Green posting up. But for how long? I don't know that.

And I have no clue how he would fair against Green with Green feeding up in that triple threat from 15-17 feet away. My instincts are that's exactly what Green would do. Turn and face, deek, and then dribble getting Harden on the move. And that's where I think Harden loses. When you get Harden moving defensively.

Intrigued though at the possibility of the matchup.

 

Ummmm, we think we know that to be the case. And GS doesn't run post-ups per se. They simply recognize mismatches and Green heads to the basket looking for the ball. Most of the time he catches it, not being in post-up position. And when he does post-up and catches in the low block it's because they didn't get the ball to him earlier as he was diving towards the rim.

But that presents its own problems because when he does post up its st the end of his dive and the defender has contested the pass to him earlier or the dubs swirng the ball looking for something else. Then when they do get him the ball in the post he's usually so close to the lip that all single defenders are helpless, including guys like Dwight. Haven't you seen this over and over?

But the preferred play for GS is to get Green the ball when he dives. And they are excellent at it. Which then allows Green to make all sorts of decisions on the catch while facing up from 15-17 feet. He can put the ball down and continue a drive. He can stop on a dime and quickly reassess (which is almost a guaranteed basket) he can continue in one motion without a dribble and flip up little 5-10 floaters with incredible accuracy, or he can take the dribble and flip into a very quick post up that's impossible for bigger slower defenders to respond to, or he can power through smalls. On top of all that his court vision at that spot on the floor is ridiculous and he can see any defender diving to help and deliver the ball to one of their great shooters.

That's why I'm asking these questions. Green is not LaMarcus. LaMarcus loves to catch, stop, and spin into his jumper or another back to the basket move. Green doesn't have to stop. He dives. He'll gladly accept the ball and maximize a myriad of options. Or if they don't get him the ball on the initial dive he'll just bump and grind a small defender while on the move until he's basically got the defender pinned way low.

IMO, Green is much, much, more difficult to defend than LaMarcus. I'd like to think Harden could deal with him. But we've obviously never went there.....at least not for more then possibly a handful of possessions over the last 4 seasons.

So, I don't know.

I do know this. The key to beating the Warriors is neutralizing Draymond. You can say is neutralizing Steph or KD. But that's ridiculous to conceive. It takes multiple defenders to neutralize those two guys and when you commit multiple defenders the other one, not to mention Klay and Green, is going to chew you up.

Green is the key. He's the player that makes them go because they can go small with him at the 5. You've got to be able to make him face guard at the three point line against a great shooter so he can't help defensively very much you have to nullify his interior offensive game that he takes advantage of when opponents match up small with the Warriors or when he gets to go against a big slower guy.