I ve been reading all these posts about Harden being a lazy defender and how he is the worst at defending in the league blah blah blah..... I like Harden just the way he is. I think some fans are glued to tightly to the tv or computer and have started inhaling fumes. I remember when we had used to have Trevor Ariza, Ron Artest or Kevin Martin as our starting two guard Now we have an elite guard, top 5 scorer good comparable assists to any other guard in the league and good avg in steals and we are whinning about his defence. Please just support and let him do what he do, put the team on his back when we need him. IF WE DIDNT HAVE HARDEN, WE WOULDNT HAVE GOTTEN HOWARD! Rocket's fans should just chill and let him grow, he has only been in the league under 5 yrs and ppl are demanding perfection. I LIKE HIS GAME, HIS SWAG AND HIS LEADERSHIP! Without him on this team, we dont make the playoffs, we dont attract free agents, and nobody and I mean nobody puts us on national tv this much.. Harden, I got your back dawg!!!:grin:
I'm a big of his as well, but we're not going to win a championship or even goto the WCF unless Harden picks up other aspects of his game. I know he has the ability to, I'm just waiting for the desire part to kick in.
Yup. Harden made the Rockets relevant again. Crazy how many times "Should we trade Harden for _______" pop up, even though most of those are LOF's I suppose.
are you talking about his defense? he has proven he has the desire, that he's working on it, and has shown it. he just have to do it more consistently.
I should have been more specific. I meant the desire to do it consistently. I don't want him taking charges or playing physical D, just need him to be in the picture on every play at least
LOL be in the picture every play? even DPOY's can't do that straight for 40 mins a game 82 games a year..
good post but you guys act like HOWARD is Lebron or something, "we would have never got HOWARD???" no one has said anything on how great howard has has been and he just what this team needed to win to go far. Its still questions marks because he is a upgrdae to ASIk but but a team difference maker on our chances to compete ASIK is solid. Jones coming in at PF has helped this team more. The howard (superstar name) hype he carries is real here. About harden yes he is the best SG in the league will take him anyday over the others you name. Harden is young and will only get better. I think his D will improve
good post but you guys act like HOWARD is Lebron or something, "we would have never got HOWARD???" no one has said anything on how great howard has has been and he is just what this team needed to go far in the west. Its still questions marks because even though he is a upgrade to asik, asik was still a solid double double that didnt take any days off. Jones coming in at PF has helped this team more. The howard (superstar name) hype he carries is real here. About harden yes he is the best SG in the league will take him anyday over the others you name. Harden is young and will only get better. I think his D will improve
I would like to see some improvements in his game, especially on the defensive end and on the ability to go right (or use his right hand). But I respect him for consistently playing through injuries.
Do 29 other teams want him.... Yes. Would they give up half their team for him.... Yes. He's a keeper. Does he need to improve defensively.... sure, but star players having lapses on the defensive end is nothing new. Kobe, Melo, T-Mac, Amare... all had their moments as well, and I'm sure you can find footage somewhere of Jordan taking plays off on the defensive end. Oh those who say Kobe was only a bad defender young in his career.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1iqLjTa3gM Skip to the 3:05 mark. Oh and this is in the playoffs in 2010. Nowadays with nerds at home posting clips on YouTube seconds after it happens live, we are going to be able to catch players like Harden more and more when they play lazy defense, but its nothing new. Its going to happen on occasion, you just have to hope that he learns enough to improve more as his career goes on, and steps it up in big games during the playoffs.
first, drop the S in fans no one's saying he's a consistently perfect defender but to say he's lazy or doesn't care or doesn't focus or work harder to be more consistent on D is biased harden averages 39.9 minutes a game, same as durant 5.2 assists a game, again, same as durant 2.0 steals a game, more than durant, and defensive specialists paul george, tony allen, jimmy butler, and kawhi lenard 0.8 steals a game, same or more than all those guys above plus wade and blake griffin all those while averaging 25 points a game behind Lebron Durant Love and Melo with his foot problems if JLin played with Durant, will the same fans who called Harden lazy also call Durant lazy?