The article doesn't even say what the findings are wrt measuring braking ability. It just mentions that Harden scores very highly on one phase in vertical jumping... the initial vertical thrust/force. Then it says Harden is renowned (via subjective eye test) for his ability to change direction horizontally, but mentions no other players or data. From there, Dr Elliott says the vertical data quantifies his subjective view of Harden being an elite-level braker. I'm not saying Dr Elliott's data about vertical leaping is bad data. I'm suggesting that a hypothesis to apply that data to predict horizontal forces might be flawed. Surely there are others ways to measure that. And surely braking and change of direction are more learned skilled than "genetic lottery" like he says. He sounds like a salesman, as founder of that company, to pitch other novel ways of using the data his instruments are capturing. make sense?
I'm pretty sure P3 is more competent than what you're describing.. He consistently scored higher during the decelaration phase of different tests. That's how they know it transfers on the court. Overall, he brakes better than most across different movements. And they don't make it a habit of releasing a lot of their clients' info. That's why they only spoke about vertical jumping and vaguely.
This may be why harden is so good at shooting off the dribble. He can stop, gather himself, and rise up to shoot a balanced shot. Come to think of it, I think Steve Nash had elite breaking ability too
I think the balance comes from James' training.. The guy he works with shows he knows the importance of having left/right balance. Nash was OCD about training left and right as well.. Some guys just do a lot of bilateral movements which makes it easier for the dominant side to cheat.
I possibly feel bad for Harden, seems to be doing the right things for an organization that might be failing him and is way over their head at the moment.
I get what you are saying. These are fair points. I am hesitant, however, to accept your conclusion that Dr. Elliot's finding that Harden "has the best all-around NBA braking system [P3 has] ever measured" is based solely on vertical data. In the article, Dr. Elliot is quoted praising Harden's ability to "brake." From there, it is the article's author, Mr. Alamar, rather than Dr. Elliot, who offers the vertical data to explain that finding. This leads me to believe that Mr. Alamar offered the vertical data in an attempt simplify the rationale for the benefit of his readers. In fact, I think we can safely assume that Dr. Elliot and P3's findings on Harden's braking ability are based on more than just the vertical data. This can be seen in Dr. Elliot's quote: "[Harden] has astoundingly consistent spikes in metrics associated with a single characteristic -- braking." From this quote, you can see that there are several metrics that support P3's finding. While it is more than likely that Dr. Elliot is selling his company's capabilities through Mr. Alamar's piece, I don't think it's fair to conclude that he's conducting his research as simply as you say. That's just my two cents on this.
Motiejunas is the type of star that Harden needs. How is he not signed yet to a major long-term deal? The rest of the guys on this team are scrubs except for Ennis who I think could be the next Gary Payton. This front office is clueless. It might be best to just let Harden go elsewhere. Maybe trade him and two firsts to Minny for Rubio? And then we could build around Rubio who is Magic/Nash reincarnated.
So he's not ripped up but he's really good at basketball? What you're saying is he's a baller. Cool. Reminds of Arian Foster, who though large for a running back was not a muscled up freak. He was slow too but set up blocks and absolutely mastered the cutback. That change of direction and instinct as a ball carrier made him one of the games elite, despite not being as athletically gifted as most other backs. Athleticism is always the first to go. Harden's skill (not to mention durability, a completely undervalued trait in all sports, specifically where someone like harden does so much, takes so much contact, plays so many minutes) will keep him among the NBA's best for years after the 30 year old mark which is usually about where men begin declining athletically.
D-Mo a star? ROFL... the same D-Mo that not a single team in the NBA has made a desirable offer to? The same D-Mo whose trade for a first round draft pick was rescinded, that D-Mo? Are you another one of holic's throwaway accounts?
The ability to stop on a dime is amazing in any sports and it's honestly what makes Harden great. His change of pace style feeds on his ability to stop and go repeatedly. The same can be said about his step back and eurostep. The thing about stars and superstars is that they have strengths where others do not and have polished it into a refined killing edge.
Harden has amazing core strength which allows for incredible balance . His upper body is also well built , he can barrel through other guys and still finish strong . But this idea that he's not some great leaping athlete is stupid . James can't afford to go all out because we need him to have stamina to play the whole game . However , if you look at his pre draft combine numbers he's definitely a hell of an athlete no matter how you measure .
