I think @Spacemoth is on to something here: Harden’s step back 3 has gotten all the attention from the media this season, but there is also that deadly in-the-lane floater which he has developed. Any preference between those two moves? I like the floater. He seems to be crazy accurate with it, and if he misses there’s a decent chance Capela or a Faried can clean it up. Plus, when he’s going to that move, it opens up a lob threat. I’d make a comparison between those two moves and Hakeem’s baseline fadeaway and his jump hook in the lane. The base line fadeaway was the sexier move, but in crunch time that jump hook was the staple to our offensive diet. I’d kind of like to see Harden go to that floater more, and make that the staple of our offensive diet. What do you guys think?
I prefer the floater because of the consistency. The step back is great when it’s on but the floater looks exactly the same as his lob and it makes it harder for the defense to stop the easy bucket.
Harden used that same floater a bit in the Utah series last year, so I wouldn't say it's new this season. I voted stepback 3, but it should vary depending on how the defense is playing him. If he's struggling from 3, then go to the floater or the stepback free throw line jumper. I'd rather him go to that more than just jacking 3s when he's like 0-7.
players has to mixed it up, if u do floaters all game, the defense is going to adjust and clog the lane, u have to be smart about your choices, but mixing it up means harden has to shoot that step back sometimes in the game, harden has not been shooting the 3s well recently, let's just pray to god that he can get his touch back, otherwise, if he plays like this in playoffs, we will be a first round exit team, this year, we need him more when playoffs comes around, we will need harden at full strength
not sure how he’s gonna make the floater the staple of our offensive diet...doesn’t seem realistic his 3 point shooting blows in the playoffs...he regressess down to Westbrook levels we know he’ll be taking 10+ threes a game on average, so I’m gonna need that stepback three to be going down at least 35-36% of the time once the postseason starts
feel like he can get to the floater 9/10. people are starting to play him really high on the stepback. might open it back up if, dare i say, he shoots a mid-range stepback every once in a while!
He doesn't get fouled on floaters as much so prefer the step back. Plus, he can get the step back anytime he wants.
I prefer both. Mix it up. The defense needs to be guessing- is he going to shoot the 3, Eurostep to the basket, shoot the floater, stop and pop, or lob it to Capela/Faried?
Superstars have multiple go-to moves. Notice how one of Harden's go-to moves from a few years back, the Euro step, isn't even mentioned anymore.
Ive been saying this for years; his go to move in the CRUNCH should be top of the key, down hill drive, step back mid range jumper from the elbow or closer. That shot is automatic and keeps us scoring to stay ahead or stop the bleeding from the opponents scoring bursts. He needs to avoid the step back 3 at all costs late in games. Too much energy in a playoff game has been exuded and your legs just arent what they were. Of course like everybody said previous, he has many "go-to moves" but it should all be mixed up. Personally, I wouldnt mind him posting up. He has shown in the past that hes very capable and efficient at it.
don't tunnel on anything. Although his step back has a huge variance, he might hit everything one night and go literally 0-10 another
Signature move = step back 3 Alternate move (when shot off or being overplayed) = floater Crunch time unstoppable move = mid range + layups + free throws + lob threat + offensive spacing + elite durability + elite handles + elite touch + elite range + left handed + elite BB IQ + elite passing No wonder he is GOAT level on offensive impact.
Yes this. They’re overplaying him on the step back... leaving a wide-open lane. When he gets that big body going down hill no one can stop him via drive to the basket, floater, Lob, or pass to the corner 3. Floater would probably be my choice because he has capela back who’s always looking for the lob. He starts missing three’s go back to the floater. Till he gets momentum then back to the step back 3.
It's not about one or the other. Whether we're talking about offensive success or what's more deserving of other people's attention. What ought to be focused on is that Harden just keeps adding tools to kill you with. Season after season, even within seasons, he just keeps adding offensive threats. It's crazy for one guy to be able to attack you so many different ways. Or use other people to attack you while you're focused on him. Now that James has most of his crew back and some upgrades, his next job is just to settle back out of necessary hero ball and focus on how best to use all these weapons. And I think he will. Some days that stepback will be falling for him, and you'll want him taking it. Other times, it'll make sense for him to do hard piercing drives, and other times both will be out of the question, so he'll use the floater to split the difference. In a way, having so many options can be a bit of a curse. Basketball is a very fast game, so it's even harder when you're trying to make split-second decisions on half a dozen different ways to try to score. Much easier for guys that specialize in one thing. But I think he'll get it worked out better now that he's not being forced into carrying the team completely through every game.
Can't shoot 12 threes, keep it at 9 and throw in more floaters/midrange---especially if he's 0/10. Need to have fallbacks and he did yesteday
Really, the Floater and the StepBack 3 are counter moves. And that is fine. * Cross over dribble for layup * Lob Pass on cross over * Corner 3 pass after cross over * Floater after cross over * StepBack 3 Just a bunch of counter moves in his bag. There is no right or wrong answer, it is about how the defense is playing. That said, I have been a HUGE advocate of the floater for quite some time now. Really ever since the loss to the Spurs in the playoffs when they dropped the big. Harden can pile up points on that floater shot. So yeah, I would like to see him use it more. But he can't force it if the defense is clogging the lane. That's why the Stepback (even as a threat) is hugely important.
Obviously the floater is a much more consistently accurate shot but the power of the step back 3 is that he can essentially get it off against anyone at any time. Doesn't matter what the defense does (unless they hard double team him), he can get it off relatively cleanly and it's a make or miss situation. The same can't be said for the floater, or most other go-to moves in the league.
Its eerily similar to the dream shake where it's just a bunch of simple moves but can happen in any combination as a counter to the defense. It's like asking, should Hakeem focus on spinning for the layup or the fadeaway? It's literally whatever he feels like will work beat to counter the defense and keep them off balance.
Last night once he got his floater going in the last quarter he got going. That floater opens everything up for him.
