Whoa. Harden got 2 first-team votes. That bears repeating: JAMES HARDEN got 2 first-team votes for NBA All-Defensive Team. Congrats to James for buckling down and learning to make a difference on both ends.
Something I like hearing! Maybe that "no defense" meme that's been attached to him will die now. I hope so. Well deserved votes, James.
Nah. The hate is ingrained at this point. Saw someone respond to a comment on Harden getting votes with a random clip in which he gets trapped by a hard double screen on D and "...let's his guy stroll right to the hoop." It'll never stop.
Interested to hear who gave him those votes. Based off what you generally see and hear in the media I have to imagine they came from Houston guys.
This is what I figure out. Tucker listed as forward. Dray and Kawhi were defensive player of the year. Reporters have bias on voting. I'd like to see Tucker to replace Giannis or Paul George. Reporters have bias again.
Honestly Green has been great in the playoffs whatever but don't people remember how unfit he was in the regular season? Also Kawhi is the best defender in the world but he missed so many games and wasn't pushing it in the regular season and also spent some time trying to get some rythem. I'd have given it to Tucker just because they are bigger names they got in.
Watched a lot of Pacers games. Turner might be the best shot-blocker in the league. Athleticism, length, timing... And yet, I wouldn't say he's an elite defender. Lacks physicality, rebounding... Gets abused in the post a little too often.
Both Kawhi and Dray are much better defenders than Tucker in the playoffs. If it's voted 6 weeks ago, Tucker would win it.
James Harden was Second in the Whole League in Steals. Led the League in Deflection Steals. That deserves Way More Votes. One thing I have noticed by Away Broadcasters and National TV games is that whenever James makes a Great Steal. They never ever say James Harden with great defense, or A Great Steal by Harden. It is always "Rockets with a steal" or "oh He lost the ball" (Did the ball get lost, Smh)
Klay Thompson and Paul George are not bad defenders by any stretch. However, this award should generally be called "stars who defend well". Not all-nba defensive players. As for Marcus Smart.... lol, I got nothing. His clutch time flopping to draw offensive fouls is great, I guess.
The one you should probably be mad about is actually Draymond. He's a great defender, but this was a down year for him - he made the team on reputation.
I'm not arguing that Harden hasn't improved, but steals are ridiculously overrated as a measure of individual defense. Plenty of mediocre defenders gamble and lunge for steals, leaving themselves out of position and giving up easy hoops.
