Can we start giving Harden props for his good defense lately?

I actually agreed with what you say about Casspi. That was my response to torocan earlier. If it was Howard or Asik instead of Casspi, DWill wouldn't have been able to get to the basket unchallenged. Instead, Plumlee would have cut to the hoop for the pass. It would have been a more difficult execution for the Nets, but the likelihood of scoring would still be very good. All that because of a sieve-like defensive play by the perimeter guy. If Harden had put up better effort in forcing DWill to the baseline, the angle of passing would be much more difficult.

 

Based on your response, I am going to assume that you did not watch the video section I highlighted to prove what I was saying. On that video clip, did you see how much baseline the OB defender was giving? That is a baseline blowby if the OB defender is on an island, if there is no help D. But there is; and that is where Casspi is supposed to be.

The Plumlee cut would be contained ideally by Casspi and the weak-side defender. So, cannot say that is because of the sieve-like defensive play by Harden. In addition, you did bring up a good point, and that cut potential is why the side PnR is a highly efficient play.

However; just to let you know, Harden is one of the worst perimeter defenders in the league, so this is not blindly defending my favorite player or something.

 

No, I am not kidding. Nationally, James Harden is pointed out more than any other Rocket as having bad defense.

He gets a free pass usually from most Rockets fan because we realize how valuable he is to this team.

 

I understand this thread is a few days old but Sampson was asked just now on 610 about Harden's defense. I don't have particular quotes but he was very direct. He said that Harden is a great 4th quarter defender but will need to mature to become a plus defender. He also mentioned that Lebron has been just as lazy as of late. Hmm...

 

Is consistent with the eye test. Harden is good in the 4th..... but early in the game he tends to drift inside, leaving his man open and does not fight around/through screens.... lets hope the effort increases in the playoffs.

 

Yeah. He also mentioned that in many games Harden carries our entire offense which is obvious. He compared the lack of defensive intensity to Jordan early in his career. It's good to hear that the coaches are optimistic about him being capable of improving although we may have to wait a year or two.

 

Sampson brought up a valid point...Harden is still very young with a lot on his shoulders. Sampson also pointed out how defense wasn't important to MJ early in his career.

 

I thought the coaches did well to discover that Harden actually prefers to guard bigger guys on the post.

He doesn't like to guard quick players, doesn't close out well and going through screens, forget it. He'll ask his teammates to switch.

What he needs to eliminate is ball-watching.

 

It seems to me that both Harden and Lin are not good at all at moving laterally to keep the opponent in front of them. It doesn't even take much effort, it's just a skill and a mind set.

 

He tends to do those things better in the 4th quarter. I don't think that the issues with Harden are physical, it comes down to effort and having to carry a huge offensive load.

 

Harden is; he is just lazy. Lin is not.

Um, what? Moving your feet probably takes the most effort of all basketball-related actions...

 

There was a play in the Denver game where harden went to pull up his shorts and get in crouching position when the guy just blew by him. He was still holding his shorts as he tried to pivot... Quite comical. Harden often gets caught looking at his own crotch when he should be watching his opponent.

 

It's the difference between running along side your opponent (bad) and shuffling your feet to keep them in front of you (good).

 

I may be in the minority here, but I don't want to see Harden try harder on D in the first three quarters... at least not to the intense level he portrays in the 4th quarter. I don't want him trying hard in the regular season.. because trying harder takes a toll on your body, and for someone playing as many minutes as he does, this might lead to injuries during the more important part of the season, playoffs. So, let's just let him dawdle around these last few games, as long as he picks up his intensity on D in the 4th....

Then, in the playoffs, he can pick up his intensity and surprise everyone. D when it counts... that's what she said.

 

That comical moment is almost up there with the "Oh ****" defense in the Clippers' game.

While I agree with your point in saving energy for the more important moments, some of Harden's defensive issues comes from the lack of focus. Like the play DR34M points out, it's hardly effort if your guy blows pass you while you are holding your crotch (and still holding it when your guy is already under the basket).

 

Know what I found comical about Harden? That pull up 3 with multiple people on him with the shot clock running down. You know the one? The one that sent the game to OT... That one was really funny.

 

Harden played outstanding defense late the last couple of games. Difference making defense. Game winning defense. Sure, he's far from consistent, and too often awful, but it isn't because he can't be a plus defender. A true test, of course, will be in the playoffs. Harden isn't a "jump shooter." He puts in a lot of effort on the offensive end. If James has the energy to up his defensive effort during the other 3 quarters, it would be a huge boost for our team defense. Combined with Beverley and Parsons, at least when Chandler is upping his own defensive effort, the Rockets perimeter defense could be a game changer. We need that in the playoffs to advance, in my opinion. I'm interested to see if that perimeter defense shows up.

 

Lol Sampson is making sht up about Jordan to prop up harden. Jordan played d from the get go and became fiercer because he wasn't getting the props he felt he deserved.

 

I think Harden is gonna ball out this post season.

 

Yeah, 24 year old MJ in his 4th season: Defensive player of the year.