Do you think Harden will be average defender next year?

I think he will try harder. Its the only part his game lacks. He has to be tired of hearing it from people.

 

Let's hope Rockets Ariza is better than Rockets Ariza.

 

I feel like a fool for believing this because I said the same thing all of last year, but I really believe the media criticism will push him to become at least an average defensive player, which is really all I can ask for.

 

I think Haren wants to be Harden, and can play credible D in spurts, but without a coach that keeps him focused, he will always relapse to being Haren.

 

How can Harden have enough energy to spend on defense if the team continues to force him to handle the ball and run the offense in addition to scoring duties? Parsons is gone so we don't even have him to initiate anymore. Lin is gone too.

Get him a real PG then we can talk about his defense. This is on Morey for refusing to get a veteran PG who can allow Harden to just score and defend. Why do I feel like I complain about the same effing thing every damn year about PGs ever since Morey got here?!?!?!

 

I believe he will improve a good bit

 

Your posts continue to struggle. Step up your game and put a bit more effort into them.

 

Because you maybe biased? Rockets have only had a bad PG play only the last 2 years

 

Harden handles the ball so much because he wants to. McHale is always talking about moving the ball and not letting the ball get sticky. So the iso-Harden is often not part of the game plan, just Harden deciding to do it alone. He is very good at it, but the team likely prefer that there be more Spurs-type ball and body movement to avoid stagnation and the defense having time to set and focus on one guy.

You can say it is on the coaches for not enforcing their game plan or on Harden and others for not executing but judging by the way that the coaches, players and Morey talked at various points during and after the season, the team wanted to, and still want to, play differently than they did last season.

 

I chose average defender, because he is well aware that he is a poor defender and he is now aware that the public is aware of it as well. I think the biggest help will come from playing with team USA and having coaches like Thibodeau and coach K. On a team such as that, they are all offensively gifted, so if Harden is getting beat up on the defensive end, I doubt they will have any problems replacing him with someone that wants to attempt to play defense.

 

#thestruggle

FTW

 

I will, thanks.