It's not smart for him to run the clock out when we are down. To call it selfish is ridiculous, he may just think that it will throw the opponent off because the time is running out so they assume he will take the shot and lay off everyone else. It's not working though, so he needs to stop doing that.
Thunder as a whole play better team defense, they have players whose only job is to play defense and that makes everyone look better on defense because those players will erase the mistakes of other players.
Well I'm pretty sure if Lin was taking 17 shots per game like James he'd be able to put up at least that much. Nobody else is going to average 19 points per game because nobody else gets the consistent number of shots/touches every game that Harden gets. Everyone else sort of take turns whereas James always gets his. Some games Parsons might get 15 shots and Lin takes less than 10. Or Lin might have a big night and take 20 shots while Parsons gets 10. But James will always get around 15+ shots EVERY game and rightfully so because he's "the man" on this team.
Sigh...McHale post-game: "Our guys aren't really defensive minded players" "It wasn't really our defense". I feel bad for him, as much he frustrates me, he's just too nice to coach a young team, still developing team in need of discipline. I think he's a better fit with a veteran team that responds to a player's coach, which is probably what he was expecting when he took the job, to be fair.
The problem is that, Harden is iso on the top and dribbling the ball while trying to figure out something. The defense is keyed onto him and most of the time, he doesn't have the shot so he's trying to find an open player but everyone is standing around so he is forced to pass it off to the nearest open player with a few seconds left, not 1 second.. Its not entirely his fault, the entire team plus the coaching staff have to find a way where Harden can handle the ball on top of the key and have an option to shoot, drive or have a teammate coming off a screen. Because whenever the team is standing there watching Harden, the defense is set and its either Harden jacking up a long three or passing it to a teammate who's kinda open...
This. This is exactly what has been bugging me. I love Harden's scoring ability but he shows no effort and/or awareness defensively, it annoys the hell out of me. He is capable of being at least an average defender, at the very least.
You said the coaching staff won't blame Harden for anything and I said that's because he's the franchise player that's overachieving in the words of replacing t mac
The problem is Harden tries to do too much in offense and has little motivation and energy left for the dirty work with no place in stats. The best fix is as Murphy suggested, let Harden play off the ball and Lin play PG. The coach even ask Harden before resting him. I am afraid that Harden is turning into another TMAC.
it's tough to ask harden to do both ends the whole game. it's another reason i insist to have lin to play most pg duties. harden should be stay back and play whatever comes to his way in first 3 qts so he can focus on his defense. in 4th, he should have more energy to take over a game. we need a better backup pg to step in when lin needs a break.
The Lebron James syndrome, doesn't move without the ball, and when he does get the ball it is isolation dribble dribble then shoot/drive or pass. Ppl don't understand but Lebron James hogs the ball, he hogs the ball to pass...where as Kobe or Iversons hogs the ball to shoot, But this annoys me the most, how many times do u see harden standing 3 feet behind the 3point line when he doesn't have the ball? I'm a harden, I'm just some pointing out some negatives in his game hoping he would change, he is young can be easily fixed. But that's why mchale fail to yell at his superstar the way pops would yell at Duncan ginobli or Parker when they make mistakes, they learn from it
Actually we don't need Harden to become a lock down defender like a Lebron James or Avery Bradley, just need him to stay on his man, put his hand up and stop giving season high to his man. It doesn't sound like it requires much energy really.
Cannot agree to that, Lin most of the time finds an open and ready man last second, but Harden just slips the ball to the nearest guy next to him who is not nearly ready nor in a position to shoot. The poor guy simply gets another missed shot on his stats
This basically. I understand that this team likes to run, and the perimeter players would sag off and gamble for those easy fast breaks but for a team like Golden State where they have very capable shooters, it's best to stay on your man put a hand up and contest the shot. All I'm asking for is for the team to stay on their man and contest the shot instead of running back on defense and throwing up a hand when the player has already released his shot.
I think this happens a lot less than some of you are making it out to be. I'm kind of sick of the criticism on Harden's offense. He is very clearly one of the best offensive players in the league and that's what is keeping you guys up at night? McHale checks in on him to see where his energy is at, not to ask him for permission to bench him -get real! As many have already said it's his defense which we should be worried about.
It goes deeper than that. When we play a small 4, help defense is needed. If Harden's man is more than one pass away, it could be his job to double team. It's very easy to take advantage on a small 4 if opposition has good perimeter shooters. They just give it to the post down low, if no help defense, work inside and score. If help defense arrives, pass it out around the perimeter for open man.
It is annoying but I believe he is trying to draw a second defender to him i.e. waiting until someone gets open. Steve Francis did not draw double teams as much as Harden does.
