Ok i'll give an actual answer. 1. Put someone with Length on him. Someone 6'8+ with good mobility. E.G: Leonard, Paul George, Durant, Luc Between Harden driving, passing the ball to an open 3, drawing foul or shooting a step back 3, the defense's best option is the step back 3 as long as you dont foul him. Let him take that step back but contest lightly with a 6'8+ elite defender. Make sure you dont contest too aggressively or Harden will jump at you, land on your feet and get rewarded for 3 Fts. Cons: Harden's step back 3 has gotten to ridiculous level of efficiency. He's still prone to long cold stretch though. Also it doesnt really matter who's receiving the assignment of checking Harden. Harden cherry picks his defender. He can get some poor soul to switch on him after a simple pick. 2. If he does end up driving, make him go right and guide him to an elite Center with length inside. After his penetration, between passing to open 3, drawing foul, giving it up to Capela for dunk attempt, step back long 2s or layup, the defense best option is to let him take the shot himself. Give him that step back mid range but if he doesn't take that, make him finish over length. Harden isn't a great leaper, his layup attempts are susceptible to being blocked. Cons: With Capela's presence and his gift for dominating the vertical space, its difficult for the opposing Center to challenge Harden's layup. Its truly a double edged sword. Definitely don't give Capela the allyoop. Just dont let Harden drive.... easier said than done. 3. If you have to double off someone. dont let that person be Gerald Green, Eric Gordon or CP3. I can live with Daniel House, Austin Rivers, Gary Clark, PJ Tucker, Brandon Knight, James Ennis shooting.... Cons: Open 3s from anyone is still bad.
Now how to stop Harden from going to the FT line? I dont think there is one. Definitely dont slap at Harden's drive. Don't put your hands out in front of you. Don't hold him yada yada yada but it doesn't matter. Harden can still get to the FT line but running into you, bumping you, hooking your arms, falling down etc. And that step back THEN jump forward and land on your feet for 3FT move is just vicious. I don't have an answer. Hopefully no team does.
This was the game I stopped caring about the soap opera that is NBA basketball. I remember sitting in the stands hearing people scream that these weren’t fouls. It’s unfortunate that the dumbest NBA fans are also the loudest. Until that changes, the league will continue selling garbage to garbage men.
This was the game I stopped caring about the soap opera that is NBA basketball. I remember sitting in the stands hearing people scream that these weren’t fouls. It’s unfortunate that the dumbest NBA fans are also the loudest. Until that changes, the league will continue selling garbage to garbage men.
and yet i still think they have the best collection of players and coaching systems to slow harden down.
