Is James Harden's crazy efficiency the result of natural bball IQ

Harden is actually a very good defender, when he defends, what seems to happen is he plays safe early in the game, if he gets to the 4th quarter with only a cpl fouls, you can see him play some extremely good man to man d.

I'm sure he's been told not to take the risk on d in the early quarters, our offense doesn't flow any where near as well without him, and young players, the defensive intensity slows down when the offense isn't working.

 

BBIQ and his natural gifts

Just Read a 2007 write-up of Harden's college career http://arizonastate.scout.com/2/663960.html

I didn't know he had a 7 ft wingspan. That certainly helps when he sticks the ball out when he drives or when he shoots his 3pters. I also didn't know he was a good student at college (with several As in his courses).

Our asst coach Chris Finch isn't one to appear on the coverage to give interviews like at halftime. He's low-key but once in a while, the camera will pan out to him usually talking to Harden or Lin on the bench, at times pointing at something on a sheet of paper.

Finch is our offensive coordinator. I'm sure he's talking to them about some new wrinkle on the offense or way to exploit the defense.

 

I've never seen anyone get fouled as soon as he steps into the paint as much as Harden has this season.

 

James Harden's success is a matter of his natural basketball IQ and physical talent. Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons' success is a matter of their hard work and high motor. Donatas Motiejunas' success results from the Lithuanian culture, which treasures independence, democracy, basketball and a hatred for Russians.

 

Check his overall measurements - as good as anybody playing the SG position. IQ and work ethic helps as well.

 

If they're such great shooters, how come the WNBA average is 43%, and they shoot 35% from a much shorter three point line.

When I was in college, the women's team players got destroyed in pickup games.

People just say women have a higher bball IQ to make themselves feel more enlightened, not becuase there is any truth to it.

 

About the shooting, I don't think comparing WNBA shooting percentages to NBA is fair. It is easier for a 6'7 person to hit shots than it is for a 5'7 person. There is alot of science behind it based on trajectory. The average difference between a WNBA player and an NBA player's height is far greater than the difference between the average male compared to the average college female bballer.

 

Let's see some of that science, then. Keep in mind, the WNBA ball in 1 inch smaller in circumference.

 

pgabriel,

Regarding "Is it natural BBallIQ or a combination of watching video....etc"

One way to look at that is, How can watching video hurt....thus how can it not help.

If it helps Pitchers in baseball learn the hitters and it helps quarterbacks in football (obviously), of course video makes basketball players smarter on the court. I actually find it very odd that people treat basketball so differently than other (white dominated sports) to even suggest players can't learn to be smart on the court by study, like it's all just "natural" skill.

sigh

 

Not close to prime manu yet. Harden needs to get some more variety on offense because defenses know he is either gonna shoot a 3pointer, setback midrange jumper, or eurostep. I would like James to work on that midrange and start attacking the basket from angles instead of from top of key.

 

didn't look efficient last night, but he sure did get the job done!

Also, as much as I'd like to see him go higher, I feel like Harden will land All-NBA 3rd Team this year.

 

He wasn't. If prime Manu would've played in today's Houston Rockets though, he might have been talked about as a top5 player, who knows.

 

I know. I was just drawing upon an analogy about studying video.

You're right: Basketball (and hockey and soccer) supports natural court sense vs study more so that other sports.

but note, I do not agree with that when it comes to improving your defense. There very fact that basketball is free flowing requires much more video study by the defender than any other sport. Obviously more so than baseball. And definitely more so than the football secondary. They are just super athletic automatons of the defensive coordinator and his video staff.

 

Guy is a true superstar. It was obvious his knee was bothering him the previous games, as he seemed gimpy on the court. Last night the guy was incredible.

38 points on 17 shots? Wow, just wow.

Adding a Howard or Josh Smith to this team would make us a contender, no problem.