New advanced defensive metrics: James Harden was a poor defender in '13-'14

Just kidding... interesting data.

 

Do they only do this once a year, because I'd love to see how their metrics rank Harden's defense this year so far?

 

I honestly don't know what to make of this top-5 list. Okay I guess? Given how little all these players are sought of around the league except CP3, I'm not sure I can gleam any information from it.

 

not being, but I think we are aware of that. Where is the data of what he is doing now??

 

using analytics/metrics for things like this seems silly. they're confirming something any scout/eyetest could tell you. show me some analytics/metrics for things scouts/eyetest can't identify or process.

The analyst/programmer/researcher that comes up with the metrics of playing with energy and playing without energy and who has/doesn't have energy and why, should win a National Academy of Science Award. The math should be called the McHale's Law.

 

I think most of us who saw all of the games last year can agree he was bad, even long before that you tube video came to surface. Good to see him shutting that Harden plays no defense crap down this year

 

Forget the Harden crap, this graphic should have been the highlight of the article:

Spoiler

 

Harden had swollen feet for the entire year or something like that...

 

at the same conference they came out with a study titled "Water is wet, and the sky is blue" I heard it was doozy.

kidding aside, I wonder where you can input the data for this year and compare the 2 years. James is already on record agreeing to his poor play on that end last year. He acknowledges its an effort thing and that putting up 30 a night AND playing lock down defense isnt the easiest thing in the world to do.

 

Let's not get defensive (har har) about the Harden data, as this is data from last year...this is some great stuff and definitely worth a read.

Interesting to see who were the guys who completely snuffed out opponents from even attempting shots - such as Dwight (in the paint), Kawhi (at the three-point line), and CP3 (everywhere).

 

CP3 is amazing for his size. The fact that he's less of flopper this year makes him a lucrative player in my book. His flopping and b****ing were terrible in years past.

 

A healthy Dwight and Harden truly would be the most Morey-esque players in the NBA. One gets into the paint at will. The other denies paint attempts at will.

I still think a relatively healthy Dwight, focusing on just defense and garbage points on offense, is still enough for us to contend. The problem is I'm still uncertain we can even get this Howard.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

There's actually a lot of interesting data in there that this thread title will deter people from reading. The point of this thread and that article is not really James Harden, but rather to learn about the ways this team has analyzed defense.

 

Great tools to measure defense, Is it just individual defense or do they have metrics for team defense too?

wow, I never would have known Chris Paul was great on defense too.

 

Since opponents found it tough to stop Harden, they were most likely to challenge him by having his man keep him busy on defense.

That's why Harden's man ended up shooting so much. It was a deliberate strategy to slow down his offense.

 

teams applying the Jordan Rules to Harden? MVP!

 

That they play against reserves so they have better stats?

 

Who cares about last year, he has greatly improved his defense and is becoming an all around player, nuff said.