What you're doing is finding an outlier in what is otherwise pretty strong correlation between the stats and actual performance, and then claiming therefore the numbers are totally irrelevant. That is truly a dumb argument to make, and I can do the same with the so called 'eye-test' as well. If I show you some clips of Harden playing good defense and Kawhi playing bad defense, does that make Harden a better defender? You're trying to use few exceptions to disprove the rule, which is hilariously stupid. Also, DRtg is just one stat. Iggy's DBPM and DWS in the playoffs was much better than Curry's. That's why you have to take into account several metrics to offset outliers. As I said, in overwhelmingly majority of cases, players with bad defensive reputation also have equally as bad defensive numbers. Harden is the exception here, which raises the question as to the validity of the perception that Harden is a horrible defender. You showing me few instances of Harden playing bad defense is meaningless, because there is no way you can prove that is representative of the whole season.
11M for Anderson is somewhat reasonable, I just hope he stays healthy enough to be productive just like with Memphis signing Parsons I think this is a high risk medium reward thing. But then again Dwight Howard ended up signing for 23M that's like 13M last year, right? Would you rather have Anderson 4 years at 11M or Dwight 13M for 3 years?
Anderson is a great shooter and isn't kanter level bad on defense. I would prefer him coming off the bench . He can get 25+ min a game as a shooting/scoring specialist. I think if he's healthy , Dmo is just better than him . Better defense , much better playmaking and passing , around equal scoring .
Too many gunners on the bench. Anderson, Gordon AND Beasley? That won't work. Anderson needs to start.
Maybe we can get a rules change to where they can change lineups on the fly like in hockey. Have Anderson out there on one side of the ball and sub him out quickly when the ball starts to go the other way. He's an awesome DH.
Just because they come off the bench doesn't mean they won't play minutes with other starters . There are scenarios in which Beasley Dmo Anderson Capela and Gordon can all get 20-25 + min
Of course a Harden fan doesn't understand the importance of defense. Only 7th? If the Rockets are in the top 10 in defensive ppp, I'll be doing cartwheels. Contenders are said to be in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive ppp. Thank you for the statistics lesson. It's not like I'm not a stem major or something. Yea, but, uh... now I'm cherry-picking a whole game of bad tape on Harden? I just gave you 5 games where he was the worst defender on the team. I didn't go out of my way to do those games: they coincided with breaks. And, again at your stats. Iggy had only 0.0 more DWS than Curry (that's not much better, please get your numbers right). Realistically speaking, Curry's DWS should be Error: Out Of Bounds. Why is his DBPM positive? So, no, the accumulation of stats paint a highly terrible picture of what was an atrocious defensive performance in the playoffs by him. Period. Not helping your case.
You are correct. It is a travesty. Good thing that D'antoni is now on board to fix our issues and bring us players who will help us reach our bottom of the league defence goal.
All i know is Harden paired up with one of the best stretch 4's in the league will be almost unstoppable. We've never had a power forward as lethal as Ryno to run the pick-and-pop with Harden. Pick your poison.
totally agree with beard on this one, you're not being objective at all. 5 games where he was the worst defender on the team? even if every player on the team was equal level defensively, you'd expect ~16 games of each player being the worst defender on the team lol, who gives a **** about 5 games?? Do you even know how DWS and DBPM work? lol
We thought Harden paired up with one of the best PnR finishers in the league would be almost unstoppable. I used to have lots of theories on what would work or what players would fit. Last season taught me that what looked good on paper could look like dog poop on the court because players weren't machines but human beings affected by lots of non-basketball-related things.
Pick a game. Any game in his Rockets tenure. Heck, even in his, say, 7 steal Jazz game or whoever it was against, I'm fairly confident there will be some atrocious missed rotations. However, a broken clock is right twice a day, they say. Even the worst can look competent every now and then. Do you really think I have based my opinions on just these 5 games? Orrrr..... do you think, maybe, just maybe, I have seen the same patterns on hundreds of his games? Like I stated about when I post these, I don't get a season-long break. Please, how about you spend all the time posting 82 threads breaking down a complete defensive game? I am objective: I just look at what is on the court. I have stated on here that we will win a championship during the Harden tenure, and have voted accordingly as well in polls. I stand by those statements. But Christ does he have a weakness in this department. Actually, it is pretty subjective to give misleading, and sometimes completely false numbers, to support a narrative. Spoiler