Yo Harden, are you watching how San Antonio actually try on defense...

excellent post

 

Let's face it: Harden isn't a great defender even with full effort. He obviously sucks without effort, but, even if he tries, he's still just an average to good defender (which really should be enough with Howard/Asik covering). It is absolutely a myth that he was a great defender before coming to Houston. Harden is the worst defender on the starting 5 (or main 7 including Lin and Asik + TJones gets a pass for now because of inexperience/size matchups). I think one reason it isn't exploited more often in the regular season is because of the lack of good enough opposing SGs to run their teams' offenses through. The league is just more PG driven now, so Harden can hide (too literally sometimes) and our PG defense becomes the focus on the forums.

P.S. I'm convinced Harden's preference for post-defense is because he doesn't have to move as much. Robin Lopez scoring at will should put an end to anymore of that crap.

 

Agreed. There was a reason he was coming off the bench in OKC. Sefolosha got the starting nod because of the superior defense.

 

Fat people call other people fat. Stupid people call other people stupid. Clueless people call other people clueless. Way of the world.

 

Well, I think there are plenty of examples of poor defense by star players. The biggest problem is he doesn't have the athleticism to recover and contest the way Kobe, mcgrady, and Vince Carter did after missing assignments. I don't remember him being this awful in OKC so maybe there's hope.

 

And to think. Somehow we swept the Spurs.

 

Kobe was always a way better defender than Harden.

Harden truly has atrocious defense as evidenced by the first five games of the playoff series!

Athleticism is a small part of it. Mainly it is lack of effort and that "gotta get minez" and try hard on offense, conserve energy on defense attitude.

I notice people here point out Lin's mistakes or lack of defense... Lin's defense was mostly very solid in that Portland series, I don't know what everyone was watching. Harden's defense was mind boggling bad.

 

That is the exact opposite of this board's mentality.

Harden is our best player and we are a better team with him, therefore we have no right to complain about his defense. If you do then you are a .. well you know what you are.

 

Is having heart and desire something that can be taught, or is it something you are just born with?

 

You have to have it, no one can teach you that.

 

Overanalyzing that won't change facts

Tons of talented players don't make it to the NBA, or in the league.

It takes more than desire to make it to the NBA then it takes 10x more to make it to the playoffs, and 50x more to make a deep run

For a Dleague player making the roster or playing major minutes is like winning the lottery, going to the finals.
Not so much for a Top 3 pick so expectations are different.

 

When Harden thinks of defense and protection, he thinks of a condom.

 

No. I don't need a damn coach to tell me guard your man. That is just pride.

 

He's too busy gettin p***y. You should try it Carl.

 

A game plan that doesn't tolerant such lack of effort? That hold all player accountable? That expect effort and defense or you sit? That leads to a team where no one play without defensive effort by the time the play-off starts?

Bench him. Even if we lose, it's better in the long run. If you recall, we actually had a very decent record when he was out for the past 2 seasons. We can definitely afford to bench him in the regular season. (and we get to develop the bench... another thing McHale is horrible at).

 

Well, it's obvious that Harden doesn't care for D. He's not going to Chip and Dale's.

 

It also helps that SA has Pop paddling discipline into his team.

 

you can still get p***y and play defense.

 

This gif made my day. So funny. Thanks man :grin:

Won't be be more appropriate if it was Timmeh, Manu and Parker running away while Pop keeps hounding them? LOL