James Harden: Most fraudulent star in the league?

[PieceOfFelt]

As a star in the NBA you're expected to impact the game in many ways. You're also supposed to set a good example for your teammates. James Harden does not live up to this. He's an abysmal defender and many times displays lackluster effort on the defensive end. Lack of effort is never understandable especially when it comes from your supposed star.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/br-cdn/temp_images/2013/11/08/2013-11-0814_26_00.gif

http://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/820467449.gif?1383933164

Shameful effort and awareness. Just shameful.

[ChrisKreager]

Not everybody can be a two-way player.

Magic Johnson, whom everyone consider the PG GOAT, was a less-than-inspiring defender.

Or Avery Bradley/Bruce Bowen, great defensive stoppers, couldn't be trusted at times shooting.

[outbreak]

Not everybody can be a two-way player.

Magic Johnson, whom everyone consider the PG GOAT, was a less-than-inspiring defender.

Or Avery Bradley/Bruce Bowen, great defensive stoppers, couldn't be trusted at times shooting.

this, we've had stars before who only did one thing. Look at Melo and he's still a star. No one is claiming Harden is the best player in the league.

[PieceOfFelt]

this, we've had stars before who only did one thing. Look at Melo and he's still a star. No one is claiming Harden is the best player in the league.

At least Melo gives good effort. Hard doesn't even give a damn if he doesn't have the ball. He doesn't even try on defense and he has the awareness of a high school player.

[outbreak]

At least Melo gives good effort. Hard doesn't even give a damn if he doesn't have the ball. He doesn't even try on defense and he has the awareness of a high school player.

Melo gives effort on defence? someone post the gif of him laying on the court

[PieceOfFelt]

Melo gives effort on defence? someone post the gif of him laying on the court

He's not completely lost throughout the game and yes he does give far more effort than Harden.

[Eric Cartman]

Melo gives effort on defence? someone post the gif of him laying on the court

he hit his head on the ground and briefly lost consciousness.

You'd have to be an idiot if you think he was faking.

[PieceOfFelt]

The good fans of Houston deserve better than a "star" who is not willing to give full effort. Shameful.

[9512]

It's not just the lack of effort on defense it's his offense.

A large portion of his points come from FTAs via flailing his arms. Since getting fined for his flops, refs won't fall for those and watch as his scoring decreases. Yes Stars do get calls but with harden's arsenal is limited in that overly relies on FTAs.

And plus no mid range game.

[PieceOfFelt]

It's not just the lack of effort on defense it's his offense.

A large portion of his points come from FTAs via flailing his arms. Since getting fined for his flops, refs won't fall for those and watch as his scoring decreases. Yes Stars do get calls but with harden's arsenal is limited in that overly relies on FTAs.

And plus no mid range game.

Absolutely. It's good to get to the line but Harden is far too reliant on b.s. calls from shady refs.

[outbreak]

he hit his head on the ground and briefly lost consciousness.

You'd have to be an idiot if you think he was faking.
are we talking about the same gif? the one where he lays down, crosses his arms over his chest and doesn't play defence, he even raises his head and looks around while talking to the ref iirc so maybe your thinking of something else.

I agree he tries too hard to play for a foul though, he's shown he can finish nicely so it's annoying as hell when he doesn't even try to get a drive to fall. He is also one of the most blatant floppers.

[PieceOfFelt]

Perhaps Harden's unkempt beard was a sign of things to come. He doesn't care how his appearance reflects on his team so why should he care about giving effort?

[TheReal Kendall]

It's not just the lack of effort on defense it's his offense.

A large portion of his points come from FTAs via flailing his arms. Since getting fined for his flops, refs won't fall for those and watch as his scoring decreases. Yes Stars do get calls but with harden's arsenal is limited in that overly relies on FTAs.

And plus no mid range game.

This.

Harden doesn't have defense or offense.

Take away all the calls he gets then lets see what he does on offense.

Dude is a product of this weak soft era.

Also if you watched the Knicks game you would see Melo's effort on D it's far greater than Harden's

[PieceOfFelt]

This.

Harden doesn't have defense or offense.

Take away all the calls he gets then lets see what he does on offense.

Dude is a product of this weak soft era.

Also if you watched the Knicks game you would see Melo's effort on D it's far greater than Harden's

I respect your opinion and you make a cogent point. He is sadly a bit of a product of the era he plays in.

[Dresta]

He was allowing Steve Blake to blow by him repeatedly; it was embarrassing.

[KungFuJoe]

are we talking about the same gif? the one where he lays down, crosses his arms over his chest and doesn't play defence, he even raises his head and looks around while talking to the ref iirc so maybe your thinking of something else.

I agree he tries too hard to play for a foul though, he's shown he can finish nicely so it's annoying as hell when he doesn't even try to get a drive to fall. He is also one of the most blatant floppers.

I believe it's the only gif...I'm pretty sure he was knocked unconscious.

I mean, even Paul Pierce wouldn't do something like that.

[ClutchOver9000]

This "Melo-doesn't-play-defense" myth will never die will it?

It was a legitimate gripe for most of his career but as a Knick he's certainly shed that reputation to me.

As a Knick he's been an average to good defender. He's never gonna be a great defender but he's been without a doubt more than adequate at that end of the court.

He has his lapses here and there, and he can sometimes switch too much but I've seen him give great effort on a consistent basis (sometimes too much effort to where he ends up fouling) and that's all one can ask of him.

Harden on the other hand makes Melo look like Jimmy Butler on defense so gtfo w/ that faulty comparison.

[buddha]

he hit his head on the ground and briefly lost consciousness.

You'd have to be an idiot if you think he was faking.

lol BS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GidLEPzlRwE

[Vragrant]

I just can't consider Harden a star, I just can't.

[Droid101]

This "Melo-doesn't-play-defense" myth will never die will it?

It was a legitimate gripe for most of his career but as a Knick he's certainly shed that reputation to me.

As a Knick he's been an average to good defender. He's never gonna be a great defender but he's been without a doubt more than adequate at that end of the court.

So, what you're saying is, as soon as he joined your team of choice, he started to play good defense?

:roll: :roll:

Carmelo Anthony is a terrible defensive player, and will never improve.

[oh the horror]

James Harden was exposed during the finals with OKC, and during last years playoffs with Houston. I haven't seen much of an improvement from him to lead me to believe he's gotten any better.


Dwight made a mistake going there. He had other options, and Houston should not have been it.

[MJ(Mean John)]

He's not completely lost throughout the game and yes he does give far more effort than Harden.


Harden tries out there. Remember the time he was playing so much defense and he headbutted Metta World Peace's Elbow??



Oh.

[AirFederer]

Rockets will never win anything with Harden. He`s in it for the money.

He should be ashamed. :crazysam: