Team USA Coach: James Harden is better than advertised defensively

[noob cake]

No. 1: James Harden is better than advertised defensively

I spoke to several members of the USAB staff, and behind the scenes they were amazed at how good James Harden has become as an overall player since his last tour with Team USA two years ago. The fact that he came in and was focused on being a lockdown defender blew them away.

When he wants to play defense, Harden is very capable. We already know he is one of the premier offensive players in the game. I love him as a player (I have always loved lefties) for his unorthodox moves in the open court that allow him to get to the rim, and also knowing how to draw fouls. But now I am being told Harden is getting it done on the other end, which has always been the major complaint about his game.

Read more at http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2014/08/02/gonzo-leaving-las-vegas-three-things-you-didnt-know-about-team-usa/#0UsmEp5G2lOZAvL5.99

I'm out haters.

[JohnFreeman]

Harden injured Paul George

[navy]

No shit. His problem is effort and mental discipline.

[Milbuck]

Obviously. The problem was never that he couldn't play defense, it's that he didn't care enough and wouldn't. It's probably gonna take the Rockets getting assrammed 2-3 more times in the first round before he gets it together.

[played0ut]

What navy said.


Defence (man on man in particular) is mostly all about effort and stamina.

I think harden is trying harder on defence because of all the flak he's getting. Which is good.

[Smook A.]

Harden's got the ability to be a really good defender. All he needs is effort, and he better show it this upcoming season.

[Mr Exlax]

Tell that bitch to do it during the season. We all know he can play defense. We all saw him do it consistently in OKC.

[buddha]

i'm sure Houston fans love hearing that James Harden is willing to play defense in the FIBA world cup instead of the NBA.

[The_Yearning]

I remember dude shutting down Kobe back in OKC.

[buddha]

Harden's got the ability to be a really good defender. All he needs is effort, and he better show it this upcoming season.

honestly, you could say this about 90% of the league.

[JohnFreeman]

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/James-Harden-Pretends-to-Get-Hit-in-Face.gif

[Smook A.]

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/James-Harden-Pretends-to-Get-Hit-in-Face.gif
Im sure 100% of ISH knows he flops. The other dude, LeBron James, does it too. He's the Bruce Lee of flopping. Harden is Jackie Chan

[Smook A.]

honestly, you could say this about 90% of the league.
True. I guess they lack effort so they can save their energy for offense... which is pretty stupid.

[Heavincent]

I remember dude shutting down Kobe back in OKC.

Not really. Sefolosha guarded him most of the time.

[Milbuck]

True. I guess they lack effort so they can save their energy for offense... which is pretty stupid.
Which makes it even tougher on Rocket fans considering James Harden's offensive game is tailor made to suck hard ass in the playoffs. Zero offense and zero defense makes Smook a sad panda.

[Smook A.]

Which makes it even tougher on Rocket fans considering James Harden's offensive game is tailor made to suck hard ass in the playoffs. Zero offense and zero defense makes Smook a sad panda.
His 2014 playoff performance really made me pissed off. At one point I wanted take my tv outside and slam it on the concrete.

[poido123]

His 2014 playoff performance really made me pissed off. At one point I wanted take my tv outside and slam it on the concrete.


:lol

[oarabbus]

Tell that bitch to do it during the season. We all know he can play defense. We all saw him do it consistently in OKC.


Who is Harden's FIBA USA coach?

And who is his NBA coach?

Answer these questions, and it makes sense.

[Lebronxrings]

Who is Harden's FIBA USA coach?

And who is his NBA coach?

Answer these questions, and it makes sense.
faq that, coaches aint shiet. Play defense ****ing slob.

[oarabbus]

faq that, coaches aint shiet. Play defense ****ing slob.


That's the point. Coach K holds his players accountable on defense. McHale does not.

[GrapeApe]

i'm sure Houston fans love hearing that James Harden is willing to play defense in the FIBA world cup instead of the NBA.

This was my first thought as well :oldlol:

[KG215]

Tell that bitch to do it during the season. We all know he can play defense. We all saw him do it consistently in OKC.
Naw, consistency was almost always an issue in OKC. Could be good at times, but he was just as shitty at other times. He was never a consistently good defender even in OKC. He was just a good defender more often because he didn't have to carry nearly as big of an offensive load. He was still pretty damn lazy and terrible on defense, at times, even in OKC, though.

You look at pretty much any NBA Player, especially one talented and athletic enough to be a perennial All-Star caliber player, and if they're bad (or God awful as is the case with Harden) on defense, it's about a lack of effort probably 90% of the time. It's rarely ever a lack of ability/talent issue.

[played0ut]

Who is Harden's FIBA USA coach?

And who is his NBA coach?

Answer these questions, and it makes sense.


That's the point. Coach K holds his players accountable on defense. McHale does not.

Coach K also helped coach the '92 Dream Team (the ****ing '92 Dream Team). And learned how to handle egos from Chuck Daly.

If he can work with MJ/Magic/Barkley he can handle these guys.

[Euroleague]

Harden has been writing some big checks to some coaches....

[Graviton]

No shit. It's almost impossible for someone with Harden's quickness and power to be such a ghost on D, unless he deliberately played lazy and careless. Defense is mostly about effort and determination. If he is willing, he can potentially be a great defender, considering his size and athletic ability. Harden's only issue is attitude.

[UK2K]

Hopefully the first round bounce last season made him mad enough to care on that end of the floor.

[J Shuttlesworth]

Harden injured Paul George
If you look at the video, you'll see that George looked back before he jumped. He looked right at Rose before it happened

[FKAri]

This is nothing new. We've been hearing this since 2008. So and so is playing great defense in practice. This was specifically said about everyone from Chris Bosh to Michael Redd.

[ImKobe]

Harden shows flashes of good defense every now and then, but he has problems with consistency.

He played some good D on Kobe when he was still in OKC, most notably in the OKC-LAL series in 2012, I think he blocked Kobe's fadeaway once.

[Swaggin916]

Harden injured Paul George

Rose with the sloppy turnover started the whole thing... Rose is a curse not only to himself but to others as well.

[ShaqAttack3234]

Harden has always had the ability to be a pretty decent man defender when he actually cares. The problem is, he rarely does, and he's just horrific off the ball. Focus could probably solve a lot of his problems, but when is he going to show it on a consistent basis with Houston?

[Beatlezz]

https://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/thumb/865154291.gif

:yaohappy:

[Mr Exlax]

https://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/thumb/865154291.gif

:yaohappy:

Did he get benched right after that? That's what McHale should do a few times just to let him know he needs to get his shit together.

[Milbuck]

https://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/thumb/865154291.gif

:yaohappy:
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/002/862/835/hi-res-156812580_display_image.jpg

[Doranku]

https://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/thumb/865154291.gif

:yaohappy:
:roll: :roll: :roll:

[dubeta]

http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/James-Harden-Pretends-to-Get-Hit-in-Face.gif

smh no shame whatsoever :facepalm