James Harden Defense vs Lithuania

[JohnMax]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q75fMiGLIZA
https://vine.co/v/OzLtpKUjgXZ

[JohnFreeman]

When people make videos of your defense, it's bad.

[Jlamb47]

Harden defense isnt that bad, if everyone watched him on OKC days, but he dosnt try thats all. Harden could be a decent defensive player if he tried. He is strong and quick, he just focuses on offense, hel learn eventually

[Mr Exlax]

Harden defense isnt that bad, if everyone watched him on OKC days, but he dosnt try thats all. Harden could be a decent defensive player if he tried. He is strong and quick, he just focuses on offense, hel learn eventually

He needs a coach that will hold him accountable. I been saying that for 2 years now. Somebody gotta bench him. Just to let him know what's up. Not a whole game or anything. Just bench him like any other player that doesn't show effort.

[hawksdogsbraves]

Do Rockets fans think they can ever win a title with their best player exerting this sort of an effort?

Just pitiful.

[imdaman99]

He needs a coach that will hold him accountable. I been saying that for 2 years now. Somebody gotta bench him. Just to let him know what's up. Not a whole game or anything. Just bench him like any other player that doesn't show effort.

I don't think it has much to do with coaching. Scott Brooks is not some genius. The only reason he played defense when he was on OKC was because the other 2 players made sure he played defense. He had to earn his minutes and earn his spot to finish the games. He has been given the keys to the Rockets, and with Howard as his partner in crime there is literally no accountability. Howard just wants to have fun.

[dr.hee]

Do Rockets fans think they can ever win a title with their best player exerting this sort of an effort?

Who's talking about the Rockets' best player? The thread is about Harden.

[nathanjizzle]

thats okay defense. he just got boxed out and at that point you really cant do much to stop the easy bucket unless you foul.

[Mr Exlax]

I don't think it has much to do with coaching. Scott Brooks is not some genius. The only reason he played defense when he was on OKC was because the other 2 players made sure he played defense. He had to earn his minutes and earn his spot to finish the games. He has been given the keys to the Rockets, and with Howard as his partner in crime there is literally no accountability. Howard just wants to have fun.

I didn't say Brooks was a genius lol. We gave him the keys and I'm ok with that. We need a coach that's gonna hold him accountable. Dwight will get scrutinized if he speaks up about it so all we can do is hope for a coach with a backbone.

[SOD 21]

If you listen to the announcers on that clip they put this in a little bit of context because they explain that James Harden already had fouls and was concerned about picking up his third foul and having to leave the game, so he gave a very poor effort on defense in order to stay in the game.

But generally speaking, yes, his defense is quite atrocious and he needs a coach that is going to hold him more accountable on that end. Houston will never seriously challenge for a championship with him as their primary player without a stronger commitment from him. It worked in Oklahoma City because he was only there third or fourth best player coming off the bench.

[Mr Exlax]

Do Rockets fans think they can ever win a title with their best player exerting this sort of an effort?

Just pitiful.

He's not our best player imo. Rockets fans are realistic. We have a super young team and a terrible coach. We're not thinking championships yet.

[SOD 21]

He's not our best player imo. Rockets fans are realistic. We have a super young team and a terrible coach. We're not thinking championships yet.

I always hear Houston fans rip McHale as their coach and want him replaced.

Can you explain what it is about him that makes him such a poor coach?

[iamgine]

His defense is terrible indeed.

But I don't see what's wrong with his defense in that clip. He got beaten off the dribble but all slow footed guys would've gotten beat...at least he then trapped the player behind the rim, giving his teammates time to help but they were so late to react.

[Optimus Prime]

For anyone saying that James Harden's "defense" is "decent" or "not too bad"...

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

[Milbuck]

Is anyone else sick and f[COLOR="Black"]u[/COLOR]cking tired of Rocket fans constantly deflecting all of Harden's FULLY DESERVED blame on McHale?

Every. Single. Time.

Harden screws up a play, and because of the shot clock Lin ends up shooting a really important basket that Harden wanted, and Harden throws a giant bitchfit about it......"McHale needs to do a better job managing egos"

Harden turns his defensive matchup into a layup line for the opposition....."McHale needs to push Harden to play defense"

Harden calls for the switch on Lillard which results in a series-winning game winner for the Blazers, season-ending for the Rockets...."McHale should've corrected Harden and told him that was a stupid idea"

Harden doesn't shower for three weeks straight....."McHale needs to lecture James on personal hygiene"

And because Rocket fans feel it's okay to just rinse, repeat, and rewind their tired, bullshit "McHale sucks" justifications, I'm gonna do the same with the opposite.

If Harden is such a great player, a top-tier superstar franchise player...he'd sack the f[COLOR="black"]u[/COLOR]ck up, quit bitching and trying to do everything his own way with zero exceptions, and work on his game like any other great player.

Stars shouldn't have to be ripped apart by the coach to give 100% effort on the court. Stars don't need defensive advice/teaching handed to them on a silver platter to improve. Stars don't need every single fu[COLOR="black"]c[/COLOR]king whistle just to have an efficient game. Stars don't need to be benched to learn how to not be self-obsessed, arrogant losers on the court. Really, if we're just gonna hand out the "superstar" label to players, they better be ready to take the responsibility that comes with it and makes things happen on their own.

I've said this before...but Allen Iverson's poor attitude and extreme desire to do everything he wanted his own way was notorious...but he still showed up when it mattered, put in every ounce of effort and heart he had into every game. And this is coming from a borderline 6 foot tall, 160-170 pound guy trying to navigate through trees and mountains in the paint just to get a fu[COLOR="Black"]c[/COLOR]king layup. He's been beaten and thrown down night after night after night...he's probably had more nagging injuries in one week than Harden has ever had, and yet AI gets back up every single time and does it all again.

We need to stop with this "Harden needs an elite coach to fix his attitude" garbage. How many players in NBA history have produced at an elite level, even in the playoffs, despite bad attitudes and bad habits? A fu[COLOR="Black"]c[/COLOR]king lot. A lot.

All it takes is HEART. And Harden clearly doesn't have much of it.