19 replies to this topic

[Jason]

Look, he's only 23 years old and already a top 10 player in this league. He is our franchise player for years to come and my favorite player on the team. With that being said though, he has a lot of room for improvement. I believe he needs to improve in the following areas:

1. Defense
2. Develop a mid range jump shot
3. Develop a fade away J from the post
4. Develop a floater
5. Decrease turnovers

[Rahat Huq]

I'd agree with that.  Definitely needs something in the midrange like a floater.  For all of what is made about the efficiency of long and close, you have to have something to go to when those are both cut off.  And the good teams cut those off.  

 

Hopefully, this playoff series will show everyone their weaknesses.  If you're a guard you have to have some sort of floater.  It's not realistic to think you can make layups all game with some of the shotblockers that are out there.  

[timetodienow1234567]

What about studying film and increasing b-ball iq? He goes ISO too much.

[feelingsupersonic]

He is definitely my favorite Rockets player but I agree like everyone else he has work to do in the off season. He is the only player on this Rockets' roster that is untouchable and what Harden decides to do with his game in the future will parallel the Rockets future. His track record tells me he is a good guy and the Rockets organization seems well run so I expect improvements over the next 5 years to all aspects of his game.

I agree the mid range game needs to be added though it doesn't happen overnight and has probably suffered this season due to emphasis on the 3 point game and driving to the basket.

Turnovers and decision making need to improve and will as he matures, settles into his role, becomes familiar with his supporting cast and gets the pieces around him so that he can succeed. He needs teammates he can trust and I can only imagine his frustration and attempts at patience considering he went from playing with Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka last year and to being thrown together with Parsons, Lin and Asik (who were also thrown together).

 

I believe more than anything else when Harden's Rockets develop into contenders he will have to become a dependable team defender and a very good man defender. Championship contending teams have to be elite or near elite defensively and Harden must lead the way on that (with an elite defender that is starting, Asik or whoever is acquired). Glimpses of a healthy and defensively focused Harden were evident during that Miami game where he went head to head with James but that is the story of this season is it not?

 

This season when we see Harden at his best we have glimpsed into the future career of an All NBA First team guard and when he has failed we have seen what his weaknesses are and where he must improve. It is up to him, the coaching staff and the organization to continue to improve and I believe all signs point to improvement, in good time.

[thenit]

He had less than 5 games where he looked good defensively, it could be either he actually put in the effort or it was just a standard deviaton from what he really is. And those instances has been in a short period of a few minutes. I don't think he needs to be elite for us to contend, he just has to lead by effort since he is the best player and the leader of this team for the forceable future. Like FSS said he is the only untouchable in rockets roster.

 

I disagree with most people who says that Harden will wind up his defensive effort and become a great defender when he "wants" to. Only time will tell. All I ask is that he puts in the effort and if he doesn't do it in the playoffs every second he is on the floor to lead this team, my doubts will remain if we ever win a championship with Harden. Prove me wrong Mr. Harden

[Futureinterest]

I agree for the most part.  Although I don't think he'll ever be an NBA first teamer... but maybe... most of the better shooting guards are on the wrong side of 30 so he's got a legit shot.  But that's all personal glory crap... worthless... we just want championships.

 

I think his D is the easiest place to change and improve.  He's already got all the tools necessary for it.  He's quick and has good size/strength for his position.  He just needs the motor and mentality for it.  I think he needs the right coach in his face challenging him and motivating him to take his game to a new level, to D it up like a kobe or jordan or wade in their primes.  To make an impact on both sides of the floor.  Yah he can get hot and score, but if you can't defend then you generally shouldn't be NBA first team or even starting for that matter.  It's pretty much a cliche these days, but still true that shooting comes and goes but good D is a constant.  So yah I agree... with your number 1 and am sick of watching him constantly just gambling on steals and playing ole with the better guards.

 

I'd probably want to see turnovers move up to 2 on your list.  Harden is a good passer but it's not his strength to distribute and he makes a ton of turnovers.  Granted he's got the highest usage rate on our team so your turnovers as a natural extent will go up... but he's number 2 in the league in turnovers.  That's not just high, that's crazy high.  He's barely behind rondo in turn overs per game but a bunch away from Rondo's 11 assists a game.  Most of the other league leaders in turn overs are of course point guards.  We're basically playing Harden as the point guard... so yah I expect a PG's level of efficiency from him.  If he can't do that, then the coaches need to use him in a more effective manner which is on McHale.

 

I think a mid-range/floater/fade away are all pretty much variations of the same theme.  They're all mid range shots that he doesn't do well right now, cause he hasn't had to very often.  I think he'll get better at that and needs that diversity to keep the D honest.

 

Anyways, I'm most concerned with his D and his turnovers... Both of which lead to a helluva lot of points scored by the other team.  If he can make some solid improvements there we could easily be a 50 win team next year.

[feelingsupersonic]

All NBA is definitely not "personal glory crap" as you seem to dismiss it. Most of the time NBA champions have a 1st, 2nd or 3rd teamer or two on their roster. It is a measure of excellence. Akeem Olajuwon was NBA First Team the couple years they won they championship and though that personal achievement is not compulsory it does occur when great players are playing for winning franchises. I am the only poster who mentioned he is NBA First team material in this thread and it was a pretty small part of what I wrote. On the flipside it looks like we all agree here that defense (which I specifically addressed as both team and man defense) needs to be his biggest area of improvement in the next couple of years. I agree Futureinterest this team should get to 50 wins and the 6th seed next year.

[Richards]

1. ability to complement well with teammate

 

Why? I still believe there was a reason he was sixth man at OKC. He didn't fit well with Durant and Westbrick.

That was why OKC went with Duran/Wesbric/Sefolosha instead of Durant/Harden/Westbrick lineup.

[Futureinterest]

feelingsupersonic - Please don't misunderstand me, I never said there is no relationship there between personal achievements/recognition and titles.  I think that goes without saying.  Nor did I intend to imply with that small snippet that you care solely about his personal accolades.  

 

I am merely expressing my opinion that I don't think he's 1st team material yet and I also don't think that kind of recognition is important.  All I want is the last win of the year.  

 

Richards - interesting... At least he doesn't have that challenge here.  On the Rockets it's everyone else that has to learn to complement him .

[Ostrow]

Just a couple of additions:

1. In games where fouls are not being called, stop attempting to draw fouls and then make the shot. Try to make the shot and then if you get fouled you get fouled.

2. Better offense away from the ball. Cuts. Being in a scoring away from the ball i.e. be at the 3-point line, not the volleyball line.

3. Less predictability in late game shots.

 

Turnovers are number one for me.  Defense is important, but you have no chance to play defense if the other team is getting fast break lay-ups.

[Ostrow]

1. ability to complement well with teammate

 

Why? I still believe there was a reason he was sixth man at OKC. He didn't fit well with Durant and Westbrick.

That was why OKC went with Duran/Wesbric/Sefolosha instead of Durant/Harden/Westbrick lineup.

 

Manu has done this for year. Some coaches value having a very good scorer come off the bench so when the starters are out someone can score. It's not how you start games. It's how you finish.  McHale was a 6th man as well.

[Richards]

Just a couple of additions:

1. In games where fouls are not being called, stop attempting to draw fouls and then make the shot. Try to make the shot and then if you get fouled you get fouled.

2. Better offense away from the ball. Cuts. Being in a scoring away from the ball i.e. be at the 3-point line, not the volleyball line.

3. Less predictability in late game shots.

 

Turnovers are number one for me.  Defense is important, but you have no chance to play defense if the other team is getting fast break lay-ups.

When talking about foul, you may have seen many time that, Harden drew them intentionally and hoping to get called.

Nothing wrong with that.

But

Since he did it intentionally, he at least look at officials, arguing for foul while ball was on fast brake. That is a risky move at least.

[feelingsupersonic]

I hear you Futureinterest. By the way welcome to Red 94 you seem to have a good knowledge of Rockets stuff and we could always use more quality members. I hope you enjoy Red94.

Good points Ostrow.

[Richards]

Manu has done this for year. Some coaches value having a very good scorer come off the bench so when the starters are out someone can score. It's not how you start games. It's how you finish.  McHale was a 6th man as well.

Manu had same issue with Parker and that is why he came off from bench. But they kept him though.

As you know, so far, only proven model is BIG-3, not sure why they didn't keep him. I knew they have cap space issue but why didn't they let other go?

[Futureinterest]

I hear you Futureinterest. By the way welcome to Red 94 you seem to have a good knowledge of Rockets stuff and we could always use more quality members. I hope you enjoy Red94.

Good points Ostrow.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome!

[Cooper]

A floater to avoid some of the big time shot blockers like ibaka, Howard, Marc gasol etc would be nice and make him nearly unstoppable on offense. If he could do that and just the whole team in general get more familiar with each other there would be less turnovers and probably a more cohesive defense. Study some late game tape of guys like Kobe wade etc guards his size and see how they finish couldn't hurt either.

[myjohnlai]

Based on the past history, Harden would run the offense as a point guard and he would turnover the balls a lot of times, making last seconds pass, throwing up more than 20 contested shots to boost his statistics in every game. The conclusion is his hero ball will devour the rockets. You can almost be sure that he will do it games after games.

He will get his 30 points every night and for that purpose he will throw up as many shots as he can to get that. With him taking about 20 to 25% of the shots, the rockets is to be doomed.

[Cooper]

Based on the past history, Harden would run the offense as a point guard and he would turnover the balls a lot of times, making last seconds pass, throwing up more than 20 contested shots to boost his statistics in every game. The conclusion is his hero ball will devour the rockets. You can almost be sure that he will do it games after games.
He will get his 30 points every night and for that purpose he will throw up as many shots as he can to get that. With him taking about 20 to 25% of the shots, the rockets is to be doomed.

Might as well trade him back for Kevin Martin

[Steven]

What James Hardin needs is time. Everything everyone mentioned comes from experience. And he only played defense in five games or so because IT WAS THE REGULAR SEASON. It doesn't matter your seed as long as you get in. Why waste the energy on some Tuesday night in the middle of February when no one is watching anyways (present company nonwithstanding.)? The season is long and grueling, and here at the end the Rockets are in the playoffs. They are gonna have to beat OKC to make it to the finals anyway, might as well get the hard part over with first. Got my flight and hotel in Miami already booked for June.

[Futureinterest]

He's had a year with the team.  Has he improved over the coarse of the year?  Not that I can tell.  Heck you can make the argument that he's regressed.  

 

He is still our franchise guy for the forseeable future and I agree that he can improve and most likely will.  We were just talking about the areas where we want to see some tangible improvement.  I'm hoping an offseason and full training camp is going to make the difference, and I'm hopeful about that because I am just filled with dread for our first round opponent and... I'm basically investing emotionally for next year instead of this playoff series.