Rockets’ James Harden still a low-post option for defense, but only rarely

The Rockets have moved from the switch-everything protection that they had used prior to now however had switched usually sufficient to have had James Harden within the low put up in opposition to massive males.

Lakers middle Marc Gasol was one of many first he defended as an project, moderately than on switches, when Gasol was with the Grizzlies. However although Rockets coach Stephen Silas mentioned he isn’t hesitant to have Harden defend massive males, he’s nonetheless centered on getting his base protection in, protecting him from seeking to attempt these kinds of matchups.

“He’s actually good down there,” Silas mentioned. “He’s very technically sound with regards to his foot positioning and his not permitting guys to get to the center of the ground and he’s actually good together with his palms. So, I’ve no downside with him switching onto an even bigger man. Final sport, he switched onto (Nikola) Vucevic and obtained a steal. His guarding larger guys within the put up isn’t an excessive amount of of a problem for us as a result of he’s so good at it.”

Harden has not defended sufficient post-ups to be included within the NBA monitoring statistics and the Lakers are inclined to maintain Gasol and different facilities out of the put up to maintain spacing. Final season, Harden defended post-ups extra continuously than anybody within the NBA, 1.9 occasions per sport, permitting simply .68 factors per possession, the fewest of anybody defending at the least as soon as per sport within the low put up.

“That’ll be one thing that I take into consideration as we go alongside,” Silas mentioned. “I’m making an attempt to construct this factor in a manner we’re making an attempt to put in our base and ensure we get good at it earlier than we transfer on to the following factor. However time is shifting. Video games are coming. That’s one thing that is likely to be sooner or later, for positive.”