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James Harden is an interesting participant to research. He not seems to be just like the perennial MVP candidate of yesteryear, however nonetheless made the All-Star sport this season, is producing gaudy numbers and has flashes of brilliance. He additionally has stretches the place he seems to be nicely faraway from star guard standing.
So, who did the Philadelphia 76ers simply commerce for? How good is Harden lately? To reply these unknowns, I solicited the perception of Matt Brooks, who does a fully phenomenal job overlaying the Brooklyn Nets for Nets Each day. Let’s dive in.
How would you assess Harden’s season so far, and what’s so completely different from final 12 months earlier than his hamstring damage?
We will be sincere: He’s having a down 12 months, posting his lowest true taking pictures and factors per sport since Barack Obama’s first time period. Harden’s nonetheless surging downhill at will out of pick-and-rolls and knotting collectively opponent’s sneakers as an elite isolationist, producing a rim price that’s proper according to his profession averages.
It’s his accuracy (54 %, twenty third percentile, per Cleansing The Glass) that’s been drastically affected, possible a aspect impact of shedding a portion of his burst and/or the springiness in his elevate, on account of final season’s recurring hamstring damage. Harden’s proven some bother turning tight corners, which has affected his capacity to beat aggressive coverages; thus, the career-high turnover price.
Has he, in your eyes, been All-Star-caliber? Why or why not?
Briefly, sure. However simply barely. He’s nonetheless good at what he’s good at, sufficient to be an All-Star, to place it merely.
Whereas Harden’s numbers might routinely thrust him into the brink of celestial goodness, it’s honest to marvel how a lot he truly contributed to successful this 12 months — a wierd sentence to learn provided that Harden was principally good for 45-plus wins within the uber-tough Western Convention all by himself for half a decade. This 12 months, Harden’s Nets ex-lover of a basketball workforce went simply 5-7 in video games wherein Harden performed with out Kevin Durant. Calling his manufacturing “empty stats” can be disingenuous, but it surely’s honest to say he hasn’t been the engine to wins that he as soon as was.
How does he differ from peak Harden and why does that alter the way in which he needs to be deployed offensively?
I touched on it briefly, however the greatest factor he’s misplaced is his burst. As soon as upon a time, Harden was the basketball equal of a mountain bike, in a position to shift gears and alter speeds to drop defenders of their tracks. Now, he’s extra of, I don’t know, a fixie bike? Quick the flexibility to juxtapose his spectacular acceleration along with his uncanny deceleration, Harden’s grow to be considerably extra predictable when attempting to beat his man to the basket. What I’m saying is, he’s a one-speed dude now.
On the whole, excessive step-up screens are usually one of the best ways to get Harden going, as they provide him a runway to thunder towards the basket for finishes and skip passes to the nook. In lineups with good spacing and a proficient curler, he’s nonetheless an absolute nightmare to defend; what this additionally means is that he’s rather more lineup-dependent than peak Harden.
How do you see him becoming alongside Joel Embiid offensively? What are the strengths and weaknesses of that pairing?
Expertise-wise, they need to be glorious. Staggering their minutes might actually pay dividends for Philadelphia as the 2 co-stars get acclimated early on. Philly can ideally throw collectively some fairly strong lineups that insulate Harden with ample spacing when he’s using solo. Danny Inexperienced, Furkan Korkmaz, Tyrese Maxey, Georges Niang, and Tobias Harris all come to thoughts.
Collectively, nicely, that’s the place it will get somewhat trickier. Joel Embiid will possible need to faucet into being utilized as a roll man extra (he ranks among the many backside three in pick-and-roll frequency for gamers which have rolled to the rim 100 occasions or extra, per Synergy).
Conversely, I get somewhat queasy interested by Harden making the entry go to Embiid posting up, Harden’s man doubling the celebrity huge, and Harden balking on the catch-and-shoot three after Embiid passes out. Critically, it’s completely mind-boggling that such a proficient offensive participant remains to be this dangerous at nailing jumpers off the catch.
There will likely be rising pains, that’s for positive.
The place does he nonetheless thrive offensively?
You give this dude a good half-decent curler and fill the corners with plus shooters and he’s going to make the suitable learn within the pick-and-roll just about each time. He’s nonetheless a tremendous passer when given open house to make performs and perhaps the very best lob-tosser within the sport (I’m positive Luka Doncic would have one thing to say about that, however nonetheless). Oh, and the foul drawing remains to be ELITE. Like, a hundredth percentile on shooting-fouls-level-elite.
What are his limitations offensively?
I’ve talked about the slight dip in burst and the extremely irritating unwillingness to do, like, something off the ball. The premature turnovers have additionally been tough. So, moderately than repeating myself, right here’s a brand new one: Harden might additionally drastically profit from a midrange sport. He’s knocked down 46 % of his lengthy midrange jumpers, good for the 84th percentile, per Cleansing the Glass, but he barely takes any of them. Simply 28 all season!
Oh, and may somebody train this dude to put up up! He’s a 6’5 220-pound guard, go physique up some poor saps within the put up!
How would you describe the professionals and cons of him as an off-ball participant?
The professionals are, uh. OK, let’s simply skip to the cons. He doesn’t lower. Ever. He doesn’t even qualify as a cutter with the minimal variety of possessions on NBA.com. Off-ball taking pictures, oh boy. It, too, is dangerous! He’s made simply 30 % of his catch-and-shoot seems to be this season, and he’s been a frequent candidate for defenses to assist off of and clog the paint. His (in)capacity to do actually something as a spot-up menace is the lowest-hanging fruit for him to choose whereas he makes an attempt to age gracefully into this subsequent stage of his profession.
What’re the problems along with his protection and the way has it ebbed and flowed this season?
I don’t wish to sound like I’m being too detrimental about James Harden. He’s nonetheless a top-20 participant within the league, in my humble opinion, and is a self-regulating engine to a prime offense within the affiliation.
However his protection is dangerous. Actual dangerous. Exercise-wise, Harden’s having his worst defensive season since his early years in Houston. Brooklyn ran an excessive amount of drop protection to kickstart the 12 months, and The Beard was principally roadkill whereas attempting to navigate screens. Isolation conditions had been simply as despondent; he was a complete blow-by man.
I’m positive you’ve seen the YouTube movies and/or the Twitter threads by now. Harden’s not an energetic nor attentive off-ball defender. His closeouts, nicely, don’t come shut, and The Beard’s an omnipresent candidate to get again lower. Don’t even get me began on the transition protection. You and I might have a greater shot at successful the gold medal within the Winter Olympics Bobsled competitors with a blindfold on than Harden would at discovering his man within the fastbreak.
It pains me to say this, however I’m actually unsure I’ve seen a worse NBA defender this 12 months. Hopefully, he picks it up in Philly in a brand new scenario.
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