The media agenda regarding James Harden's "defense"

Yeah, I saw that garbage on their Instagram.

 

40 points 5 rebounds 15 assist and just 1 turnover. ESPN can eat a d*** with that hating ****. If anyone thinks he ain't been playing defense the uh ain't watch the game. He had 5 fouls and his man was in the corner so he couldn't reach in.

 

It's pretty simple, really.

That Youtube video of Harden went viral way back when and got tons of hits. Now...anytime Harden messes up defense, it's going to be posted because it will get tons of hits.

Harden's not good at defense, but yeah...he's targeted. I guess he brought it on himself for letting his reputation get to this point, but I agree that it's tiresome because it's pure click-bait.

 

Gotta score and assist for 65% of the team's points and not take plays off, right?

 

I can't think of another single player in the NBA that ESPN does this to. I mean, there are blooper reels & stuff all the time, but I can't think of any other player (superstar or otherwise) that they highlight for bad defense.

Maybe I just don't pay enough attention.

 

I think you maybe the only one in this thread so far still being a little bit of rational.

However, you got it reversed.

Yes, Harden's being targeted, but yeah, its because he is not good at defense.

Not the other way around.

The same as Dwight.

Dwight is being targeted as hack-a option very often, but yeah, its only because he is not good at free throw,

Being targeted will not make you a bad defender or bad free throw shooter, its the other way around, you are targeted because you are specially bad on certain things.

 

Recent article on Deadspin talked about this. Although I honestly couldn't tell if that article was blasting lazy media coverage of Harden or itself doing lazy coverage of Harden.

 

Until Harden wins Defensive player of the year he will always be regarded as a bad defender.


He'll just have to deal with it.

 

I mean... he is bad, though. His man-to-man defense is fine when he competes, but his transition defense is the worst I've ever seen. Last night, 1st half, worst transition defense I've seen. I have no problem with him being burned. Hope they continue to roast him. Step up or get roasted.

 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The real highlights you should be seeing from Harden's stellar 40 point, 14 assist performance!<a href="https://t.co/LZVKxwRD7p">https://t.co/LZVKxwRD7p</a></p>&mdash; Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/706694521044672514">March 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Subtweet intended <a href="https://t.co/lez83diu3r">https://t.co/lez83diu3r</a></p>&mdash; Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) <a href="https://twitter.com/HoustonRockets/status/706705939680788481">March 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

The funny thing about these Harden articles is how some of them include phrases like...

"He had 40 points and 14 assists so this is probably unfair to him but we'll do it anyway"

or...

"You could make a case that this is nitpicking an otherwise terrific performance but we'll do it anyway"

or...

"You could probably find a clip of any star player taking plays off like this but since Harden has this reputation we'll focus on him anyway"

It's just funny that these articles have become self-aware of their own ridiculousness but are posted anyway purely because they will get clicks.

 

Let's make a Curry defensive lowlights. Get some people together, assign everyone a game that they have to watch, we'll have clips in no time. Sick of it!

 

He was targeted because the difference of his own performance on both offensive and defensive end.

If he is not that good on offense, no one will give a fork about him, and probably he will at best like the type of players as Thornton as a bench warmer, or may not even have a job in the league with his effort issue.

But because he is that good on offense, the contrast is so obvious and of course he will be targeted.

If you can not accept the bad reps that will come along with the praise for this kind of player, then its on you.

 

this. THIS. there's a pretty easy way to combat the "media agenda regarding James Harden's 'defense'", and that's to start playing some. I'm a big Harden fan, but until he shows the effort at least, he deserves being singled out like this. I'm with Ziggy on this one.

 

He's going to get ****ted on given the Rockets record this season

 

There is no agenda - he needs to play some defense.

Even giving a little effort will turn that around - he is an amazing offensive player, who is goldbricking on defense.

DD

 

Getting a nice little clickbait headline off of a 3 second play that propels a narrative is more important than reporting.

Media has sacrificed journalism in order to sell out in favor of digital metrics. Doesn't matter to them what BS they throw up there as long as it their Samsung banner ads has decent impression numbers and the :15 Chick-fil-a preroll ad gets some views.

At the end of the day ESPN sold its soul for ****ty content.