The challenge of guarding James Harden - Josh Okogie's and Thaddeus Young's tips
Houston Rockets host the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of the Western Conference semi-finals in the early hours of Sunday morning (1.30am), live on Sky Sports Arena
Sunday 5 May 2019 05:40, UK
Guarding James Harden is not a task for the faint-hearted.
Live NBA: Golden State @ Houston
The Houston Rockets shooting guard is a machine. The reigning NBA Most Valuable Player is in the conversation again primarily because of his ridiculous levels of offensive production, which saw him average more than 36 points per game in the regular season.
There is also probably no shot in basketball more demoralising to the opposition than his step-back three-pointer.
Few defenders manage to make much of an impact on Harden when he's in rhythm but one player who made a huge defensive play on Harden this season was Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie.
The talented rookie executed a superb block on Harden as he pivoted to shoot from beyond the arc leading up to the All-Star break.
Okogie, who was picked 20th in last year's NBA draft, credited his defensive instinct for the big play.
"I know on that play the shot clock was winding down and I knew he had no choice but to shoot it," Okogie said. "So I jumped a little early and I could get to the ball before I got to his wrist or his arm.
"I think the biggest thing is always me being ready for the step-back - and the biggest thing also is never having your feet set.
"That's what he waits for, your feet to be set, which gives him time to step back and by the time you want to react now your momentum is coming forward and he gets a lot of fouls.
"But I think, when you're squaring up, constantly moving your feet and jabbing at the ball - now when he steps back I'm ready for the block or a good contest.
"Another thing he's good at is when he drives, he likes to use his body to bump you so you get off balance so he can go back to the step-back - so another thing is to try absorb the contact. When he's trying to put his body on you, stand your ground and try to move as he moves."
The step-back three is one of Harden's weapons but he is also one of the league's top 10 playmakers, averaging more than seven assists in both the regular season and the playoffs.
Indiana Pacers power forward Thaddeus Young often finds himself stationed at the post or in the lane when Harden is looking to wreak havoc from the perimeter with either his passing or his scoring.
He said: "With James Harden, you know he's going to use his step to the side and different moves so when you're closing out, you're closing out under control, on the top of your feet and making sure you show your hands because he likes the sweep-through.
"So when he's driving and he has the sweep-through, usually guys are trying to reach and that's how he gets the foul. Next time, when you close out and show your hands, you're basically just riding him to a spot. Then, you late contest him when he tries to get a shot."
The Pacers' mark of 104.7 points allowed for the opponent was the stingiest mark of any team in the regular season, so Nate McMillan's defensive schemes are definitely effective.
Young described the approach his team takes when looking to defend the Rockets talisman.
"With the Pacers, on the pass (we play) hands first," he said. "Whatever hand he is, we try to send him to his weaker hand. James Harden likes to go left a lot and he likes to get the sweep-through.
"We also want to show our hands, make sure they're up so the ref can see them, so he can make sure we're not fouling but we also want to run him off the three-point line and funnel him to the baseline or funnel him to our big fella down there, who's leading the league in shot blocking, Myles Turner.
"We usually have guys come across the line. We try to funnel him and try to trap him. When he picks the ball up, we send guys back out. We get him and make him pass the ball back out. Usually he'll go back out try to get it and then we'll go through it all, all over again."
Harden is back in action in Game 3 of Houston's Western Conference semi-finals playoff series against the Golden State Warriors in the early hours of Sunday morning (1.30am).
