[torukParticipant]

 Today against denver Harden went for only 15 points and 6 turnovers. I could not watch the game but if someone did can you tell me how they defended harden? It was a one on one defense by iggy(who is in my opinion the best player to defend harden) or maybe a bigger defender like Gallinari, or they had to double team him to take the ball out of his hands(he only took 15 shots)? or it was just a bad game at all? thanks in advance

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

It was simply solid 1-on-1 defending by Iguodala.  He played him physical and it’s obvious that Iggy is longer and more athletic.  That really bothered Harden.

Gallinari also helped out with doubles and traps here and there.  They tried to keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible and when he did touch the ball, there was a lot of helpside defense.

It also doesn’t hurt to have McGee and Faried downlow, both long and athletic players when Harden would drive in.  It’s going to be interesting how Harden molds his game when being guarded by athleticism and length.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Also, not to sound biased but there were plenty of questionable non-calls.  Harden was getting stripped on calls he would have gotten in the first two games.   He was hit a couple of times while driving as well and didn’t get any calls.

Then again, it was a very physical game on both ends for both teams.  Lin was left with a bloody nose and Omer Asik had to have 4 stitches above his eye.

[SiggyParticipant]

 If you don’t have an Iguodala type defender, defend him like you defend a superstar. Make the rest of the team beat you since the rest of the team isn’t that great offensively. Force him to his weak hand, double the PnR up high and get the ball out of his hands.  Run him off the line and set up walls with the help defense to hopefully keep him in the mid-range area.

[EDEDnowisgone]

 Faried is not long he is 6’5 even if he has decent length arms

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 Agreed Faried is not long but he is a beast. He had dunks in that game that were incredible. He missed a bunch of layups off of offensive rebounds or else he would have put up 20 and 15. Anyway, it was Dre’s D. No calls because Dre is a star like Harden and the game was allowed to be very physical. Dre basically won that game with his D. The Rox stayed in it though with steals. Harden had 5 and Lin had 6. 

[Author]

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