You might have seen a meme or even a sarcastic video compilation lamenting James Harden's defensive abilities, his defensive effort, or lack thereof. It might also be fair to wonder whether Harden's issues on defense signal a bigger problem for a Houston Rockets team battling for the top seed in the West, one that has NBA title aspirations.
That said, given that the Rockets rank a respectable eighth in NBA defensive BPI, how much of an impact could Harden's defense truly have? Putting aside the lowlight reel for a second, is it possible his deficiencies on that end of the floor have been exaggerated?