Corey Brewer explains how he defends James Harden, Russell Westbrook

In his 13 years in the NBA, Brewer has had plenty of experience with Harden and Westbrook — both as a teammate and on the opposing side.

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During his 13 years in the NBA, veteran swingman Corey Brewer has had plenty of experience dealing with Houston Rockets superstars and recent league MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Over portions of three seasons from late 2014 to early 2017, Brewer was Harden’s teammate with the Rockets. In numerous other years, the long 6-foot-9 swingman was often tasked by other Western Conference teams with defending the perennial MVP candidate as best he can.

Meanwhile, Brewer played alongside Westbrook in Oklahoma City during the 2017-18 season and became a starter in the playoffs. In other years, as with Harden, Brewer was frequently asked to defend Westbrook. Given his length and defensive versatility, Brewer has guarded players over his extended career ranging from point guards to power forwards.

In a new Basketball News column, Brewer analyzes his defensive strategies against “The Beard,” Westbrook, and other stars.

Here’s what Brewer said about Harden:

James is one of the best scorers, if not the best scorer, in the history of the NBA. When I’m guarding him, I’m trying to make everything tough. I played with him, so I know what spots he likes to get to — he likes to get to the rim, he’s going left, he loves to shoot the stepback going right, he loves to put you asleep with his dribble and go by you. He’s just so skilled with the ball. He knows how to take you to the rim and draw those fouls.

If I’m matched up on James, I’m trying to just switch it up at all times. I’m trying to pressure him. I’m trying to wear him down. But I’m also trying to not let him get to the rim; it’s easy to say, but hard to do. So my mindset when I’m guarding James is to make it hard on him, but I also want him to take the tough shots. I kinda want him to shoot the stepback a lot. I know some people say it’s his best shot, but I’d rather him shoot the stepback than go to the rim and get an and-one because that’s an easier shot, in my mind.

James is a special player and when you’re guarding somebody as good as James is with the ball, you have to take something away. For me, I want to take the rim away and make him shoot those stepbacks. He may beat me on some nights with the stepbacks, but he’s gonna beat me every night going to the rim and drawing fouls.

Brewer also said he prefers to pick up Harden the full length of the court in an attempt to “wear him down,” as we saw during a January 2019 game when Brewer was a member of the Philadelphia 76ers:

I like to pressure him to wear him down, so I’m gonna pick James up 94 feet and try to bother him all over the court. As soon as the ball is inbounded, I’m picking him up and trying to wear him down because I feel like I can get an advantage by making him work for everything. Hopefully, by the fourth quarter, those stepbacks become a lot tougher than they were in the first quarter. Even if he’s making some in the first half, I feel like if I’m playing hard enough and pressing him enough, those shots will be way harder in the fourth quarter and that gives my team a chance to win.

As for Westbrook, Brewer wants him to take as many jump shots as possible while limiting opportunities in transition. He explains:

You’ve got to be on high alert the whole night when you’re guarding Russell. He’s gonna come and keep coming no matter what. He just keeps going and going. It doesn’t matter how many shots he misses, he feels like the next one is gonna be in the bottom of the bucket no matter what, and that makes him not only tough, but special. He’s really hard to guard, especially when he’s driving to the basket. So you want him to shoot jump shots because that’s basically him letting you off the hook. I really want him to shoot jump shots, but then again, I don’t want him to make one because if he makes one, he may just get hot and go crazy.

He’s tough; you want him to shoot, but you’ve gotta guard him tough. I just try to get a hand up and, hopefully, he tries to shoot over me. But man, when he gets it in transition, he’s one of the best to ever do it — and that’s why he’s been an MVP and why he’s still one of the best playing right now. When he’s not hurt, he’s a special talent.

Now 34 years old, Brewer is an unsigned free agent heading into the 2020 offseason. Earlier this year, he played five games for the Sacramento Kings at the NBA “bubble” in August, largely in mop-up duty.

In his Basketball News column, Brewer also offers his perspective on guarding LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, and Carmelo Anthony.

An upcoming “part two” of Brewer’s series will include breakdowns of how he guarded retired legends such as Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, and former Rockets star Tracy McGrady.

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