(Unpopular opinion) I don’t like Harden’s one-leg three

i don't see how it helps create any more space than the 2-legged side step. maybe it's a slightly quicker release that catches defenders off guard (pun intended), but like OP said people are gonna scout this and be prepared to contest it anyways. would have preferred he perfected his post up game this summer instead

 

im sure clint capaela wont object. the one legged three was a fake alley oop attempt that capeala didn't take advantage of!

 

U can’t just break out a new move once the playoffs start. U need the regular season to fine tune and perfect it. Teams weren’t stopping Harden’s stepback three in the playoffs. He shot a very good percentage on them during the playoffs.

 

i agree @snowconeman22 tbh, I don't really expect him to use that move in a real game on a regular basis. I too hope not at all. imo really gimmicky and something you just may do playing some pickup. And it's actually potentially very dangerous in terms of potentially injuring his knee etc. one mistep or so, and that can potentially be an acl/mcl/pcl, sprain, Achilles, ankle etc. The off balance of shifting weight to one leg in a high intensity game setting isn't ideal and in an off instant be a costly consequence

 

He wants to be a legend.

 

I'm going to wait to see it during a real game before I decide if I like it or not. If he can make that shot at a very high rate, then I'm probably going to love that shot.

 

One legged stepbacks are impossible to guard. If you watch white iverson play a popular streeballer thats short and slow you see how effective he is. Harden can pull this if he drives then stops at the midrange.

 

I'm kinda torn on this one. My first question would be just how good has he become at it. If he can shoot it above at or above 36% like his traditional step back, it does give him a different weapon that he could pull out if needed. The more weapons the better. Only he would know when to use it or when it may be necessary to use it to get off a tough shot. I'm all for James using the post or medium area of the floor a little more but i don't think will happen.

Harden's creativity and individuality are what make him special. Having the step back, sidestep, and maybe this 1 leg shot would make it harder for defenders to guess correctly when he is being defended above the 3 point line.

I wouldn't be concerned about teams scouting it. You can scout greatness all you want to. You still cant stop it. Maybe when teams are playing him from behind or try to force him right, he can take off explode off of one leg and still get the look he wants. If anyone could pull it off it's him.

I hadn't thought about the injury factor until I opened this thread. That is a valid concern. So how good can he be at it is still my question. if he can shoot it at an elite level, it may be worth the risk.

 

Wait.. I highly doubt he shoots that in a real game.

 

Ya'll don't even know for sure if this is his new move he's talking about lol

 

Read his Vanity Fair article.

 

practice can’t replicate an in-game situation, and in Harden’s case last season, he had to what he had to do in order for us to recover from our horrible start and get as high a seed as possible so I doubt saving things for the postseason was really on his mind as he was carrying the squad

I doubt we will see this move all that often during the regular season...I’m not expecting 3 1-legged stepbacks a game from Harden or something like that

 

Nobody was complaining when Dirk did his silly yet effective off foot jumper. I think everyone should calm down. We wont see this unless there is no other option, or a blow out, or just to catch the defense of guard to keep them honest.

 

I agree, he could be a force in the low-post if he perfected his moves. Time for a few sessions with Hakeem?

 

would be a nice weapon to go to in certain matchups, or on nights when his 3 isn't falling

 

Could be a counter to when guys like Rubio play him from beside him or behind him. I’ll believe it when I see him actually do it mid-game, though.

 

The only thing I agree with here is that James needs to diversify his offensive repertoire for the playoffs because at times he becomes easy to game plan against when teams have to play him 4-7 times.