I’m sure this is discussed elsewhere, but I was curious about this. Usually opposing players don’t get booed every time they touch the ball unless there was some talking trash in the media or an altercation in a previous game. Or maybe he was a previous member of the team who left on bad terms. Correct me if I’m wrong, but as far as I know none of that happened with Harden and the Wolves So what is it? The free throws? The “traveling?” The way he looks? What makes this relatively quiet dude who rarely instigates anything, so polarizing?
They haven't been in the playoffs in a long time. I don't fault them for not having a good understanding of playoff etiquette.
honestly who really cares. you're supposed to boo the opposition. thats what home court is for. harden shut them up and hou got the w. that's what really matters
Call it an intellectual curiosity about what makes Harden different than others. Like I said, I'm not talking simply about the occasional booing when announcing the starting lineup or immediately after a play. I'm talking about booing every time they touch the ball in every single game, where the reason is not obvious. In my experience, that type of reaction has been reserved for serous grudges based on a fairly egregious incidents/occurrences. Beverly used to get booed every time he touched the ball by OKC fans for the Westbrook incident. Ex-players like Dwight who left on bad terms, get booed in Orlando every time he touches the ball. Same with Pippen in Houston. Paul George in Indiana. etc.
Some fanbases are like that. The Jazzholes always used to boo Dream anytime he did his patented moves at the former Delta Center. I'm certain they'll be just as hostile toward Harden in the Semifinals.
cuz they think he sucks. Goes to show you how much they know about basketball after being mediocre for a decade.
Because the way Harden plays is annoying to a lot of people. Even as a Houston fan, this shouldn't be that difficult to understand. A huge chunk of Harden's game is about taking advantage of the rules - and you can call that smart and crafty, if you want - but obviously not everyone likes that style. Recent controversies about his stepback traveling also doesn't help the situation.