[ESPN] James Harden's foul-drawing mastery is unstoppable

"He flops on offense just like I flop on defense."
-Celtics guard Marcus Smart, on James Harden

 

I hate the term "flop" on offense. Let's call it what it REALLY IS.

1) Harden gets raked across the arms
2) Harden "accentuates" the contact to make sure the REF is put on notice to make the call.

Harden isn't tricking anyone here. A foul is happening. He is just saying, "you saw that right, ref?"

That is really all it is. To use the word "flop" is more to say, a foul did not occur and Harden made it up. Now, there are times Harden DOES get a friendlier whistle, but more often than not, his arms are hit because he reaches them out to bait the player who takes the bait.

And the MEDIA NARRATIVE is Harden "tricks" everyone.

We need to get rid of the terminology of "flop" as it relates to "accentuating."

 

Honestly, it is a pretty brutal story that will perpetuate all of the negative narratives that Harden "flops his way to his points." There is nuance there.

Story mentions it, but doesn't give Harden enough credit for being WILLING to put his body on the line game after game to attack the basket. Versus shying away from contact.

No one is coming away from this story with anything but a negative reaction. A shame.

 

'It's like if a cookie's sitting right there'
If you're going to dissect any of Harden's go-to moves, start with the one we've all seen a million times.

Harden loves to use the basketball as bait, extending his arms after picking up his dribble on drives and daring opponents to take a swipe.

"He just has a way of throwing the ball out there, making guys think they can go get it," says Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Paul George.

"It's like if a cookie's sitting right there, you want to go get it, but you're not going to get it every time," Temple says. "It's like the commercial with the guy with the fishing rod -- you're not quick enough to get the dollar at the end."

Opponents are well aware of this, but it's often too tempting to resist going for the steal, no matter how many times they see Harden get the and-1 against reaching defenders.

"He's got great balance, and he has strong hands and forearms, so he has the ability to put the ball in a place that other people would fear because they think they're going to lose the ball," a Western Conference head coach says. "If you get the ball, he's strong enough to hold onto it and still finish. But if you take the bait and you miss, which happens most of the time, you're going to foul him.

"He starts it here [close to his chest], so then your reach starts to happen, and as your reach is happening, then it's extended. And now it's an easy call."

 

It is calculated. Who here is exciting about ESPN's NBA Countdown show with Beadle discussing "Harden tricking everyone" in the pre-game show before the Spurs/Rockets ESPN game.

Get ready.