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James Harden: A Eurostep above the rest

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by mr. 13 in 33, Dec 16, 2014.

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mr. 13 in 33 Member

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James Harden does not know what he is doing

This is largely because he doesn't want to know and doesn't need to know, as if plotting the moves that he insists come naturally and instinctively might slow him down.

Hakeem Olajuwon can teach the Dream Shake. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is as much a proponent of the Sky Hook as he was a practitioner. But they did not think their way through their signature moves any more than a concert pianist thinks of where to make his finger dance.

To the truly gifted, the artistry must be allowed to flow, so when asked about his Eurostep and his ability to draw more fouls than any NBA player, Harden said simply, "I just go out there and hoop."

There might be a time he will consider how he reaches the ball under and through outstretched arms to draw fouls, how he drives his body into a defender's and most of, how he gets his footwork just right for his Eurostep, the move with which he is most closely identified.

For now, however, while ignoring how he does it, he makes no secret about why.

"When I first came in, I said I wasn't the most athletic guy or the quickest guy, but I can get to my spots," Harden said. "The Eurostep is another way to help me get to my spot if I can't jump over the defender.

"I do it to avoid the defender. If he still makes contact, hopefully I'm strong enough to hold the basketball and try to finish the play. Tough move. You just have to be crafty. Not a lot of people are crafty."

Harden's Eurostep starts with a move toward the basket on the dribble, with a back-pedaling defender in his way. He will pick up his dribble just after leaving the floor, allowing one long stride and another long pivot, often to slip free.

Harden is far from the first to use the move, though he now uses it more often than any NBA player on his way to a league-leading 26.3 points per game with a league-high 8.5 earned at the line.

Long taught in Europe, Sarunas Marciulonis popularized the move in the NBA, though it was a frequent part of Elgin Baylor's offensive repertoire well before Europeans began filling NBA roster spots.

Before Harden, San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili was most closely associated with the move, and like Harden, he did it out of necessity,

"I never even thought I had something different," Ginobili said. "And I only heard it (the term) when I got here. I did it all my life. Once I got here, everybody started talking about those steps and they called it, 'Eurosteps." I said, "OK, but I never thought I was doing anything different.'

"I was asked how to do it. I said, "I don't know. I just play. Whatever the defense gives me, I try to go around.' I knew I wasn't going to dunk on Shaquille (O'Neal) or guys like that so I had to go around them."

Ginobili, however, does recognize the move when he sees it, like a magician that can admire another's sleight of hand, even if he performs with a different style.

"Imagine a fast guard attacking a big full steam," Ginobili said. "You see Harden, so explosive and so strong and he has that lateral long step. Besides the strength when he brings the ball up, which makes him really hard to guard."The move has become so well-known that it does not inspire crowds to scream as often that it is traveling, though that reaction was understandable, even among those that would now argue if it were ever called.

"I think he travels – all those guys," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. "When Manu Ginobili started to do it, I was like, 'That has got to be a travel.' When you slow it down, it's not."

Now, the complaints are more often about the fouls called that send Harden to the line. New York's Amar'e Stoudemire said "It was like an angel came down and started calling calls for him." Last season, Memphis' Zach Randolph blasted officials , saying the game was "eight against five."

Harden has said he will try to draw contact to get his shot off, but does not try to draw fouls, believing that if he did, he would not so often finish his drives. Others are not so sure.

"He's the best in the league at drawing fouls and getting into the paint," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "If you reach at all, it's going to be a foul. You just have to be disciplined and not stick your hand in there because he's really, really good at swiping the ball underneath you or into you and drawing contact.

"He's just crafty. He's clever. Ginobili is the only guy you can try to compare, but Ginobili doesn't try to swipe the ball underneath your arms and draw fouls as much. It's unorthodox. Players are used to going for the ball. As soon as you go for the ball, James is too smart, too quick. He's going to draw the foul."

Kerr said in addition to to instructing his players how to defend Harden without fouling, he has told them to not allow themselves to be frustrated when Harden draws fouls, anyway.

"I have to tell myself that, too," Kerr said. "It is frustrating. Like the first time we played them, I thought there were a couple bad calls and I watched the tape and was like, 'Yeah, we reached in.'"

Harden, however, insists he does not think about any of that, or quite how he has so often Eurostepped his way to the rim. He just will do what comes naturally.

"It's just a feel for the game," Harden said. "It's not a predetermined move. It's just reading the defender. It's my basketball instincts."
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http://www.houstonchronicle.com/spo...hp?t=5d0507da41f992f472&cmpid=twitter-premium

#1 mr. 13 in 33, Dec 16, 2014

JuckTheFazz! Rookie

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He's lying. There is some Hollinger type of freak hiding in his beard telling him what to do next.

#2 JuckTheFazz!, Dec 16, 2014
photojoe Member

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when asked about his Eurostep and his ability to draw more fouls than any NBA player, Harden said simply, "I just go out there and hoop."
Click to expand...

Love this!

#3 photojoe, Dec 16, 2014
swyyyguy Member

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he's definitely trying to draw fouls. who is he trying to kid?

#4 swyyyguy, Dec 16, 2014
HTown_DieHard Member

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95% of the time Harden is fouled... I don't see why people are b!tching.

#5 HTown_DieHard, Dec 16, 2014
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The way the article describes how Harden racks up fouls sounds similar to the tactic that Kevin Martin used a few seasons back as a Rocket, though of course at an altogether different level. Morey likely keeps an eye out for these kinds of players.

#6 PeppermintCandy, Dec 16, 2014
macho GRANDE Elvis, was a hero to most but................

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Arian Foster in shorts. Incredible vision

#7 macho GRANDE, Dec 16, 2014

Jontro Member

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Oh those silly Euros and their steps.

#8 Jontro, Dec 16, 2014
DaDakota If you want to know, just ask!

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Lewis LLoyd did it too, back in the day.

DD

#9 DaDakota, Dec 16, 2014
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Nice to see Kerr admit they actually are fouls when he watches the replay. Sorry, Amare, no angels involved.

#10 Patience, Dec 16, 2014
cdrive Contributing Member

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I wish someone with skill and some time could put together a video montage of the many many slomo replays where harden's biceps to forearms always get guillotine-smacked by 1 to 4 arms. Everyone is so eager to watch the replay cause they think he flopped, but then the replay often shows the guy taking desperation fouls. There is no one on earth that can guard his drive, and it frustrates opponents and their fans.

#11 cdrive, Dec 16, 2014
vlaurelio Contributing Member

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swyyyguy said: ↑

he's definitely trying to draw fouls. who is he trying to kid?
Click to expand...

Opponents definitely fouled him. Even ask kerr

#12 vlaurelio, Dec 17, 2014
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JuckTheFazz! said: ↑

He's lying. There is some Hollinger type of freak hiding in his beard telling him what to do next.
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It's HardenBeard, the Most Valuable Beard

#13 RoxBeliever, Dec 17, 2014

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Harden has a strong core so he can maintain his balance through his zigzagging moves to make the shot. That's a skill very few guys have.

#14 RoxBeliever, Dec 17, 2014
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swyyyguy said: ↑

he's definitely trying to draw fouls. who is he trying to kid?
Click to expand...

This is why you need to join a Mavs board already. You say that like it's a bad thing. The ability to draw fouls and get to the FT line is an asset. All of the greats get to the FT line. Just as MJ, Kobe, LeBron, Hakeem, and yes even Shaq and Wilt. Players can't stop them so they foul them hoping the official bails them out. Most of the time it's that simple.

When did shooting FTs become a bad thing? Screw the other team.

#15 CrashTheBoards, Dec 17, 2014
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You can't be as fluent as Harden is and be doing it consciously

#16 Aleron, Dec 17, 2014

1 person likes this.
vlaurelio Contributing Member

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RoxBeliever said: ↑

Harden has a strong core so he can maintain his balance through his zigzagging moves to make the shot. That's a skill very few guys have.
Click to expand...

He has a gyroscope tucked in his beard

#17 vlaurelio, Dec 17, 2014
jordnnnn Member

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Patience said: ↑

Nice to see Kerr admit they actually are fouls when he watches the replay. Sorry, Amare, no angels involved.
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This. I can't stand the he just flops bs. If you actually watch the plays he is clearly fouled almost every time.

#18 jordnnnn, Dec 17, 2014

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They all know he's going to do it yet they still reach And complain. Only player I've seen not go for the bait was Matthews during the playoffs last year.

#19 DreamShook, Dec 17, 2014
Mr. Clutch Contributing Member

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They can't stay in front so they foul him.

#20 Mr. Clutch, Dec 17, 2014

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