2 things: 1). Why does everybody want to count the gather step? It's literally the same rule as a jump stop, he just does it backwards. It's 100% not a travel! Even the anti-Harden league has said it's not a travel. The league has changed rules in the past to stop Harden, if this were a travel they would have nipped it in the bud a long time ago. 2). The fact that this has been talked about in the offseason more than the officiating in games 6 and 7 (called by Webber and Miller!) is a ****ing joke! Learn the rules and **** off!
Uh nah bro, I guarantee you, the way Harden's game is, he's got ALOT of haters, more than any other superstar. Which is understandable him drawing fouls is going to piss a lot of people off
these people couldn't even show one clip to back up their claim, just repeated about 17 times that he travels travels travels. even jc denton provides a graph to show his point
Now that Harden has his MVP, I'm not (as) worried about this anymore. Harden is never going to be liked and that move is never going to be understood. Harden's popularity only impacts his shoe sales now.
In all honesty I wonder when & why Harden became the hated one? Was he hated on like this as the 6th man for OKC or did it start when he came to Houston? I've watched the NBA a long time and I don't remember anyone being almost unanimously hated like Harden. Refs, fans, opposing coaches, players, national media, and the league office. The hate is getting ridiculous.
i remember him getting some hate his rookie year for not being very athletic for a guy drafted #3. but the overwhelming majority of hate began after he came to houston, and after he dumped nike as well
The defense tape is the thing that did it. That viral video pretty much ruined Harden's reputation forever. He will never live that down.. Kobe is still loved after allegedly raping a woman, but Harden will NEVER come back from the defense tape.
"Being loved" seems more important in the era of social media. Being "respected" was once more important. Coach "Bear" Byrant wasn't particularly "loved" at the time he was coaching.
I think it's Westbrook most of the time. He'll go through a period where people are on his good side, and then he'll have times where anyone and everyone outside of Oklahoma thinks he's crap. But Harden might be #2. It's interesting that the old OKC 3 might be the 3 most deapised players in the NBA.
Talk about travel...50% of those plays started with a travel with him picking up his pivot foot before even motioning to put ball on the floor.
