I seriously think Harden's favorite shot is that step back corner three when he is boxed in by the defender and the corner baselines.
The only question anyone needs to ask is: if it's not a foul, then why have refs been sending someone who has been lying to them for 5 years 10 times a game in those 5 years? Conspiracy theory type stuff. There is no logic in the argument. They are fouls, and Harden embellishes the contact to ensure the referee's eyes move to the point of contact. Just silly, and frankly I'm infuriated by Lebron's hands behind the back antics.
To be fair, he's the only true perimeter player in the top 5 though, in FTA. (1 Embiid, 3 AD, 4 Giannis, 5 Blake)
What does the rulebook say? We know what the refs views are. They called the foul and have since backed it up. I'm just vary wary of the "initiated contact" comments. I don't know the rulebook verbatim, but my understanding of the way the game has been called for years, it doesn't matter who initiated contact. A charge is a charge not because the offensive player initiates contact... but because they initiate contact and the defender is set and in position. Heck... Nene did those things last night and a ref, still thinking Nene was "SLIGHTLY" out of position of moving, still called it a defensive foul. A player going to the hoop strong - ala Lebron - and going through a bunch of defenders that he happens to barrel into, that's initiating contact, but 9 times out of 10, it's a defensive foul. See Shaq for earlier obvious examples. A player "going over the back" of the other team trying to get an offensive rebounding often isn't initiating contact... rather the other team is pushing back in a box out causing the over the back foul. And it's a correct call. In other words, to me, the call has always been about whether the defender is in position, not who initiates contact. The most obvious hybrid example of this is the straight up and down big defender. If they are in position, as NBA rules clarified in the last 10 years, meaning going straight up and down and square, and not bending the arms forward at all... it's a no call, even when there's contact. But if those arms come forward, EVEN IF the arms don't make contact, it's a foul. That's JUST THE RULES. In Harden's case, he's mastered just knowing the rule. At it's simplest its stuff like stopping really fast when a defender is chasing. It's swinging up when a defender is reaching. It's going in strong for a layup, etc. The fact of the matter is he's done this his whole career. It's what he's the best at, probably EVER, in the history of the NBA. Recall when he first got to the Rockets, he was driving with his elbows wide, gribbing the ball real strong, and effectively causing defenders to hit at his wide arms instead of the air or the ball. Folks complained, they stopped calling that rule as much, he adjusted. Started getting a lot and-1's. Folks complained, they even changed the rule. He adjusted. He just understands the rules and uses it to his advantage. If anything, it's great, but also sucks. he doesn't get the same benefit in the playoffs, and I'd rather he be the best 3 point volume+% shooter ever than the best foul drawer.
I see the point on the Alonzo Ball call . .. because If they are both going parallel .. . . .Harden makes a move toward the basket . . .meanwhile Ball is running to cut HArden's path to the basket Not calling that foul means. . . .on defense you just run beside an offensive player and deny him any room to cut to the basket Kind of undermines the break Rocket River
Yeah I wasn't sure what Chris Webber was saying in the broadcast. How he watched Lonzo hit Harden with a shoulder with his back turned in slow motionvand say that is not a foul is crazy, regardless of if Harden created contact it is a foul... The one questionable call I saw was the one on Chandler, but if you watched that game it was more of a make up call for what happened before that.
tilman obviously bought them this summer thats why he is broke now saving pennies on new players acquisitions
Lonzo is inside the restricted area, therefore he must be stationary or any contact is a foul. He is quite clearly moving, if I was the referee I would call that 10 out of 10 times. It is pathetic defence by Lonzo and the coach should have hooked him for giving up such an easy opportunity to one of the leading scorers in the NBA and the leading exponent of scoring through contact/ drawing free throws. Again, Ball is inside the restricted area. Foul. (maybe I misread what you said originally!)
