This is the thing. If people go to the next step and ACKNOWLEDGE there is a foul.....they THEN go to the next step and accuse Harden of "FOUL HUNTING." Now, I am not going to be naive and say he doesn't engage in contact at times, but I wouldn't say he does it ALL the time. Harden drives the lane to score a layup. If there is contact and FTs are made available....that is "value add" to the drive. Harden is not unique in engaging contact on drives. And all of those players that yell "AND ONE" are basically "verbally flopping." Harden attacks the basket more than anyone. He is WILLING to sacrifice his body in the pursuit of winning the game. NOT every player is WILLING to do that. This concept is COMPLETELY lost on all media.
Haha. Two of the biggest "verbal floppers" I've ever seen in the NBA are Pau Gasol and.... our very own Eric Gordon.
Remember, there is actually two reasons. He drives to draw the defense to open up passes to Capela and his corner shooters. Hence the OP stressing he wasn’t fouled on his 13 assists. And his three-point shooting creates perimeter gravity at the level of doubles and traps 25’ out...which opens up drags picks and slips for passes without evdriving. Guys like Iverson, Drexler, Kobe, prime Wade, Kawhi, Curry, Durant, Kyrie weren’t/aren’t playmakers at Harden’s level. Curry theoretically could be, but putting the ball in his hands all the time likely means his 3pt shooting goes way down. Curry is most efficient when people he’s getting passes.
They have already changed the rules for Harden. The 3 point continuation rules are a joke. I have seen at least a dozen where Harden gets fouled on a true 3 pt attempt and yet they give them the ball out of bounds. A complete joke.
Eric is non verbal though. The biggest body language flopper in the league. I should play a drinking game for every time Gordon throws his hands up in the air.
Absolutely. That point too. I was just focusing on his score opportunity. No question caving in the defense to offer up others opportunities is critical too.
If you told just about any player to hold the ball far out in front of them as they drive into a crowded lane, they'd look at you look you like you were nuts. They'd know that the ball would be easily slapped away or they'd mishandle it before they got to the basket. Harden says "I'm strong enough to hold on to it; just try it." Result: Harden holds on to the ball, and the defenders slap the **** out of his arms. It's not like he invented this 5 minutes ago. Learn to defend against it or STFU, people.
My man, EG screams on almost every drive lol. It's actually really funny once you start listening for it
It is a work of art. At least he isn't yelling "AND ONE." He isn't assuming the ball is going in....just letting you know he is getting bumped.
I think the biggest compliment to James Harden is that the media scrambles and makes themselves look stupid with their poor takes JUST to disrespect Harden in any way they can. They make themselves look like idiots that don’t understand basketball. They do this to themselves, jeopardizing their image for anyone with a brain, because they hate Harden that much. What a freaking compliment to the beard. All Harden has to do is keep balling and minding his business, like he always does. Houston is lucky to have a star like Harden. All the dude cares about is playing good ball. I’m truly happy that we’re the only fan base that likes him - he is all ours to appreciate and we don’t have to deal with bandwagoners or casuals (like curry/bron fans). Plus, Harden is a free idiot test for us. If someone tries to talk basketball with you, ask them what they think about Harden. You’ll understand real quick if the person knows what they’re talking about and actually understands the game. Even if they dislike beard, smart people will still admit to his greatness. The dude is a special player.
Kobe can average like 10+ FTA in the 04-08 seasons and be looked as legendary scoring seasons but Harden cheats the game when he does it. And I'm a huge Kobe nut hugger.
I get why people don't like lots of FT shooting. I don't either. I used to hate Wade and Kobe for getting lots of foul calls. What's strange is that those other stars never get the hate like Harden does. The fact is, some guys are unguardable without fouling. Jordan was like that. Shaq was like that in his prime. So was Kareem. I am sure Wilt was like that in his days. That's not much you can do unless they change the rules.
Wade shot 16.1 FTA/gm in the 2006 Finals that he won. 25 to break the 2-2 tie in crucial Game 5 21 in Game 6 to win title
A fine read The five stages of defending James Harden (Or a descent into anti-basketball) This is all completely normal. Millions have experienced this painful sequence of events. Experts have studied what happens when teams play James Harden and have broken the process into five emotional steps, or stages. Understanding these five stages can be a key to recovery, to a slow return to a normal, healthy, basketball life after facing the soul-crushing trauma of James Harden.
He is probably both. Definitely not "non-verbal" though. Listen for it. It's every single time he drives. It's a shrill heeeyyyyyyy, like you just got stabbed and didn't expect it.
It's funny, Wade's free-throws are the main reason I remember that series. He would just launch himself into the lane like an out of control train, Ginobili/Parker style. That's what wins championships.
