Harden's Cookie Jar Move

No they wont outlaw it. I dont think theres a reasonable logical way to define a way to outlaw that foul in the rulebook.

I do agree that refs might not call it sometimes, but I dont think the NBA rulebook can outlaw it. That is Harden taking advantage of a defensive mistake. Defenders gotta be more disciplined on him.

 

There's definitely going to be times in the playoffs that he may not get the call for whatever reason. We're already seeing instances where it doesn't work out for him (offensive foul, or no call). Honestly, he's playing the organized game cause it's more of a trick. Up to the refs if they want to catch on or not

 

I think it's more likely they do something about those instances where the 3 pt shooter leans into the defender or comes down into the defender's space

 

Yes I have a feeling they'll outlaw it somehow

 

50/50...

Sometimes it's a clear mistake by the defender. Other times, Harden definitely creates it.

It all comes down to the situation... and how much the referee hates Harden/Rockets and how much the referee is being paid to somehow alter the game to not let Harden succeed.

 

Playing each team a possible 7 times. After the first game with each team I doubt it happens often after that.

 

Depends on if you mean the ones where he goes up through an actual reaching arm (answer: yes, mostly) or the ones where the defender's arms are at their sides and he wedges his whole arm under theirs and then goes up (answer: probably not, deservedly so!).

 

There's always a risk that calls won't go his way. The playoffs will just make it more noticeable.

I've noticed that his fouls while driving to the basket have been decreasing recently.

 

They're not going to outlaw it. It doesn't matter that Harden is 100% initiating contact. Kobe and Kevin Martin initiated contact on their rip through move, the defenders were just sticking their arm out and somehow the onus was on defenders to pull their arms away. The rip through was so effective that everyone started copying it. KD does regularly to this day. Did the league ban it? No, they decided to call it a common foul instead of a shooting foul. Harden is basically doing the rip through while on the drive. Defenders stick their arms in trying to poke at the ball and he swings his arms up and gets the call. The refs aren't going to call it 100% of the time, but it is established by now that it is a foul.

I personally don't like the move. No one would ever call that a foul in a pickup game, they'd get laughed out of the gym. It pleases me greatly that they call the Reggie Miller leg kick an offensive foul now. Defenders already have a tough enough time. When an offensive player initiates contact and gets a call it's almost unfair.

 

I find it absolutely mind-boggling that all these years have passed since the 3-point shot was added in the NBA and until now, nobody has thought to take advantage of the fact that defenders always extend their arms as they fight over the top of a screen.

Harden may be the best player EVER at exploiting the rules to his benefit.

 

Just agreeing with other posters. If the defenders have reached out and get caught (as you say) in the cookie jar? I think we'll still see some of that called in the playoffs. But the "come off a screen, hook the defenders arm, and shoot" - i don't think so.

I wonder what the actual math is on playoff fouls. Do they call 15% less fouls in the playoffs? Or is it just the last 5 minutes of the 4th quarter?

 

He's doing exactly what Tim Duncan did except Harden is doing it from the three-point line. He's going through a natural shooting motion. It only looks crazy because he gets hit on the way up by the undisciplined defender. If the defender can't invade the offensive player's space, why wouldn't the defenders hands count? Harden goes straight up as soon as he sees the defenders hands above the ball in front of him. It's called at the rim. You have to be straight up and down. This is not the same as jumping into the defender. That's an unnatural motion.

Harden likes to go to a strategy all the time when it works. His problem (or the public's) is that it's viewed as being cheap. Spare me your book of unwritten rules.

Jack-a-wack free throw shooter is alive.

Jiu Jitsu vets can use leg locks to submit someone.

Football teams run screen plays exclusively if it works the first 10 times.

Street Fighter players throw all the time.

Everyone thinks it's cheap, but it's not against the rules! Call it!

 

The "Cookie Jar" is the best name for a basketball move of all time.

That is all that matters here.

 

I have no problem when Harden pulls up for a shot when the defender is clearly reaching, especially around a screen. It is a foul and Harden is using it to his advantage.

I do, however, hate it when he uses his arm to hook and hold the defender's arm, playing for a penalty instead of playing to score. This is something he has been doing for awhile and it feels, to me, that the NBA referees have become more aware of it and are starting to call it, correctly, as an offensive foul against Harden more often than not.

 

If you reach....he will teach

 

In the playoffs the refs and league make a point to officiate certain players/moves a specific way consistently. So whichever it is, it will likely be that way the entire playoffs. It wont be sporadic like it has been this year. What Harden does is create a legitimate foul. To me it's legal and pretty smart. Hopefully it's allowed.

 

It kills me when Golden State's announcers decry Harden's playing loosely with the rules, considering they pretty much wrote the book on illegal screens. Hell, when he retires Andrew Bogut will likely need hip socket replacements on both sides from all the cheating hip checks he threw during his time there.

There's a big difference between exploiting the rules for your own gain and just flat-out breaking them.

 

Ryno jumping into a stationary defender (and getting the call) is a million times worse, uglier, and annoying/cringe. Refs should not reward that garbage.