It also gives them a reason not to put the Dunk and Razzle Dazzle Dagger on Rubio in the Top 10 list....watch.
nah... he doesn't do a jump back. He does a one-two Step-Back. The few times he travels, he's wrong-footing himself, or just barely off time. It's always like the photos above, just that Step 0 isn't his Step 2 foot. So in those photos, he usually already has the left foot down at Gather, instead of it moving as Step 1 (in the photos).
People arguing about a travel on a missed shot? It looked like the world is complaining that we won the game with a travel. If its a travel, then the refs missed it, so why the blame is all on Harden? Why not talk about Harden's clutch cold blooded 3 point shot in which he used a step back that clearly was not a travel?! People are dissing a unique player playing at his prime! People are also sad harden going to the line. There was a day when Kevin Martin was deemed intelligent because he can easily get to the line , meanwhile if its Harden its a flop. With this narrative going around, oppositions will now complaint on every calls when they play us , eventhough they clearly fouled Harden! I know its frustrating to be on the opposition to see Harden shooting many FTs. But its more into a unique skillset and intelligence to draw fouls within the rules. Even the Grizzlies' announcers yesterday were saying that they appreciate Harden's IQ on getting free throws and dont agree with people who are complaining Harden going to the line. And IT dissing harden? Lol take a look at yourself and just think how you can be good enough to even tie harden's shoes. But I'm not worried that this will affect harden as he does not really care external noises. If it's Durant, probably i will be more worried.
Harden is by far the most hated player in the game. That's not going change. He's hated because he's good and he gets to the line a lot. Harden works hard to get to the line and that pisses off fans of the opposing team. Of course fans love Harden if he plays for their team. Pretty sure OKC fans didn't complain about Harden when he played for the Thunders.
The traveling rule says: 1) When you catch the ball, if both feet are off the floor, meaning you have not established a pivot foot, you can take 2 steps, on the 2nd step, you can jump/ have both feet off the floor and land both feet simultaneously, then release the ball. 2) If one foot is in contact with the floor when you catch the ball, meaning you have established that as your pivot foot, you can not move that foot, you can only move the other foot which is considered the 2nd step, again on that 2nd step, you can jump/ have both feet off the floor and land both feet simultaneously, then release the ball. This is a typical Harden's step back move and it's legal. Sometimes after 2) Harden moves one of the feet again before releasing his shot (which is traveling and sometimes not get called) 3) If both feet are on the floor when you catch the ball, you can move either foot but only one (in effect establishing the other as the pivot foot), you can jump off the floor but you have to release the ball before either foot touches the floor again.
So, was it actually a travel? I remain unsure. Gather then two steps. I didn't even notice it watching live. Too much whining over one call when Harden was killing them on multiple plays down the stretch. And yeah Mitchell clearly jumped into Gordon. That shouldn't have been a foul.
lol wait theres people in this thread that think that's not a travel? good lord. that isn't anything like his other stepbacks. this is the version people actually exaggerate and it actually didn't get whistled for. that's whats hilarious.
Even with this instance that is a travel, if his left foot is off the ground before the gather, it's not a travel. ESPN is calling it a "5 step travel" but it's really a 3 step travel that is a timing error away from being just another legit step back.
It wouldn't surprise me at all if the NBA changes the travel rules to make what Harden does illegal before next season rolls around. There is just too much public opinion out there pressuring them to change it because they hate Harden's game.
It won't happen . That would mean all drives to the basket are illegal. What Harden does is basically the step and hop to the basket except he does the hop backward.
