2021 NBA Offseason Thread

[Man Called X]

Do they, though? I feel like the league's other big stars are more marketable than Harden. Don't see what they have to gain hitching their cart to him. It'll just get more embarrassing as he ages and depends more and more on free throws to stay relevant.

You gotta realize how much income the Rockets used to bring in before the China drama. Only team that was shown nationwide in China. It has to have a superstar.

 

[Rich]

The issue to me id how tge league officiated Harden differently in the playoffs.

It shouldnt be that way.

But during the regular season he gets 15 FTs a game. During the playoffs, the Warriors walk up under him 3 times in a row and the whistles get swallowed.

Maybe the continuing decline in ratings will clue them in that the sport needs to change. Frankly, id like to see less calls. Allow more hand checking. Completely get rid of the rip through call entirely. If my arm is in that space before your arms, then why do you get to rip through and get a foul?

 

[ACisKING]

The issue to me id how tge league officiated Harden differently in the playoffs.

It shouldnt be that way.

But during the regular season he gets 15 FTs a game. During the playoffs, the Warriors walk up under him 3 times in a row and the whistles get swallowed.

Maybe the continuing decline in ratings will clue them in that the sport needs to change. Frankly, id like to see less calls. Allow more hand checking. Completely get rid of the rip through call entirely. If my arm is in that space before your arms, then why do you get to rip through and get a foul?

Couldn’t agree more with all of the above.

 

[cavsfever]

Thank god the league officiates Harden differently in the playoffs. It’s the only thing that keeps him from ruining the game with his sucky playstyle

 

[ACisKING]

Thank god the league officiates Harden differently in the playoffs. It’s the only thing that keeps him from ruining the game with his sucky playstyle

You won’t find anyone that hates Harden’s 15 free throw a game average than me - it’s boring to watch and most of those fouls are from blatantly deceiving officials by flopping, grabbing defender’s arms, etc. But I think the proper solution is to officiate Harden the way they do in the playoffs in the regular season. Having an entirely different standard for what is a foul is ridiculous.

 

[Mr. Orange]

Lakers gonna be champs

 

[Rich]

And that game also highlights a major issue. Sloppiness.

Players are allowed to travel and carry the ball at will. Game looks sloppy and amateur half the time.

 

[Mr. Orange]

And that game also highlights a major issue. Sloppiness.

Players are allowed to travel and carry the ball at will. Game looks sloppy and amateur half the time.

A common misconception is that two steps is traveling, it's three steps. So you get 2.5 steps, which can look like a travel if you are taking huge strides. Now LeBron did travel yesterday, and Harden did on his double step back, but a lot of times you are seeing 2.5 or a jump stop, and it looks like a travel but isn't. No comment on the crab dribble.

 

[ACisKING]

And that game also highlights a major issue. Sloppiness.

Players are allowed to travel and carry the ball at will. Game looks sloppy and amateur half the time.

I’m sure the one non-called travel had a big impact on the outcome of that blowout.

The wins at Denver and then at Utah on a back-to-back were incredibly impressive. Both teams are very good at home. And the Lakers dominated them. A few weeks ago I said that I didn’t think the Lakers were as good as their record, and that the Clippers were heavy favorites. I may need to rethink that assessment.

 

[NIkeL]

I’m sure the one non-called travel had a big impact on the outcome of that blowout.

The wins at Denver and then at Utah on a back-to-back were incredibly impressive. Both teams are very good at home. And the Lakers dominated them. A few weeks ago I said that I didn’t think the Lakers were as good as their record, and the Clippers were heavy favorites. I may need to rethink that assessment.

The Clippers are still the favourites in my book and the Bucks would give them a lot of trouble to say the least, but you have to take every criticism towards the Lakers in here with a grain of salt, for obvious reasons. They are really good.

 

[Cavatt]

I can encapsulate why people hate Harden very succinctly. They say "Hey when a guy gets 50 he always has a lot of free throws." but I can explain the difference. When Giannis gets 25 free throws it is a direct result of the team being unable to guard him, so they play him closer and closer and he gets fouled. Harden is getting those free throws even when he is shooting poorly, and it causes guys to guard him further and further until he is getting wide open shots. He uses the free throws to have a really high scoring game instead of having a high scoring game which results in a lot of free throws. It sucks.

That is why we think Harden's game is ugly. As soon as he misses a few shots he goes into Corey Magette ugly ball to get to the line.

I respect Harden getting 50 points on 60% shooting. I don't when 28 pts come from the line and the rest is on 8 of 33 shooting.

 

[ACisKING]

I can encapsulate why people hate Harden very succinctly. They say "Hey when a guy gets 50 he always has a lot of free throws." but I can explain the difference. When Giannis gets 25 free throws it is a direct result of the team being unable to guard him, so they play him closer and closer and he gets fouled. Harden is getting those free throws even when he is shooting poorly, and it causes guys to guard him further and further until he is getting wide open shots. He uses the free throws to have a really high scoring game instead of having a high scoring game which results in a lot of free throws. It sucks.

That is why we think Harden's game is ugly. As soon as he misses a few shots he goes into Corey Magette ugly ball to get to the line.

I respect Harden getting 50 points on 60% shooting. I don't when 28 pts come from the line and the rest is on 8 of 33 shooting.

Well said. I think you described the difference between the Giannis/Shaq types getting free throws, and James Harden manipulating the referees perfectly. It’s ludicrous that James Harden is averaging 15 free throws per game.

 

[Rich]

A common misconception is that two steps is traveling, it's three steps. So you get 2.5 steps, which can look like a travel if you are taking huge strides. Now LeBron did travel yesterday, and Harden did on his double step back, but a lot of times you are seeing 2.5 or a jump stop, and it looks like a travel but isn't. No comment on the crab dribble.

Watch any NBA game tonight. Pick a random one. THen, watch each time a player pivots and see how many times you notice someone either drag their pivot foot a good foot+, or switch their pivot foot entirely.

 

[Rich]

I’m sure the one non-called travel had a big impact on the outcome of that blowout.

The wins at Denver and then at Utah on a back-to-back were incredibly impressive. Both teams are very good at home. And the Lakers dominated them. A few weeks ago I said that I didn’t think the Lakers were as good as their record, and that the Clippers were heavy favorites. I may need to rethink that assessment.

This doesn't have anything to do with my point, but alright?

 

[Joe Charboneau]

I for one am glad in a year in which old Bron and his Lakers are 19-3, probably on his way to a title, the ratings are at an all-time low. Nobody really cares outside of Laker fans and Lebron fanboys. I think its hilarious. Lebron dancing in his socks last night and most sports fans didnt even see it.