Steve Nash believes James Harden is unfairly treated by the new rules

[Hornet Mania]

If Harden thinks the rule change went too far that means they are working as intended. Great news.

Nash thinks the refs are calling the game differently for Harden than other players...

He's wrong. I've seen LaMelo Ball, Tatum, Sexton and others fishing for those same types of fouls with no success this year either. The difference with Harden is he has tilted his game so heavily towards milking the refs for dubious FTs it's been a bigger hit to his production.

If Harden didn't feel uncomfortable the rule change wouldn't have been terribly effective. It's good for the game to cut out those non-basketball moves. There is no downside to these changes aside from Harden having to score points less easily. Since his points were coming through dishonorable means I am not bothered by his troubles, quite the opposite, that stuff needs to be removed from the game permanently.

It was **** embarrassing the first few Team USA games to see how much the American players relied on that type of garbage. That isn't basketball. Luckily they adjusted with time and still found success, I expect Harden will do the same.

[HMFFL]

Harden's reputation was earned. Nash is just trying to play the psychology game to try and make Harden's (well earned) reputation seem like he's become a target under the updated rules, which were made in large part due to the style of play Harden popularized. Totally reasonable move on his part.

Some of us know Hardens reputation for complaining when things are against him. MVP voting included.

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[dhsilv2]

If Harden thinks the rule change went too far that means they are working as intended. Great news.

Nash thinks the refs are calling the game differently for Harden than other players...

He's wrong. I've see LaMelo Ball, Tatum, Sexton and others fishing for those same types of fouls with no success this year either. The difference with Harden is he has titled his game so heavily towards milking the refs for dubious FTs it's been a bigger hit to his production.

If Harden didn't feel uncomfortable the rule change wouldn't have been terribly effective. It's good for the game to cut out those non-basketball moves. There is no downside to these changes aside from Harden having to score points less easily. Since his points were coming through dishonorable means I am not bothered by his troubles, quite the opposite, that stuff needs to be removed from the game permanently.

It was **** embarrassing the first few Team USA games to see how much the American players relied on that type of garbage. That isn't basketball. Luckily they adjusted with time and still found success, I expect Harden will do the same.

Please post the shots harden took this year where you feel he was foul baiting and show a similar shot from others. As I've posted every single shot harden has taken this year, it shouldn't be hard for you to do this. we can then discuss with a couple of examples to make this easier.

[cpower]

To be completely honest, out of the foul baiting guards, Trae and Curry are way more egregious than Harden in jumping into player and/or touch fouls baiting.

Harden definitely is being targeted unfairly. If you can't see that you are not an objective fan and are just a straight up a hater. Curry, Morant, Trae are still living at the line this season pulling the same crap they pull every year.

And on the topic of non jump shooting fouls, Harden is literally getting hit and hacked without calls. This is the same type of fouls that FT leaders like Giannis, Davis, Butler gets.

You cannot have two sets of standards, one for Harden, another for the rest of the league.

do you even believe what you wrote there? i mean, Curry is attacking the basket more and getting fouled on the off ball more and getting a lot less in FTs..you cant be serious right?

[Buzzard]

He's not claiming Harden should be getting 11 FTA a game like it's 2017. Definitely a percentage of Harden's fouls were complete BS and baiting. That's not the argument.

What he's saying is that James isn't even getting a fair deal right now. If you've watched the games, you would have seen multiple times when regular fouls were not called for some unknown reason. "Oh it's Harden, he's a ref baiter so we're not going to call fouls for him anymore" isn't a valid excuse. Or maybe they just missed the call, that's possible too.

All Nash is asking is for the game to be called fairly for everyone, and for now, it appears as if the refs are still in some growing paints adjusting to the rules and over compensating so far. This will change in the near future and he'll be back to at least a reasonable FTA rate again.

I don't recall Nash or anyone from Brooklyn complaining about Harden getting 11 free throw attempts per game. If you can, please post the link.

Oh it's Harden, he's a ref baiter so

This is the bed Nash made when he called out Trae. Complain all you want; but I think Harden will probably be the last high volume free throw shooter that the refs level out.

When did Harden get 11 free throw attempts a game for or against Nash's teams? Harden averaged less than 8 a game last year. And you're obsessed with some quote that likely trae doesn't even remember here man. A coach is going to use the media to get favorable calls for their team. That's just coaching 101. What a coach says about their team and a team they're playing SHOULDN'T be the same standard, that'd be a poor use of the media and bad coaching.

I am obsessed; now that is a hoot lmao. I cannot remember the last time I created a thread to prop up Trae or bash Harden...

[dhsilv2]

I don't recall Nash or anyone from Brooklyn complaining about Harden getting 11 free throw attempts per game. If you can, please post the link. This is the bed Nash made when he called out Trae. Complain all you want; but I think Harden will probably be the last high volume free throw shooter that the refs level out.

When did Harden get 11 free throw attempts a game for or against Nash's teams? Harden averaged less than 8 a game last year. And you're obsessed with some quote that likely trae doesn't even remember here man. A coach is going to use the media to get favorable calls for their team. That's just coaching 101. What a coach says about their team and a team they're playing SHOULDN'T be the same standard, that'd be a poor use of the media and bad coaching.

I am obsessed; now that is a hoot lmao. I cannot remember the last time I created a thread to prop up Trae or bash Harden...

The fact you remember a completely nonconsequential comment, let alone think refs are laughing about this? It's weird dude.

[akhan786]

Nash thinks the refs are calling the game differently for Harden than other players...

He's wrong. I've see LaMelo Ball, Tatum, Sexton and others fishing for those same types of fouls with no success this year either. The difference with Harden is he has titled his game so heavily towards milking the refs for dubious FTs it's been a bigger hit to his production.

If Harden didn't feel uncomfortable the rule change wouldn't have been terribly effective. It's good for the game to cut out those non-basketball moves. There is no downside to these changes aside from Harden having to score points less easily. Since his points were coming through dishonorable means I am not bothered by his troubles, quite the opposite, that stuff needs to be removed from the game permanently.

It was **** embarrassing the first few Team USA games to see how much the American players relied on that type of garbage. That isn't basketball. Luckily they adjusted with time and still found success, I expect Harden will do the same.

Please post the shots harden took this year where you feel he was foul baiting and show a similar shot from others. As I've posted every single shot harden has taken this year, it shouldn't be hard for you to do this. we can then discuss with a couple of examples to make this easier.

It’s more about how it throws off his game completely because he can’t bail himself out with his gimmicks. When you’ve built the bread and butter of your game on a gimmick and it’s taken away, you aren’t able to play in a natural flow. Foul baiting was always his Plan C if Plan A or B didn’t work out.

Most people aren’t surprised because the forcefield around him from his gimmicks would always shrink the further he got into the playoffs. Now it’s shrunk in the regular season.

[ocelot17]

Harden looks slow and pudgy. I’d be much more concerned about him a losing a step than I am about his lack of free throws.

Last night, he only scored 15 points. Even if you added an extra seven free throws, that’s only 22 points, when he typically scores 30 in his sleep.

[Buzzard]

When did Harden get 11 free throw attempts a game for or against Nash's teams? Harden averaged less than 8 a game last year. And you're obsessed with some quote that likely trae doesn't even remember here man. A coach is going to use the media to get favorable calls for their team. That's just coaching 101. What a coach says about their team and a team they're playing SHOULDN'T be the same standard, that'd be a poor use of the media and bad coaching.

I am obsessed; now that is a hoot lmao. I cannot remember the last time I created a thread to prop up Trae or bash Harden...

The fact you remember a completely nonconsequential comment, let alone think refs are laughing about this? It's weird dude.

I am not the only one who called out Nash for his double standard. Calling me weird because I have close to a photographic memory is pretty typical for those who are lacking in that department. Keep up the good work.

[Buzzard]

Harden looks slow and pudgy. I’d be much more concerned about him a losing a step than I am about his lack of free throws.

Last night, he only scored 15 points. Even if you added an extra seven free throws, that’s only 22 points, when he typically scores 30 in his sleep.

Good point but Harden will eventually get his. Trae had 32 points yet only got to the line 4 times. I think the new guard is near taking over.

[Ong_dynasty]

Harden looks slow and pudgy. I’d be much more concerned about him a losing a step than I am about his lack of free throws.

Last night, he only scored 15 points. Even if you added an extra seven free throws, that’s only 22 points, when he typically scores 30 in his sleep.

Well you assume its just free throws. I think because of the rules. i assume defenders used to back off knowing how he plays. its the knock on effects. But lets see if he adjusts

[dhsilv2]

I am obsessed; now that is a hoot lmao. I cannot remember the last time I created a thread to prop up Trae or bash Harden...

The fact you remember a completely nonconsequential comment, let alone think refs are laughing about this? It's weird dude.

I am not the only one who called out Nash for his double standard. Calling me weird because I have close to a photographic memory is pretty typical for those who are lacking in that department. Keep up the good work.

You're complaining about Nash making a statement nobody cares about and then complaining about Harden getting hacked going to the basket without getting calls.

[Buzzard]

The fact you remember a completely nonconsequential comment, let alone think refs are laughing about this? It's weird dude.

I am not the only one who called out Nash for his double standard. Calling me weird because I have close to a photographic memory is pretty typical for those who are lacking in that department. Keep up the good work.

You're complaining about Nash making a statement nobody cares about and then complaining about Harden getting hacked going to the basket without getting calls.

I am not complaining about Harden. I am pointing out facts. Stats are facts whether you like them or not. Nash is a naive coach. That is a given. He has Durant and Harden yet cannot make the ECF.

He wants it both ways and that makes his comments hilarious.

[jfs1000d]

The rules were literally made so he doesn’t ruin the game with his jerky motion. Just play damn basketballs.


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[akhan786]

Harden looks slow and pudgy. I’d be much more concerned about him a losing a step than I am about his lack of free throws.

Last night, he only scored 15 points. Even if you added an extra seven free throws, that’s only 22 points, when he typically scores 30 in his sleep.

Well you assume its just free throws. I think because of the rules. i assume defenders used to back off knowing how he plays. its the knock on effects. But lets see if he adjusts

The forcefield around him is gone.

[dhsilv2]

I am not the only one who called out Nash for his double standard. Calling me weird because I have close to a photographic memory is pretty typical for those who are lacking in that department. Keep up the good work.

You're complaining about Nash making a statement nobody cares about and then complaining about Harden getting hacked going to the basket without getting calls.

I am not complaining about Harden. I am pointing out facts. Stats are facts whether you like them or not. Nash is a naive coach. That is a given. He has Durant and Harden yet cannot make the ECF.

He wants it both ways and that makes his comments hilarious.

He wants harden to get calls when he drives to the rim and gets hit, doesn't flop, and it alters the shot like every other player gets.

And we'll see if Nash can get to the conferences finals with Harden and KD. So far we haven't seen him with both of those guys healthy for a full playoff run.

[JRoy]

Watched my first game of the season last night (POR vs LAC) and it looked to me like the refs allowed a lot more contact than they have in recent years.

This is a good thing.

Players will adjust and as long as the refs hold the line we will get to watch basketball instead of an endless parade to the free throw line when a defender dares to breathe near a perimeter player.

[3toheadmelo]

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[lambchop]

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This. I love watching compilations of actual harden buckets and highlights, but no one in the game is so good that you have to guard with your hands behind your back. Literally made no sense. If he truly is one of the 75 best, I expect to adjust accordingly.

[KingFox]

Lmaooo i don’t feel for bad for Harden at all. I’m sure there’ll be more of a balance, but, he needs to get over himself and adjust.