Trend in the NBA

[D. Bergin]

Man, do I dislike James Harden. Guy throws up 20 threes a game now, and also somehow nearly every time I look at a box score he's shooting as many free throws as the entire other team.

I've seen other teams play him and most have resigned themselves to either not guarding him at all when he drives the lane, or throwing their hands straight up in the air to make him go around them ala The Spurs.

There used to be a rule against flopping, but somehow they've made a rule in which the simple act of looking at Harden while he comically throws his body into yours, will get you whistled for a foul.

At least a player like Lebron tries finishing his plays and receives his fouls more honestly, by at least taking contact, even if he's initiating it. In the strange NBA we have right now, I respect a guy running through defenders blocking him out and getting a call, much more then a guy who throws himself towards defenders who aren't even occupying his lane.

15 years ago, Harden would be getting called for 10 Offensive fouls a game, with his present style. Don't understand myself how this is "good for the game".

[AGuinness]

Originally Posted by D. Bergin

I've seen other teams play him and most have resigned themselves to either not guarding him at all when he drives the lane, or throwing their hands straight up in the air to make him go around them ala The Spurs.

For me, fouls in the NBA are the biggest problem. I'm watching more games these days (my sons are Trail Blazers fans so we catch as many as we can, along with Celtics), and it's tough to understand what is a foul and what isn't. Just yesterday, I watched the Celtics game for a stretch without sound and it was amazing that when fouls were called, I often thought the foul should have been called on the player who got fouled.
Every sport has this type of aggravating aspect (balls/strikes, pass interference, some hockey penalties), but NBA fouls rank way up there, to me.

[frankbmd]

Fouls are a huge problem for the NBA and not just recently.

Back in the days of the ironclad defense of the Pistons, Bill Lambert never committed a foul that he thought he deserved, but he was often in foul trouble and fouled out more than once. His abject disbelief whenever he was whistled for a foul occurred on 90%+ of the fouls he committed.

The big boys like Wilt and Shaq were human bulldozers who were never impeded gettin to the rim. If you were between them and the basket, you became road kill. Wilt and Shaq never got their share of offensive fouls in my opinion.

If you were a rookie or bench player guarding Michael Jordan or any other franchise player, questionable calls were never in your favor. Keeping Michael in the game was the unwritten rule.

Traveling also seems to be called inconsistently. 2, 3 or 4 steps seems to be okay at times. When the last dribble is above the foul circle and the basket counts, an air traffic controller should be on the officiating crew.

Doug Moe, Denver's coach in the 80s, was an early proponent of high scoring NBA basketball. His teams were okay, but often were defeated by high scoring opponents. He should be considered the father of the current NBA.

The impact of the three point line and how it has changed offensive basketball strategy suggests that additional lines might be considered. I'm not sure where though, just a thought.

I'll try to avoid this thread going forward, promise.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I don't like basketball much anymore. I much prefer the Bird/Magic/Jordan/Isiah era with a premium on passing and team play.

[AGuinness]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I don't like basketball much anymore. I much prefer the Bird/Magic/Jordan/Isiah era with a premium on passing and team play.

Through my lens, which mainly is around the Boston Celtics, I see passing and team play as the main avenue towards success today. When the Celtics make the extra pass and play strong team defense, they are very good. When they don't, they struggle. And often both sides of the coin are exhibited during the same game (if not quarter).
I see the modern game, with an emphasis on spacing the floor and a premium on 3-and-D players, having success with passing and team play. Sure, there are teams that do ISO, but even the Warriors dynasty is about creating space and finding the open shooter most of the time.

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by AGuinness

I see the modern game, with an emphasis on spacing the floor and a premium on 3-and-D players, having success with passing and team play. Sure, there are teams that do ISO, but even the Warriors dynasty is about creating space and finding the open shooter most of the time.

Yeah, especially the Warriors.

If you like passing and team play, it's still pretty prevalent with many of the better teams out there.

Biggest difference between Kevin Durant on the Thunder and Kevin Durant on the Warriors, is he was playing mostly ISO ball with Westbrook and company and he moved into a much more disciplined system with the Warriors.

Pass, pass, pass until you get to the most open guy available, or to somebody (ie. Curry), who can make his own shot super efficiently, even with somebody on him.

Houston and Golden State are both known for their 3's, but their style of play couldn't be any more different, otherwise.

I said this years ago, but the Warriors are the closest thing to the Women's NCAA basketball game that UCONN perfected years and years ago.

[Peter_Spaeth]

When I've seen the Warriors it sure looks like a lot of clear out for Curry or clear out for Durant. Maybe less so than other teams, but to my eye and admittedly I am not watching nightly the game doesn't look as team oriented as the Cs and Lakers and Pistons used to and nothing like those old 70s Knicks teams.

[AGuinness]

Originally Posted by frankbmd

Fouls are a huge problem for the NBA and not just recently.

Back in the days of the ironclad defense of the Pistons, Bill Lambert never committed a foul that he thought he deserved, but he was often in foul trouble and fouled out more than once. His abject disbelief whenever he was whistled for a foul occurred on 90%+ of the fouls he committed.

The big boys like Wilt and Shaq were human bulldozers who were never impeded gettin to the rim. If you were between them and the basket, you became road kill. Wilt and Shaq never got their share of offensive fouls in my opinion.

If you were a rookie or bench player guarding Michael Jordan or any other franchise player, questionable calls were never in your favor. Keeping Michael in the game was the unwritten rule.

Traveling also seems to be called inconsistently. 2, 3 or 4 steps seems to be okay at times. When the last dribble is above the foul circle and the basket counts, an air traffic controller should be on the officiating crew.

Doug Moe, Denver's coach in the 80s, was an early proponent of high scoring NBA basketball. His teams were okay, but often were defeated by high scoring opponents. He should be considered the father of the current NBA.

The impact of the three point line and how it has changed offensive basketball strategy suggests that additional lines might be considered. I'm not sure where though, just a thought.

I'll try to avoid this thread going forward, promise.

Additional lines should be considered! Why not? Not considering new changes just because the game has "always been played" a certain way is silly.

Shaq was a unique one, and I remember the refs not even knowing how to call fouls on/for him. The physics behind such a big body in motion created a new dynamic.

PS. What really chafes me is that step-back three that Harden has created, whereby he takes two steps, then moves back again (third step) and shoots. It's really funny that he gets away with it so much.