[OhCanada-Participant]

 Its been the center of attention so far in Round 2 of the Playoffs. 4 missed calls in game 1 Houston vs Golden State. The savvy 5 point swing drawn by Jimmy Butler knowing the refs would be watching for it in game 2 Philly vs Toronto. Something needs to be done to either reinforce the rule and stop defenders from intentionally moving into the landing spot and stop shooters from intentionally landing into the defender.

In the Houston Golden State game nobody wants to say it but this is what we were actually watching.

-Refs made a point not to give Harden the call. It was premeditated.

-Harden made a point to attempt to draw the fouls because well, why wouldnt he. They gave him the call all season.

-The Warriors are the key here. GSW plays dirty, theres no other way to call it. They are a dirty team from top to bottom and they will do whatever it takes to win. But so is every other Championship team in the history of this sport so Im not knocking them. GSW were intentionally stepping into Harden’s landing spot all game as if to say "your gonna shoot forward 3 feet and try to draw that foul go right ahead, you can have those free throws while risking breaking your ankles". It just so happened that the refs already decided not to give anyone that call in this game.

The result is a very dangerous sequence of plays all night long. 

Its obvious dirty players like Pachulia/Leonard in the Western Finals years ago are gonna keep putting their foot in there and shooters like Harden are gonna keep trying to draw the foul. You gotta start giving players technical fouls if its obvious enough they are doing it on purpose. Both parties the defender and shooter. You kick your feet out after the shot its a flagrant, and as a defender if you position your feet under the shooter its a flagrant. Review it, consult, whatever you gotta do but these plays gotta stop.

[MopgrassParticipant]

Game 1: James Harden jumps straight up in the air, shooting the 3. The defender, like any defender, gets closer to him to obstruct his shot. The defender ends up 2-3 feet from Harden. However, Harden jump kicks with both legs toward the defender. No call is made. All is right with the world. 

Harden and his team go on a rampage over what fouls are called. They got so used to get fouls called their way after fouling people. 

Stars (MJ, Kobe, etc.) and championship teams like the Warriors have always gotten calls there way. But James Harden is next level outrageous. The fact that he has been able to change the narrative about who is benefiting from fouls and who is causing them… is disgraceful. 

I don’t approve of GSW getting every all-star on their team, but man, do I hope they sweep the Rockets. 

[Scrooge McDuckParticipant]

From a technical baksetball standpoint, that call should be an after the shot foul. Now, I’m not a follower of what the NBA has done to basketball rules. James Naismith would be ashamed. NBA is like WWE version of the standard basketball rule book. U mad?

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

I understand what your saying but it’s very hard to determine in real time if a player is intentionally jumping into the defender or a defender is intentionally placing his feet under the shooter. If you want the league to crack down on it, that’s fine. But be prepared for an endless loop of game stoppages to check the replay monitor.  

[OhCanada-Participant]

Yeah thats the problem. Players are gonna play dirty and real time its hard to make judgements. Even with a 2 minutes stoppage is that enough time to determine the intent? Maybe postgame they should review each play and fines should be handed out to any player that is breaking the rule on this particular play. After a certain amount of infractions you recieve a suspension.

[90sNYKParticipant]

What the league needs to do is bring back the flopping fine and enforce it. After every game they should review each play, pick out flops and fine them accordingly.

After 1 game, James Harden could easily be on the hook for over $50k, if each fine were $2500. Flopping is infectious and its already gotten out of control. NBA needs to step up and curb that behavior before everyone is playing/flailing like the Rockets.

[ChewyParticipant]

 with the more widespread use of analytics/technology/stats in both the team building and game planning of NBA front offices, it has become clear that 3 pointers and free throws are the most valuable shots in basketball. They produces the highest points gained to effort needed ratio.

It’s clear to me know that the most valuable offensive skill sets that NBA teams are looking for now are shooting and the ability to draw shooting fouls.

Players trying to show they can do the latter will enevitably produce a lot more flopping for the foreseeable future. 

I think having a player (Iverson/Westbrook/Harden like) dribbling for 18 seconds and then forcing a shot/try to draw a foul is the type of offense that hurts the NBA as an entertainment media.

The Manu/Tony/Tim ball movement type offense is a type of offense that helps the NBA as an entertainment media.

 

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