The New NBA Rules Have Exposed James Harden

Whereas many level to the brand new NBA guidelines relating to fouling the shooter, and what’s now deemed authorized and unlawful, as a optimistic for the league, there are some gamers who’re being compelled to regulate their recreation. Most notably of this class, is former MVP James Harden. For a participant that used to attract so many fouls, and shoot an absurd quantity of free throws per recreation, Harden is seeing a regarding dip in his numbers this season, and it isn’t exhausting to see why.

James Harden, 2pt FGs by recreation this season:

2-8
4-10
4-8
4-9
1-4
2-5
2-2
0-3

James Harden, FTs by recreation this season:

4-4
3-4
1-1
3-3
3-3
16-19
2-3
1-1

Whereas nonetheless an ideal passer, the brand new guidelines have made him a completely unrecognizable participant. It’s been simply wild to see.

— nick wright (@getnickwright) November 4, 2021

THIS IS A FOUL. EVERY. DAMN. TIME. pic.twitter.com/OCm6fvMu8z

— Cody Mallory (@RealCodyMallory) November 9, 2021

Jordan Guidelines to Harden Guidelines?

The brand new NBA guidelines have been designed to forestall refs from rewarding shooters attempting to attract fouls with “non-basketball strikes”. For too lengthy, the offense was the good thing about the doubt, because the shooter may mainly lunge themselves into the defender whereas exhibiting probably the most minimal effort in attempting to get a shot up, and the refs would blow the whistle most of the time.

It started to tarnish the product, giving means an excessive amount of energy to the gamers, and the refs being whistle-happy. This yr, the affiliation addressed this head on, and it has made for a way more watchable product, bringing again a few of the followers who felt the fashionable recreation was outdated for them. James Harden, nevertheless, has been neutralized tremendously by these new NBA guidelines, and as we see how badly they’ve taken a toll on his numbers, it nearly looks like the foundations have been designed to cease him, and solely him.

Harden is averaging 18.2 PPG, the bottom because the 2011-12 season, his final yr with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Much more surprising, he’s taking pictures a profession low 4 free throws per recreation. James Harden. The one who lead the NBA in scoring for 3 consecutive seasons, and has at all times been accustomed to frequent visits to the free-throw line, now taking pictures simply 4 per recreation by 11 video games.

In 9 seasons with the Houston Rockets, he averaged over ten free throws an evening, in order that alone is six factors left on the board. Now, Harden shares the court docket with Kevin Durant, who leads the NBA in scoring with 29.5 PPG. Whereas anticipating two practically 30 PPG scorers on one staff is a tall order, one would suppose the participant who’s most able to matching Durant’s output could be a James Harden-level of participant.

Is James Harden Utterly Neutralized Going Ahead?

Harden, 32, remains to be among the many greatest superstars the NBA has to supply, even when his scoring has taken a dip to this point. He’s at all times going to be a risk to opponents to create offense, whether or not he’s doing it for himself or for others, particularly with gamers like Durant and Kyrie Irving (possibly).

How Harden continues to regulate to the brand new NBA guidelines goes to dictate the course of this Brooklyn Nets staff. The brand new rules are leaving a giant chunk of factors on the board for Harden. Harden has trademarked a number of strikes made to attract contact from past the arc, whether or not it will be leaning into the defender within the air, flailing his arms after contact, sticking a foot within the air to create separation, or leaping into the defender’s touchdown house. Whereas he’s removed from the one participant to make use of these strikes, as these new NBA guidelines have additionally hindered guys like Trae Young this season, the refs have began to crack down on The Beard.

These new NBA guidelines are designed to remove these kind of non-basketball maneuvers with a purpose to create a extra watchable product, and provides some energy again to the officers. Whereas it might look a bit awkward at occasions, when a foul would usually be referred to as on performs when they aren’t, it’s the new norm within the NBA, and whereas it has been a optimistic for a lot of, have these new NBA guidelines utterly neutralized James Harden’s offensive capabilities at this level of his profession?

Most important Picture Credit score:
Embed from Getty Images