Nets’ James Harden sarcastically celebrates after getting a rare foul call

Brooklyn Nets star James Harden is off to a tough begin this season, partially as a result of he is having to regulate to the league’s new rule adjustments geared toward eliminating non-basketball strikes and foul baiting. On Monday night time in opposition to the Chicago Bulls, he lastly acquired a name to go his method and responded with a sarcastic celebration. 

In the course of the second quarter, Harden got here off a excessive display screen from LaMarcus Aldridge and put his head right down to get to the rim. As he cut up the Bulls’ defenders, he broke out certainly one of his signature maneuvers, the place he raises his arms in an effort to create some contact and draw a foul. Referees have not been giving him that decision this season, however this time he caught Tony Bradley reaching and the massive man clearly raked him throughout the arm. 

Harden completed on the rim for an and-one, and as he walked to the baseline after the whistle he raised his arms to the heavens as if thanking the next energy. It was fairly humorous, and likewise a transparent signal of simply how a lot Harden has been annoyed by the brand new actuality. 

The rule adjustments, which have typically created a extra bodily recreation with fewer free throws, have been one of many greatest early-season storylines. Whereas there’s been lots of reward for the shift, there have additionally been some notable critics. Unsurprisingly, Harden is among the many latter. 

Final month, Nets coach Steve Nash mentioned Harden had change into the “poster boy” for the rule adjustments, a statement Harden agreed with. 

“I ask each official in the event that they see a foul simply name a foul,” Harden mentioned. “Generally I really feel like coming right into a recreation it is already predetermined or I have already got the stigma of getting fouls calls. I simply ask for officers to name what they see… I can not cease taking part in basketball. A foul is a foul it doesn’t matter what league it’s.”

Via his first 10 video games, Harden is averaging simply 4.8 free throws, which is the fewest he is shot since his second season within the league — again when he was coming off the bench for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In seven of the final 9 seasons, Harden was averaging double-digit free throw makes an attempt. 

Although there have been many positives with the brand new officiating method, it does really feel like issues have swung a bit bit too far in favor of the protection and physicality. There is a distinction between refusing to bail guys out after they flail round for calls, and letting defenders do no matter they need. It is going to be fascinating to see if the scenario normalizes over the course of the season. If it does, that will likely be excellent news for Harden and the Nets.