[Unofficial Article] How To Use Data To Help People Stop Being Triggered By Harden

A headline starts with: "James Harden..." and before the casual NBA fan even reads another word, they're down in the comments section pasting memes or the fact that Harden has taken more free-throws than anyone else. These fans are holding "most valuable flopper signs" and fainting when a foul is called against their team. They have THFS - Triggered-by-Harden-Fouls-Syndrome.

This easy step-by-step guide shows how you can use real-world data to help your friends through THFS!

"Harden gets way more free throws than anyone!", they say.

Spoiler

Well, actually four other stars are within less than 1 freethrow-per-game with James Harden in these playoffs. And one player actually takes nearly 2 more FT per game - Lebron!

"Well, Lebron carries his team and does LITERALLY everything!"

Spoiler

He certainly has, in the playoffs! And throughout his career with the Rockets, Harden has had historically high usage rates, too! He led the league - again! Perhaps there's a correlation between usage and fouls?

"Even if there is, Harden is soft and just does rip-through moves."

Spoiler

Actually, Harden is in the top 5 most points-in-the-paint for guards this season, with Westbrook, Simmons and Lebron. Players who are widely lauded for their toughness and ability to finish through contact!

"STILL doesn't matter. ANY player could be a superstar if the refs called everything for them."

Spoiler

The stats show that Harden had the second highest percentage of unassisted field goals in the league - behind teammate Chris Paul! These guys are routinely making plays happen by themselves against very good defenses, so a high foul rate is to be expected as teams double them or play desperate defense on ISO plays.

"OK, forget talking with you homer Rockets fans! Harden gets way too many fouls and that's the end of story!"

Spoiler

Is it, though? When it comes to fouls as a percentage of points, Harden isn't even number one, and is within 3 percentage points of MANY players, most closely: Jimmy Butler, Rudy Gobert, Damian Lillard and DeMar DeRozan.

"There's just no reasoning with you Rockets fans... ESPN says..."
Don't listen to ESPN. When was the last time you saw professional refs call out a sports network for unchecked journalism?

"UGH, but he's still a TRAVELER!"
Maybe - here's a detailed view on whether that's true.

"That's just a guy on Youtube! Clearly I understand the game at a higher level."
OK, here's a professional ref commenting on it.

[Repeat conversation until desired results are achieved.]

 

Sorry this is a little long, I hope that it's helpful!

 

That's a pretty clever argument by him. Harden detractors are slippery snakes. They may slither out once but the data will keep on catching up with them.

I've been a big Harden detractor in the past, but he has taken huge strides this year. This is the best Harden that we've ever seen.

 

Normally I would agree, but it's like the entire NBA at this point. It's an avalanche of this crap on every social media outlet and around every water cooler. I just get tired of hearing ignorance on a daily basis, so I thought I'd shine a ray of light into the darkness. I feel better now.

 

It's hardly worth discussing foul calls with anyone who has drank anti-Harden kool-aid unless you actually have video of the play in front of you. Then they'll usually back down and say "well, not on THIS play.... but all those other times...." and then you can laugh.

 

That was actually the first in a series of events that got me irritated enough to write this thread. TNT gave the social media masses ammunition to screenshot and post on every Harden-related item around the web.

We will stand and fight!

 

Ah, the traveling narrative is a real slippery one. The intent of this post was just to show that what is available in the basic NBA stats is enough to bust most of the narratives.

Something specific like traveling is just going to require people to argue about specific video clips. But enough officials and experts have backed Harden on that one that I feel like I can just direct people to those.

I think a dedicated person could definitely put together a video of other players (Lillard, Derozan, Lebron, Jordan etc) doing the same moves that Harden does.

(For the record I DO think Harden travels on SOME of his step backs (not usually though). But we have to acknowledge that to be fully correct in that particular debate. Sometimes you have to concede a little.)

 

I'll let you start that thread.

 

It's nice to be on THIS side of that for once after all of the previous Jazz and Spurs "gamesmanship" for 20 years though.