It kills me how non Rocket fans have such a huge problem with this but where fine with the blatant one sided called series in the western conference finals last year.
I actually enjoy the fact that we have a player that lives in everyone's head rent free. People probably have nightmares about Harden taking free throws, it makes me happy. Too bad Kevin Martin never had the recognition from the community, it's not even fair, he was a better foul drawer than Harden almost fairy like
Because all other NBA players are pure-hearted idealists who believe in the holy sanctity of the game. They refuse to lower themselves to the level of sinful, cheating Harden.
3 Steps. See my Screen Shot explanation to match that tweet on Page 3 of this thread. Now ESPN can stop being so sad thinking it was 5 Steps. Spoiler Explanation from last night.
I like to explain it that it's actually really hard to time a step-back that closely to being illegal ... it's like only DeRozan can do it as well as Harden...but DeRozan can't do it from 3-pt territory like James. James shot something like 45% on his Step-Back threes last year ....egregious. I imagine since other players can't step back that far and that fast, it either difficult to master footwork (like Hakeem's) or it must throw off their ability to make the shot, so they are more common in their stepwork, but gain less separation...so to create separation, they really require a jab move to get their opponent off balance, prior to their lessor step back. With Harden's elite timing to the Gather, he can even get separation without throwing the defender off balance first, which contributes to them thinking they can block it, so jump into his landing space or hit his elbow for 3 shots or 4pt play. And keep in mind, defenders lunging into his landing space is a very dangerous thing constantly bait, which other players might not do, even if they could. (see how @Deuce explains it from another thread, below). I completely agree with the uniqueness Deuce explains, and beauty of it. Combine the skill of separation via timing and long dance steps (which, imo, only DeRozan shares), with ability to drive like a bull and sustain constant hits (yet score through them still), and you have an elite player who puts his body on the line multiple times on a nightly basis. Find me players with the ability and willingness to do both that on a nightly basis, and you're in a group of historical greats. Then, filter it once again for players who can pass as well, and it's like you're almost down to just Lebron and James.
You forgot Doncic. At 19 he has already mastered the step back three. Not quite at Harden level yet (36% vs 40%), but he'll get there for sure.
here i made a song inspired by the recent happenings An ode to a beard once upon a time in the land of the orange ball there was a giant beard that caused many to fall it was a magnificient beard but they never liked it it caused many people to curse and hate it oh you nasty beard where are you manners why you do this to your nba brothers? why torture them day and night? dont make em bleed have mercy upon scrubs they have families to feed they cant sleep by night thinking of your travels always finding something to blame never delight in your divine game what did you do to them to hate you so hard? its must be your shoes that cause all their woes or perhaps its your hands that make the d regress
Many players can do a step-backs -- in that list of players, the step work Doncic does is common...like Curry's or Bird's. He's also great at the initial jab step to get defenders off balance. There's a subtle difference I'm trying to point out, which allows Harden to shoot way more of them...almost at will. Look at it this way: When fans start saying Doncic is travelling (when he's not), then he'll have mastered Harden's footwork. No knock on Doncic...I'm not saying only DeRozan and Harden can do Step-Backs ... I'm talking about the separation they get, even without doing a jab step prior. Harden is more unique in his ability to have a defender right on him, then does an N-Yo-Face, Step-back or Side-Step, with no prior move. That's from his perfect timing to maximize the gather and the long dance step he takes.
Other players take step backs to get away from contact. Harden take step backs at odd angles to throw off the defense and accept contact. Harden is like....
Yeah I agree, for the most part Luka's stepbacks are "traditional". But sometimes he's doing the same thing Harden is. 0:26 in this vid:
