My response to THE DIME'S BILL DIFILIPPO
05.06.18
#2018 NBA PLAYOFFS #JAMES HARDEN
FROM BILL: James Harden and the Houston Rockets are one game away from making the conference finals. Houston won Game 4 against the Utah Jazz on Sunday night, 100-87, to take a 3-1 series lead as things shift back to their gym for Game 5. Harden had an ok night by his standards, scoring 24 points, pulling down four rebounds, and dishing out three assists.
Harden did some of the stuff that has made him a polarizing player, most notably when he embellished this sequence to earn a foul against Dante Exum.
Harden is the best player in the NBA at getting to the charity stripe, but the way he does it oftentimes draws ire, as he has a reputation for flopping. This has drawn the ire of Donovan Mitchell, apparently, as Utah’s star rookie guard was caught criticizing the way the presumed league MVP plays the game.
Donovan Mitchell was heard saying as he was walking into the locker room after the Jazz’ Game 4 loss to Houston: “If that’s what he needs to win the MVP, so be it.” #HOUatUTA
JOE MAN'S RESPONSE TO DONOVAN: "Dude, this James Harden guy is better at drawing fouls than you rookie. Learn how to do it before you complain to refs so you can say, "Hey ref, I'm getting fouled on the same play here."
This is the only way you can complain to a ref. Rookies piss me off because they don't think about stuff before they say it."
FROM BILL: Mitchell, to his credit, had a big night, going for 25 points and nine rebounds in the loss. There was certainly some frustration building up as the Jazz lost a chippy basketball game and now are backed into a corner, but beyond that, it must be frustrating to watch Harden earn foul calls for what you view as good defense.
This could open up a big can of worms regarding whether players should do this or not, and Harden would probably say that if the refs or going to call it, you might as well try to help your team win by getting to the free throw line. Still, if anyone asked Mitchell about playing like this, we can safely guess what side of the argument he’d fall on, especially when it comes to having this in your game as you try to win your first MVP award.
JOE MAN'S RESPONSE TO BILL: Bill, have you ever played basketball? Donovan is a rookie, so I can't blame him. Of course, you try to draw fouls and put referees in the position to see contact and make a call. Refs don't have to call the contact if they think that they are allowing even, far contact on both sides.
Therein lies the problem, Utah and Donovan don't know how to draw or flop or create contact in the same ways that James Harden and the Houston Rockets do. Chris Paul is very good at this too, it's what makes these guys all-stars. All-stars put/make refs call something because of their ability to create contact while acting, or manipulating the defender's body and positioning. Since Utah can't do the same thing as often as Houston's guards, they have no argument since they aren't able to say, look I'm creating contact here and I'm doing the same thing and you aren't calling it.
You catch what I'm throwing?
JOE MAN