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Lobby Okay Sports topic #2114118

Subject: "How James harden walks the traveling line b/w Horry calls Hakeem GOAT C" Previous topic | Next topic
ShawndmeSlanted
Member since Oct 30th 2004
43347 posts
Thu Jan-17-13 07:22 PM

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"How James harden walks the traveling line b/w Horry calls Hakeem GOAT C"
Thu Jan-17-13 07:22 PM by ShawndmeSlanted

  

          

http://nba.si.com/2013/01/16/james-harden-traveling/
The actual article has video:
By Rob Mahoney

Watch any Rockets game and you’re likely to experience a mental trigger — that immediate notion that something you’ve just seen is ever so slightly amiss. There is no evidence so flagrant as to get up in arms about and no whistle to validate your instant suspicion. But James Harden weaved from just inside the three-point line all the way to the rim with a single dribble, finished and drew contact in the process. His syncopated strides bear a completely different rhythm from the quick one-two step of a standard drive, to the point that they almost seem illegal.

That’s largely because Harden’s drives almost are illegal. No NBA player is more slippery off the bounce, in part because no player is more willing to walk the fine line of the league’s traveling rules. The widespread confusion over the letter and enforcement of the traveling violation has locked most of the league into a very conventional two-count driving style, though some of the more daring players are prone to Eurosteps or jump stops on occasion. Harden’s cadence is a world apart, largely because of his cunning manipulation of the “gather” provision of the rule.

To clear up any confusion, the 2012-13 NBA Rulebook states as follows in Rule 9, Section XIII, Item (b):

A player who receives the ball while he is progressing or upon completion of a dribble, may take two steps in coming to a stop, passing or shooting the ball. A player who receives the ball while he is progressing must release the ball to start his dribble before his second step.

The first step occurs when a foot, or both feet, touch the floor after gaining control of the ball.

(Emphasis mine.)

The rules note that a player’s first step occurs after gaining control of the ball. In other words, a player is allowed to collect the ball in his hands as he takes one step, and follow up with two more full strides. Harden’s incredible driving and finishing ability comes as a result of his understanding of what’s allowed in this regard, as well as his mastery of timing and spacing those three steps. Observe:



***

All of the above are strange plays that may invoke a momentary doubt, but are nonetheless legal according to the contemporary writing and interpretation of the traveling rule. Look at the first play in the clip above. At the 0:07 mark, Harden gathers his dribble facing two defenders at what is essentially the top of the key. His foot is on the ground, and yet because he is only now formally collecting his dribble, he’s privileged to two additional steps to cut through the heart of the Bucks’ defense. That’s where Ekpe Udoh’s positioning creates a bit of a problem; the Milwaukee big man is smart to expect Harden to go to his left, but overcompensates for that possibility and allows Harden to split the defense. From there, Harden simply takes two huge strides — one to get him inside the free-throw line and another that brings him deep into the lane for a double-clutch finish.

By delaying his gather until he’s able to exploit it to create a positional advantage, Harden can use variable speeds and lengths on the ensuing two steps to maximize the effect of his drive. That maneuver is used to particular effect in the third play in the clip above, with a drive beginning at the 0:31 mark. Harden lulls two defenders in with his gather and then explodes to the basket — not with first-rate athleticism, but with a better understanding of how to navigate the room (both literal and figurative) afforded him.

And think: If we’re duped by Harden’s gait while watching from an optimal, unobstructed view, imagine how difficult it must be to time his layup and dunk attempts if you’re tasked with staying in front of him. Harden’s ragtime step-count provides one of the chief explanations for his incredible number of free-throw attempts. Perimeter defenders and shot blockers alike just can’t seem to catch the groove of his drive, and often wind up swinging for the ball at the wrong moment:



***

It doesn’t take much for a defender to miss Harden’s attempt by a single beat, and in the process pad the lead of the player already tops in the league in free throws made (321, or 8.4 per game) and attempted (375, or 9.9 per game). That Harden is also terrific at selling even the slightest contact makes the ordeal of guarding him almost unfair. With defenders unable to impede Harden’s path or peg when his attempt might come, it should come as no surprise that he averages 26.5 points as one of the league’s most efficient high-usage scorers. Harden is simply playing a different game from everyone else, if only because he best understands the rules.


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Oh and yep horry tells grantland about dream and why dream was the goat. Hi shaq loverZ!
http://youtu.be/n_-9Z2LF4fI

---
"though time has passed, im still the future" (c) black thought

  

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Topic Outline
Subject Author Message Date ID
Will Smith is trippin, Dream was but not seeing the Diesel
Jan 18th 2013
1
dream @ his best v. shaq @ his & dream wins 9 out of 10.
Jan 18th 2013
2
word
Jan 18th 2013
3
no, Shaq wins 8 out of 10
Jan 18th 2013
5
Right, Shaq played Hakeem straight up, the Rockets double and triple...
Jan 18th 2013
7
Quit repeating this BOLD-FACED LIE:
Jan 18th 2013
6
Nope! Will was there won chips with both!
Jan 18th 2013
4

mistermaxxx08
Member since Dec 31st 2010
16076 posts
Fri Jan-18-13 02:59 AM

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1. "Will Smith is trippin, Dream was but not seeing the Diesel"
In response to Reply # 0


          

nope nope naw!!!!!!!!1

mistermaxxx R.Kelly, Michael Jackson,Stevie wonder,Rick James,Marvin Gaye,El Debarge, Barry WHite Lionel RIchie,Isleys EWF,Lady T.,Kid creole and coconuts,the crusaders,kc sunshine band,bee gees,jW,sd,NE,JB

Miami Heat, New York Yankees,buffalo bills

  

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Binlahab
Charter member
182954 posts
Fri Jan-18-13 06:00 AM

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2. "dream @ his best v. shaq @ his & dream wins 9 out of 10."
In response to Reply # 1


  

          

dream abused a baby shaq in the finals sooo...yeah...we knew this already

goat.

  

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Lesson24
Member since Nov 10th 2008
1046 posts
Fri Jan-18-13 08:13 AM

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3. "word"
In response to Reply # 2


  

          

________________________________
Knicks-Ewing/Jackson, Eagles-Cunningham & Mets-Strawberry/Gooden

http://soundcloud.com/relativeviscosity
http://twitter.com/Relative_Visc
XBL: Lesson24

Music

  

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Ill Jux
Member since Jan 19th 2007
14705 posts
Fri Jan-18-13 08:34 AM

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5. "no, Shaq wins 8 out of 10"
In response to Reply # 2


          

shaq had kobe during his prime and wouldn't stop him from dropping 40, shaq would defend dream better dream would defend shaq.

______

in the memory of NYC upt JUX�

  

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ThaTruth
Charter member
99998 posts
Fri Jan-18-13 09:46 AM

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7. "Right, Shaq played Hakeem straight up, the Rockets double and triple..."
In response to Reply # 5


          

teamed Shaq and he still got his

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

  

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ThaTruth
Charter member
99998 posts
Fri Jan-18-13 09:44 AM

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6. "Quit repeating this BOLD-FACED LIE:"
In response to Reply # 2


          

>dream abused a baby shaq in the finals sooo...yeah...we knew
>this already

________________________________________
"Take the surprise out your voice Shaq."-The REAL CP3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2H5K-BUMS0

  

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ShawndmeSlanted
Member since Oct 30th 2004
43347 posts
Fri Jan-18-13 08:23 AM

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4. "Nope! Will was there won chips with both!"
In response to Reply # 1


  

          

---
"though time has passed, im still the future" (c) black thought

  

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