Houston Rockets guard James Harden is the odds-on favorite to win NBA MVP, but not everyone loves the way he plays the game. For instance, Utah Jazz rookie Donovan Mitchell ripped him for going to exhaustive lengths to sell foul calls after the Jazz dropped Game 4 in the second round.
Donovan Mitchell 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
— Jake Edmonds (@JakeKUTV) May 7, 2018
Here’s an example of the Beard’s mastery at drawing fouls:
Dante Exum was called for fouling Harden on this 👀 pic.twitter.com/CJJ5yAM1zG
— ESPN (@espn) May 7, 2018
His propensity for getting to the line mystified the rookie.
the I TRIED TO GUARD JAMES HARDEN face 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/EfgN6yXCo9
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) May 7, 2018
Curry’s Scouting Report of Harden
Harden is a dead-eye free-throw shooter (86 percent in the regular season), so he makes teams pay for fouling him. Heading into the Western Conference Finals, his foe Steph Curry is fully aware of the challenge ahead of his squad.
Steph Curry on the difficulty of guarding James Harden without fouling: "Can't reach. Whether it's a foul or not, he makes it look like a foul. There's an art to that."
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 14, 2018
Though Curry commented on defending the Rockets’ star, it’s unlikely the two-time MVP will draw this defensive assignment. Expect the Warriors to line up their two best perimeter defenders, Klay Thompson and veteran Andre Iguodala, with the Beard.
Curry knows the Rockets will attempt to get him to switch onto Harden or Chris Paul. He seems excited for the challenge.
Steph Curry knows the Rockets are going to drag him into switches to isolate him defensively guarding Harden/Paul. He understands the strategy. "I hope it's every single play." pic.twitter.com/0nJ9YhM9p4
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 11, 2018
The Warriors and Rockets will begin their series Monday at 9 p.m. EST on TNT.
