It was a real shame that all the talk after Game 1 between the Rockets and Warriors revolved around the controversial officiating that some argue unfairly tipped the balance in Golden State’s favor. It has centered specifically on whether James Harden was fouled on several three-point attempts, during which various defenders allegedly invaded his landing space as they were trying to contest the shot.
Part of the debate centers on whether Harden kicks out his feet in an exaggerated manner to try and force the referee to make the call. If you were to take the temperature of the average NBA fan, you’d likely find that there isn’t much sympathy out there for Harden, as many believe he routinely over-embellishes his movements to draw fouls on his opponents, and has long been the benefactor of questionable calls.
Some have even gone so far as to accuse Harden of gaming the system somehow with his uncanny knack for creating contact and earning trips to the line. But don’t count Kevin Durant among those ranks. Even though they are fierce competitors on the court, Durant refused to say that his former teammate is somehow guilty of cheating the game.
Via Nick Friedell of ESPN:
“I wouldn’t say that he has an advantage,” Durant said after the morning shootaround before Game 2 on Tuesday night. “I think everybody, once they get into the lane, they use little tricks to try to get their shots off. I don’t think he’s any different.
“He may bump guys off going to the rim, but everybody does that. I wouldn’t say that he’s found a way to … cheat the rules. I wouldn’t say that. I just think that he has his style of play. It might not be what everybody likes to see, but it’s been effective. And I don’t think he’s been cheating the game at all.”
There’s been plenty of schadenfreude among his critics as they see this as some sort of poetic recompense for his perceived transgressions. But on closer inspection, Harden has a clear argument for some of those no-calls. Now, the officiating crew will be under tremendous scrutiny when Game 2 tips off on Tuesday night in Oakland as they try to course-correct while somehow maintaining a careful balance of consistency and objectivity in what has to be one of the more unenviable jobs around.
(Via ESPN)
