If you're even a casual fan of the NBA, you're probably aware of the term “flopping”. This occurs when a player attempts to draw a foul by embellishing the impact from contact. This is a prime example. Needless to say, this technique is not good for the integrity of the game, nor is it the most honest thing to do.
So the NBA decided to take action against flopping by allowing referees more leeway to decide whether or not a player is attempting to deceive them. If the refs think the player is acting, a technical foul is assessed. If the player is deemed to have flopped in the post-game analysis by the league, they are fined. As a result, the amount of flops has decreased. But now, a new form of advantage-seeking has appeared.
When dribbling the ball behind the three-point line, players will sometimes wait for a screen, then intentionally run into the defender who has been picked, drawing a foul. Where the problem lies is that the ball-handler will pull up for a shot in the process of the foul, even if it was not in a good situation to take the shot, as James Harden demonstrates.
The other half to this issue is when players pump fake before a shot, the defender falls for the fake, jumps, and then angles their momentum away from the shooter so as not to commit a foul. Instead of following a natural shooting motion and attempting the shot essentially undefended, players will instead begin the shot process and then jump into the defender, even if the defender is completely out of their shooting line.
Often times, shooters will not even try to make the shot, rather they will just throw the ball up and head to the free throw line for three free attempts.
The Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are frequent users of this technique. The issue with allowing this to go on is that it penalizes defenders for playing active defense.
Players are taught to always put a hand up in a shooters face to attempt to throw him off, but why play aggressive if the shooter will just jump into you and draw a foul? Defenders will just play off of shooters even more than they already do, allowing more open three-point shots, an, consequently, more points.
Beginning this season, the NBA took steps to curb this abuse, instituting what is known as the “Harden rule.” Aptly named, this rule allows referees to decide whether a foul is common or shooting, as well as assessing an offensive foul if they think the offensive player deliberately leaned into the defender.
Thus far, the rule has helped some. This season, the NBA is on pace to set the record for fewest free throw attempts. Harden is averaging 1.9 more field goal attempts per game, but one fewer free throw attempt. However, Curry is the opposite; 1.1 fewer field goals but 1.4 more free throws per game.
If drawing a walk in baseball is like shooting free throws, then intentionally leaning into a pitch is like leaning into a defender. This tactic is illegal in baseball because it gives the hitter an unfair advantage; if the hitter is able to lean into every inside pitch, then he gets a free pass because he isn't required to do the real work; hitting the ball. With this technique, shooters are exempt from doing the real work; making the jump shot.
It's no wonder that NBA offenses are scoring more points than ever when the rules specifically harm defenses. Power, physicality, and athleticism have been replaced by finesse, skill, and shooting ability. Physical players certainly have a place in today's game, but three-point shooting is the number one skill a scorer needs to have. And if rules(or lack thereof) are punishing defenders for trying to play defense, this will not change anytime soon.
While it is encouraging that the NBA is attempting to fix this problem, it's clear that more can and should be done. If a referee determines that the shooter intentionally jumped into the defender, perhaps a technical foul would be a better deterrent than an offensive foul. Instituting a fine for a violation would also discourage players from using the tactic. Three-point shots are worth more than normal field goals, so they shouldn't be easier to attempt.
Players such as Harden and Curry consistently place at the top of the league in scoring, much in part to their exceptional three-point shooting. While the NBA shouldn't be actively trying to dampen their performance, the lack of a solid rule to combat this underhanded approach harms defenders and needs some attention.
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