Missing in Action
When the NBA announced rule changes regarding drawing fouls in the offseason fans and pundits immediately gravitated towards James Harden and how this would directly impact him. The answer is, not well.
During his first five games during the 2021-22 season, he attempted 15 free throws. After much complaining from himself, his coach, and the Nets fan base he attempted 19 freebies on Friday night versus Indiana.
Harden must reach into his bag of tricks because relying on foul calls is not going to produce the same result as it did in the past. The NBA made the rule change for a reason and thus far it has been doing its job with the exception of one game.
Historically, Harden has averaged fewer free throws per game in the playoffs than the regular season. Year after year, his team falls short in the post-season. Because his foul shot attempts are now dwindling in the regular season, this poses a massive for him and his Nets.