A much discussed topic at the start of the season, the new arbitration rules in force have been less talked about lately. Until James Harden was revived on the issue last night after the Nets’ defeat on the Wolves floor.
While he had just signed one of his strongest matches of the year, two days earlier in San Antonio, the bearded man had to settle for 13 points and 13 assists, with only 4/13 on shots. And four throws obtained.
After the encounter, he is asked why he feels he is no longer getting the same whistles as in the past. ” It’s a good question. I do not know. I don’t even want to talk about it. When I get to the circle, the others get the same whistles. We obviously can’t whistle them all“, agrees the bearded man, whose words are relayed by ESPN.
But he believes that the referees lack ” consistency in their decisions. Hence his frustration that he has already had more than once the opportunity to express this season, as here recently on the floor of the Bulls.
At the end of October, the former Rockets player had already had the opportunity to complain about new arbitration rules in force. In that month, the superstar averaged only five free throws per game. This quota has largely started to rise again since: in December, it almost doubled. So that over the whole season, with eight attempts on average, he shoots less than his good years in Houston, but a little more than last season.
The emblematic figure of these new rules
” It’s as if (the referees said): ‘I didn’t see’ or ‘There was no fault for me’ when it’s clear, extremely clear. But I have to keep moving forward. That’s not going to stop me. Keep going to the basket, being aggressive and making the play for my team “, continues James Harden, who admits not having done enough that night. Aware of having been passive “, for example, he did not take a single shot in the fourth quarter.
The star can in any case count on the support of his coach, Steve Nash, who also notices a difference in treatment depending on the match. For him, there is still no doubt that his leader is the ” player symbol associated with these new guidelines.
“ I believe that has been well demonstrated. The start of the season was difficult, the referees really tried to correct this factor (the new rules). I think they overdid it. Tonight was one of those nights where I felt some whistles that should have gone his way didn’t. “, regrets the coach.
” According to the team of officials who referee us, it also has an impact but we just want to start the game with consistent whistles., also claims Kyrie Irving. ” When (James Harden) creates a contact, it is considered to deserve respect. We know who he is, that he’s going to the throwing line. He is often the victim of faults when he penetrates. Some whistles can go one way or the other but we just want consistency.“
| James Harden | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2009-10 | OKAY | 76 | 23 | 40.3 | 37.5 | 80.8 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 9.9 |
| 2010-11 | OKAY | 82 | 27 | 43.6 | 34.9 | 84.3 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 12.2 |
| 2011-12 | OKAY | 62 | 31 | 49.1 | 39.0 | 84.6 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 16.8 |
| 2012-13 | HOO | 78 | 38 | 43.8 | 36.8 | 85.1 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 3.8 | 0.5 | 25.9 |
| 2013-14 | HOO | 73 | 38 | 45.6 | 36.6 | 86.6 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 25.4 |
| 2014-15 | HOO | 81 | 37 | 44.0 | 37.5 | 86.8 | 0.9 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 27.4 |
| 2015-16 | HOO | 82 | 38 | 43.9 | 35.9 | 86.0 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 7.5 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 4.6 | 0.6 | 29.0 |
| 2016-17 | HOO | 81 | 36 | 44.0 | 34.7 | 84.7 | 1.2 | 7.0 | 8.1 | 11.2 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 5.7 | 0.5 | 29.1 |
| 2017-18 ★ | HOO | 72 | 35 | 44.9 | 36.7 | 85.8 | 0.6 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 8.8 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 30.4 |
| 2018-19 | HOO | 78 | 37 | 44.2 | 36.8 | 87.9 | 0.9 | 5.8 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 3.1 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 36.1 |
| 2019-20 | HOO | 68 | 37 | 44.4 | 35.5 | 86.5 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 7.5 | 3.3 | 1.8 | 4.5 | 0.9 | 34.3 |
| 2020-21 * | All Teams | 44 | 37 | 46.6 | 36.2 | 86.1 | 0.8 | 7.1 | 7.9 | 10.8 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 24.6 |
| 2020-21 * | BRK | 36 | 37 | 47.1 | 36.6 | 85.6 | 0.8 | 7.7 | 8.5 | 10.9 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 24.6 |
| 2020-21 * | HOO | 8 | 36 | 44.4 | 34.7 | 88.3 | 0.6 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 10.4 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 24.8 |
| 2021-22 | BRK | 40 | 37 | 42.1 | 33.9 | 86.6 | 1.0 | 7.1 | 8.1 | 10.0 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 23.0 |
| Total | 917 | 35 | 44.3 | 36.2 | 85.9 | 0.8 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 6.7 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 25.0 | |
