I agree, despite being underrated and bashed sometimes, he created a move that other pros are trying to imitate. Harden's step-back and before he launches it is like watching a dance, so smooth, so flawless... Love it.. :)
I loved the incongruity when the voice-over said something like, "his right foot hasn't moved a bit," and the video showed a close up of his right foot hopping slightly into the air in beautiful ultra-slow-mo. Well done!
Another reason why his step back is so deadly is because of his foul drawing tendencies. The defender has to run forward to have any chance of contesting his shot, which leads to a higher chance of a foul when he tries to draw contact and flop...
It’s like one of the most efficient shots in history. I remember seeing that accounting for fouls drawn, his true shooting percentage on three point attempts was like 68%, mirroring/eclipsing guys like MJ Shaq and Kareem, you name it. That is silly
@@govols2214 Total fouls drawn, fouls drawn on all 3 point attempts or fouls drawn while attempting a step back 3? That matters. Also lets understand that Cassell, Billups and Pierce used the move almost exclusively to create open looks in a different era and the only difference between what they are doing and what Harden is doing is the rules of the era they played in and the style of play. The step back shots that they were shooting were higher difficulty then what Harden is shooting because they played in a era where the defender could still make and initiate body contact. You had to use the inside leg almost exclusively as it served at you mechanism to stop but also along with your inside arm, shoulder and hip your catapult. It was the basketball version of stiff arming a defender. We used to say keep a guy on your hip if you were the offensive player. If he was on your hip you could always bump him off his spot, step back, or side step and get an easy mid range look. Harden has simply adjusted to the rules of the era in which you no longer need to bump a guy off his spot, teams now having analytics departments telling players to only shoot 3´s or layups and coaches accepting it because their bosses have bought in. Just like in the NFL we are seeing inflated passing numbers that´s a direct result of rules changes. What James is doing is a direct result of rule changes. Most important are the rule changes not his step back.
@Igbo Thunder See at 1st I thought it was CP3 bc of the forehead and then I thought PG13? Had to come to the comments to see if anyone else thought the same.
Larry's "I'm gonna get the ball right here and shoot it" - and not only do so in the face of the defender, but HIT the shot after that advance warning.
@@ionesito How is that even a travel? He bounces the ball while doing the first step back, then he slightly catches it with one hand but only really gathers it as he grabs it with his second hand and steps at the same time. So that's a gather step. Then he takes another step back, that's the first step. Next he lands on his right foot, establishing that at his pivot foot as it's his last step. Then lastly, he shoots the ball. As long as his right foot doesn't come off the floor and touch it again or move somewhere else he is fine to put his left foot anywhere he wants to. It's like if some is going in for a lay up. They do a gather step, two steps and then they can stop and do something similar to a dream shake if they want.
@@XENOX-777 About half the time, even WITH the changes to travelling by the NBA over the last 10-15 years, Hardin STILL manages to travel. And they only get those "2 steps" if they then SHOOT or PASS. I blame Manu and the "Eurostep".
No disrespect to Harden, cause he’s an amazing scorer, but 19.8 ISO’s per game isn’t gonna win him a championship. IMO, if he keeps this up, his step backs are all he’s going to be remembered for.
EJ Dela Cruz what are you talking about. The team that beat them is GSW. Idk how you can say it doesn’t work when he won 65 games in the west with no all stars on his team. He averaged 35/5/5/2 against GSW in the playoffs.
C Dai I see the numbers you’re providing and it’s very impressive. Yes, the team that beat them was Golden State. That being said, Houston built a team specifically around Harden and then specifically to beat Golden State and they still lost. If I remember correctly, GSW eliminated them last season at the end of the series without Durant so can you explain that? Hero (ISO) ball doesn’t work. Jordan figured that out, Kobe figured that out, and it’s also why LBJ and GSW has had so much success. It’s also why KD and Russ didn’t win one together. But like I said, it’s just my opinion.
that's your first problem, you're supposed to be taking 5 steps. Go back to the gym, pick up your dribble and start walking back like you forgot something, you got this.
Bit Whys - 😭- I will walk in the footsteps of Haden and rewrite the rules. I will make the game of basketball easier for everyone. This is groundbreaking. This is history!
He dribbled on what looked like a step back without the ball and then did the step back afterwards. I guess since he does it so quick it looks like a travel 🤷♂️.
Yeah he started that move and it’s become very important but Harden became too dependent on it. It almost became the only thing he would do. He started shooting that so much to where he led the league in misses by a landslide. In the playoffs he would shoot it so much to where it became obvious he would shoot to draw a foul rather than actually making it. I might sound like a hater but he did that shot so much to where it became a liability to him. That and the fact that he was a premadonna and wouldn’t allow Chris Paul to do his job as PG and demanded the ball be in his hands all the time.
Yes i agree. Him and his coaches fucked up being so insanely ball dominant all those years. It was too predictable in the playoffs when a team can really scheme to stop him and not worry too much about everyone else
Not gonna lie, you can tell he works on his craft. Impressive as it is. I don't see a chip being won if he has to dribble 500 times. Prove me wrong Beard.
@@LOR.e_xplores Even an old man in Igoudala can do it in GSW, And you don't have to dribble that much when you can move without the ball. He'd be like Klay sometimes, catch and shoot.
There are lots of travels by Harden not called by the refs. At 0:44, he took 4 steps back, at 0:54 3steps back and at 6:10 3 steps back but still not called for travel. Slow it down to .25x and you could see it clearly.
I also use my dribbling,hesi's,jabs,and other moves to get my defender leaning. Like he said before,even the slightest lean from my defender is an advantage for me
Next to unguardable. Even a solid defender who knows it's coming like George Hill @5:45 , Harden just pushes off to create space, and he'll never get called for that offensive foul
This is why the NBA needs to bring back hand checking. Obviously they wont because it will hurt scoring, but defenders are now powerless against stuff like this.
the difference between a normal step-back done by other players vs Harden's just look at 5:55 when Harden does a regular step-back (jab with front foot with ball on the downward motion which is what all other players do) and versus the "Harden step-back" like at 6:15 (instead of jabbing the front foot when the ball is going on the downward motion, he does it when the ball bounced back up, steps forward, puts the second hand on the ball and two-steps). Harden is basically exploiting the rule of "you can take 2 after completion of dribble, because that first jab he never put the second hand on the ball and still consider live ball. This also why he gets fouled on the shot a lot because the timing is different than what defender expects in a normal step-back. i still think it is bs travel, but hey...i also loved Jordan's thunder steps.... btw, CP3 now that i think of it does the side-step version of this way before Harden did it. side-step as the one Booker did at the end of the video.
been a while since I've played competitive ball but that example against KD where the pivot foot is picked up then put back down used to be called traveling.
The NBA really needs to fix this - hero ball in the early '00's was fun because it allowed the 'heroes' to attack in a multitude of ways. This is not only bending the travel rules, but the foul calls as well, all to service a single shot in the name of a 'higher scoring' league. This is artificially increasing the scoring, while simultaneously decreasing the entertainment factor (who likes watching Harden shoot 20 free throws a game?). Allow hand-checking, zone defenses and call flops on guys like Harden and Curry, while the pace of play would definitely slow down, these players could then battle through and -prove- themselves on the caliber of players like McGrady, Bryant, Wade, Iverson etc. Right now, while the accuracy is astonishing, the play looks weak and the rules of the game look like they are innefective - the interior game is non-existent, which is all a shame.
@@reyesmartinez512 to be fair, some all stars can't even consistently make it to the playoffs. Harden just can't beat the Warriors dynasty but who knows, maybe this year.
It’s a big difference between a 2 step back shot and 4 step back shots, and there’s a slight chance that people will miss noticing it. I’ve seen Curry doing it too.
He always chokes in the playoffs. There is Kawhi, there is Gianni's, there is Stephen Curry, there is LeBron James and then there are the chokers like Westbrick and Harden.
How is that even a travel? He bounces the ball while doing the first step back, then he slightly catches it with one hand but only really gathers it as he grabs it with his second hand and steps at the same time. So that's a gather step. Then he takes another step back, that's the first step. Next he lands on his right foot, establishing that at his pivot foot as it's his last step. Then lastly, he shoots the ball. As long as his right foot doesn't come off the floor and touch it again or move somewhere else he is fine to put his left foot anywhere he wants to. It's like if some is going in for a lay up. They do a gather step, two steps and then they can stop and do something similar to a dream shake if they want.
@@XENOX-777 The gather step that Harden abuses was a new thing added in the past year or two to help people like Harden out. Just because he's following the new rule doesn't mean it's a good rule that should have been added.
I'm not against Harden's step back 3s, it's just I think he should focus on making that more efficient than trying that one-legged 3. The dude shot 36% from the arc. Imagine him making over 40% of his 1000 attempted three pointers. I know that 4% seems small but that 4% will translate to 40 more made threes which is big.
Body the line and he finishes at the Rim with the best of em. Let's not talk about the 20 free throws he will take attacking the Rim that often. People get into foul trouble now you got back Ups Guarding the leagues leading scorer and hes Hot. You Lose.
I would make him go left cause most time he’s stepping back to his right it’s the same shot so make him have to step back to his left that means the ball is pocketed in the left hand first then he would also have to swirl (sway) his shot. See he’s lefty so make him step back on the dominate hand most people step back to the off hand so that the shooting hand is free to shoot and ready to go. Wish I could show it better than I explain. It’s all about being comfortable Make him uncomfortable by having his feet side by side. He keeps one foot forward (the left foot) so that he can step back and pull up right into a comfortable shot. Make that foot switch the other way or side by side and then he mostly like won’t shoot or he will miss. All his steps are usually made from a left foot forward setback to the right. I play a lot of basketball we did experiments on good shooters about this same thing. It works but we aren’t James harden either Just my opinion but it worked on really good shooters and I think if a good defender knows this it would throw harden off.
When i was young i used to play exactly the same way HARDEN plays...dribble dribble then dribble dribble dribble....i was unstoppable and nobody could score more points then me... But i never won anything and nobody liked to play on my team...
@@Mikeyb.__ You dumb asf thinking Harden the only one that utilizes the gather step. You should know better being a Giannis fan, if you say Harden's stepback is a travel, then most of Giannis's layups/dunks are travels too.
@@haitungying7808 I guess you forgot about the Golden State Warriors...you know..that team that has like 17 all stars...or something like that..who by the way the Rockets took to game 7 in the WCF 2 years ago and was 1 quarter away from going to the NBA finals. Last year harden set historic numbers carrying the rockets on his back while half the team was injured. But continue hating on him and spewing out ridiculous statements.
His regular season map stats are fools gold. Do get them in the playoff. Suppose his fans could hang on that as a chance to win the championship. Personally, I much prefer actually winning than a chance of winning.
Rocket fans cannot have it both ways. Rockets system is to have Harden as the one man show, offensively of course, and have him beat the 17 all star dubs. It is their designed scheme. So when they got beat, their designed scheme got beat. Not just one year, but 3 yrs. Apparently, Houston still thinks do-or-die with Harden ISO will work eventually. Btw, with KD down and Thompson down the last 2 games, Houston actually got beat by 15.5 all stars, not 17. When Curry scored 40pts in the second half to beat Houston, none of his 40pts were iso. It was motion basketball. Motion ball beat iso ball. Dubs beat Rockets. It is all about the system, not about players.
Spurs and warriors offense led to titles Kobe and MJ isos + triangle offense led to titles Dantoni harden "efficient smart basketball" has led to embarrassing playoff defeats year after year. Dont compare
Play 0:39 at .25 speed. You can see Curry take a real gather step and step back while dribbling. While the next play, Harden has the ball in his hand and takes 3 steps back.
If you look properly you can clearly see that when he gathers the ball he also takes his gather step with his left foot at the exact same time. However he doesn’t take a step with his right foot. Then he pulls his right foot back (with it still in the air) then steps with his right foot (first step), then he pulls his left leg back and steps (second step) and the shoots. So it’s clearly not a travel.
@@yungchris93 and he had 3 bad turnovers in the 4th quarter of game 6 in his own house when steph was clowning them. This year harden might average 35 in the first round attempting 28 shots a game and the rockets lose the first round. But yall will still be like "hE aVeRAgeD tHiRtY FiVe tHo"
To me it's hard to guard but great defenders like Pippen, Kobe even Tmac said its possible to stop they just don't work hard enough I guess. The fade away of Kobe and MJ and Kareems Sky Hook to me is still unstoppable Harden always falls short in the Playoffs and can't even showcase it I really wanna see him win a Ring though because he is one of my favorites but players like Kawhi can stop him.
Someone needed to edit in Dragonball Z punching sound effects for that Harden Dribbling segment between *3:28* to *3:38* because that....NEEDED TO BE THERE!!!!!
0:42 when you play at 0.25 speed isn't that a travel? in europe it would be counted as 4 steps but with the first step not counted in the nba it would still be 3?
Harden has mastered the art of SOCIAL DISTANCING before the coronavirus ever happened
Especially on defense..😁
@@JohnWick-lh9gn I guess you're a sheep that just runs with internet narratives instead of looking at the stats huh
@@JohnWick-lh9gn Nah he's good on post defense
Makes sense dont it
Mike Lawry take a joke kid lol
I agree, despite being underrated and bashed sometimes, he created a move that other pros are trying to imitate. Harden's step-back and before he launches it is like watching a dance, so smooth, so flawless... Love it.. :)
imagine getting paid to count Harden's dribbles throughout the whole season
@@kamren5764 that's not even a word but okay
@@danshazam8511 What'd he say?
@@hanley8756 wish I remembered but he deleted it already.
That's what Second Spectrum's machine learning is for. A machine will do it for you when it recognizes a dribble.
I'd imagine they can write a program for it
If the Rockets are so analytics heavy why on earth did they pick up Westbrook?
Because he's supposed to be good he just needs to stop shooting so much because he's actually brick
Analytics actually really like Westbrook, look at net-creation. Stars like Westbrook, Curry, Dragic, and prime Ginobili had RIDICULOUS advanced stats.
It was a desperation move. Despite their analytics, they could never break through.
@@maulerXX If they kept Chris Paul like we talking no ego's here, they would've won in 2019
Ballin Basketball
Nah tbh as a Warriors fan, Houston deserved the win in 2018
5:21
He also changed his shoes in a blink of a eye. AMAZING.
Jota David Ojeda lmaoooo
James Harden step back 3 pointer is the most reliable move you can make easy buckets
@@mattkim2235 easiest way to choke out of the playoffs too
Seen the tittle and went straight to the comment section .
Let me save time and summarize for you.
1. harden travels...yawn
2. don't care, no championships
did i miss anything else? haters, please respond.
@@justinp85 haters says harden too thicc
@@justinp85 they also call him a ball hog and flopper.
Indeed.
That’s how I am every video lol 😂
I loved the incongruity when the voice-over said something like, "his right foot hasn't moved a bit," and the video showed a close up of his right foot hopping slightly into the air in beautiful ultra-slow-mo. Well done!
Another reason why his step back is so deadly is because of his foul drawing tendencies. The defender has to run forward to have any chance of contesting his shot, which leads to a higher chance of a foul when he tries to draw contact and flop...
why is that another reason when it's covered in the video?
He also steps forward to throw defenders off
Another reason is that it's technically a travel violation but they never call it
Harden's stepback has been my favorite move for 4 years. Loved his stepback since when it used to be even cooler and more finesse-y.
So basically Harden always has his 2K takeover meter full 🤷🏿♂️
Yeet I'm a rockets fan so it's ok
That shot creator takeover
But it runs out in the pay offs 🤣
Mason p a y o f f
@@4kc2 PaYoFf
That one on KD is crazy when he breaks it down
he traveled he lift his right foot
@@philippemigueldossantos6794 to be fair the refs don’t call a lot of things
It’s like one of the most efficient shots in history. I remember seeing that accounting for fouls drawn, his true shooting percentage on three point attempts was like 68%, mirroring/eclipsing guys like MJ Shaq and Kareem, you name it. That is silly
Xander Sanders It’s a great isolation move but I wouldn’t go that far lol.
Diego Velazquez I literally just stated a fact
The efficiency of that shot is higher than the total efficiency of some of the greatest scorers of all time, that’s all that I was trying to say
@@govols2214 Total fouls drawn, fouls drawn on all 3 point attempts or fouls drawn while attempting a step back 3? That matters. Also lets understand that Cassell, Billups and Pierce used the move almost exclusively to create open looks in a different era and the only difference between what they are doing and what Harden is doing is the rules of the era they played in and the style of play. The step back shots that they were shooting were higher difficulty then what Harden is shooting because they played in a era where the defender could still make and initiate body contact. You had to use the inside leg almost exclusively as it served at you mechanism to stop but also along with your inside arm, shoulder and hip your catapult. It was the basketball version of stiff arming a defender. We used to say keep a guy on your hip if you were the offensive player. If he was on your hip you could always bump him off his spot, step back, or side step and get an easy mid range look. Harden has simply adjusted to the rules of the era in which you no longer need to bump a guy off his spot, teams now having analytics departments telling players to only shoot 3´s or layups and coaches accepting it because their bosses have bought in. Just like in the NFL we are seeing inflated passing numbers that´s a direct result of rules changes. What James is doing is a direct result of rule changes. Most important are the rule changes not his step back.
Trainer Rob ok
James Harden step back 3 pointer is the most reliable move you can make easy buckets
TOASTED Giannis dunk*
Most reliable during the first 82 games afterwards it did not work
*easy free throw
Harden's step back 3 pointer is reliable.
Except Harden isn't reliable when it matters
King Savage You thought
The Paul George silhouette though😭😭
@Igbo Thunder See at 1st I thought it was CP3 bc of the forehead and then I thought PG13? Had to come to the comments to see if anyone else thought the same.
@@T.H.E.O.R.Y. ,F😢
cus he gets the most game winners dropped on him
sorry about them
Y’all troll him a lot, but can’t deny he’s world class and one of the best.
Kareem's Skyhook, Jordan's fadeaway, Curry's deep three, Dirk's mid-range fadeaway....
Larry's "I'm gonna get the ball right here and shoot it" - and not only do so in the face of the defender, but HIT the shot after that advance warning.
He may never win a championship but he is an offensive genuis.
At getting away with travels
HUNTER TAYLOR he saw a flaw in the way refs call things and takes advantage. Not his fault really.
That play style will never win a championship 🤷🏽♂️ go crazy on the Regular season and suck at the postseason
Not may, will
HUNTER TAYLOR not even a travel learn basketball
Best ESPN basketball host EVER! So professionally engaging and articulate. Hope to see more of your individual player breakdowns.
3:12 *Harden! Step back 3! BANG!!*
Harden is always just a hop, followed by a skip, and then a jump away from an open shot. Most efficient cheat of all time.
a cheat?
Hugh O'Brien yeah, travelling
@@ionesito How is that even a travel? He bounces the ball while doing the first step back, then he slightly catches it with one hand but only really gathers it as he grabs it with his second hand and steps at the same time. So that's a gather step. Then he takes another step back, that's the first step. Next he lands on his right foot, establishing that at his pivot foot as it's his last step. Then lastly, he shoots the ball. As long as his right foot doesn't come off the floor and touch it again or move somewhere else he is fine to put his left foot anywhere he wants to. It's like if some is going in for a lay up. They do a gather step, two steps and then they can stop and do something similar to a dream shake if they want.
@@ionesito not a travel
@@XENOX-777 About half the time, even WITH the changes to travelling by the NBA over the last 10-15 years, Hardin STILL manages to travel.
And they only get those "2 steps" if they then SHOOT or PASS.
I blame Manu and the "Eurostep".
Great video ESPN! Hope you guys can make similar videos such as this for the rest of the NBA!
"69 stepbacks"
Me: Nice
Same
*noice
Nice
Bruh ur immature
nice
No disrespect to Harden, cause he’s an amazing scorer, but 19.8 ISO’s per game isn’t gonna win him a championship. IMO, if he keeps this up, his step backs are all he’s going to be remembered for.
EJ Dela Cruz what are you talking about. The team that beat them is GSW. Idk how you can say it doesn’t work when he won 65 games in the west with no all stars on his team. He averaged 35/5/5/2 against GSW in the playoffs.
C Dai I don’t get how people call him a choker for losing to golden state acting as if any other team has even come close to beating them
Should of won 1 in 2018 if cp3 didn't get hurt
Not only that but MoreyBall won’t help Rockets win the title
C Dai I see the numbers you’re providing and it’s very impressive. Yes, the team that beat them was Golden State. That being said, Houston built a team specifically around Harden and then specifically to beat Golden State and they still lost. If I remember correctly, GSW eliminated them last season at the end of the series without Durant so can you explain that? Hero (ISO) ball doesn’t work. Jordan figured that out, Kobe figured that out, and it’s also why LBJ and GSW has had so much success. It’s also why KD and Russ didn’t win one together. But like I said, it’s just my opinion.
He will be remembered about his comments about HK protest forever too.
I try to practice this in the gym but I can’t bring myself to take 3 steps.
🤣
that's your first problem, you're supposed to be taking 5 steps. Go back to the gym, pick up your dribble and start walking back like you forgot something, you got this.
Bit Whys - 😭- I will walk in the footsteps of Haden and rewrite the rules. I will make the game of basketball easier for everyone. This is groundbreaking. This is history!
0:44 even in this single clip they used a travel step back...
Harden does travel a lot, well at least by what was always considered traveling in NBA. But today’s nba they seem to be way more lenient on it.
"Creating new moves" oh that explains his double step back.
0:42
He dribbled on what looked like a step back without the ball and then did the step back afterwards. I guess since he does it so quick it looks like a travel 🤷♂️.
You can clearly see it's a travel if you play it back at slower speed.
Yup sometimes he takes 1 or 2 extra steps
@@PR1NCETD0T he took 4 steps there, idk what you talking about
Yeah he started that move and it’s become very important but Harden became too dependent on it. It almost became the only thing he would do. He started shooting that so much to where he led the league in misses by a landslide. In the playoffs he would shoot it so much to where it became obvious he would shoot to draw a foul rather than actually making it. I might sound like a hater but he did that shot so much to where it became a liability to him. That and the fact that he was a premadonna and wouldn’t allow Chris Paul to do his job as PG and demanded the ball be in his hands all the time.
Yes i agree. Him and his coaches fucked up being so insanely ball dominant all those years. It was too predictable in the playoffs when a team can really scheme to stop him and not worry too much about everyone else
Not gonna lie, you can tell he works on his craft. Impressive as it is. I don't see a chip being won if he has to dribble 500 times. Prove me wrong Beard.
If harden learned how to move without the ball...
He'd be the best SG since Jordan.
It takes a lot of energy to dribble and crossover. He won't have energy to play defense and do all that.
@@LOR.e_xplores Even an old man in Igoudala can do it in GSW, And you don't have to dribble that much when you can move without the ball.
He'd be like Klay sometimes, catch and shoot.
Bruh he use to always do that in OKC
He just took over as a ball handler now so he doesn't play off the ball
@@K-Viz so kobe doesnt exist??
i don't know why I'm addicted to these videos.
Not only he has the best step backs in the NBA but most of the time it goes in and its amazing.
Not only did he demoralize defender, but also the eyes of the referee, several times he escape the violation of Travel.
What a Genius duded 😅
There are lots of travels by Harden not called by the refs. At 0:44, he took 4 steps back, at 0:54 3steps back and at 6:10 3 steps back but still not called for travel. Slow it down to .25x and you could see it clearly.
zero step, look it up casual
I also use my dribbling,hesi's,jabs,and other moves to get my defender leaning. Like he said before,even the slightest lean from my defender is an advantage for me
I read James Harden 3 steps back. And I was like, well ok at least it´s now official.
Next to unguardable. Even a solid defender who knows it's coming like George Hill @5:45 , Harden just pushes off to create space, and he'll never get called for that offensive foul
Totally Awesome, great footage!!!
James Harden and Steph Curry changed the NBA 🤯 69 step back 3s in 13-14 season to 600 step back 3s in 18-19
Harden is the best! I love this guy! He is amazing!!!
One of the most satisfying moves to watch
Bruh anyone else see Kobe’s travel on harden at 2:35
Yeah lol whoops
A rare sighting. Kobe's one of the most fundamental basketball players and utilizes that pivot foot with skill and finesse.
Woahh
This is why the NBA needs to bring back hand checking. Obviously they wont because it will hurt scoring, but defenders are now powerless against stuff like this.
I see the PG13 sneak diss at 5:22
Too small too be Paul George
@@jeffreyyoungblood7438 bro it is PG13 it's just not up to scale
Man, Mark Price on the Cleveland Cavs did the step-back three-pointer in the '80s and '90s!!
Harden is going to have an incredible year
the difference between a normal step-back done by other players vs Harden's just look at 5:55 when Harden does a regular step-back (jab with front foot with ball on the downward motion which is what all other players do) and versus the "Harden step-back" like at 6:15 (instead of jabbing the front foot when the ball is going on the downward motion, he does it when the ball bounced back up, steps forward, puts the second hand on the ball and two-steps). Harden is basically exploiting the rule of "you can take 2 after completion of dribble, because that first jab he never put the second hand on the ball and still consider live ball. This also why he gets fouled on the shot a lot because the timing is different than what defender expects in a normal step-back. i still think it is bs travel, but hey...i also loved Jordan's thunder steps....
btw, CP3 now that i think of it does the side-step version of this way before Harden did it. side-step as the one Booker did at the end of the video.
2:36 travel
Most definitely
😂!!!
Its kobe. Not lebron or harden. Most of the bias nba fans wont notice.
@@SoulFlavor18 2:40
Kobe traveled a lot but he knew he could get away with it.
It’s all about that left hand shot….That what’s make the difference
His signature move is the freethrow
would love to see an analysis of how many step back jumpers are actually travels
Greatest move of all time.
Sky hook
been a while since I've played competitive ball but that example against KD where the pivot foot is picked up then put back down used to be called traveling.
The NBA really needs to fix this - hero ball in the early '00's was fun because it allowed the 'heroes' to attack in a multitude of ways. This is not only bending the travel rules, but the foul calls as well, all to service a single shot in the name of a 'higher scoring' league. This is artificially increasing the scoring, while simultaneously decreasing the entertainment factor (who likes watching Harden shoot 20 free throws a game?). Allow hand-checking, zone defenses and call flops on guys like Harden and Curry, while the pace of play would definitely slow down, these players could then battle through and -prove- themselves on the caliber of players like McGrady, Bryant, Wade, Iverson etc. Right now, while the accuracy is astonishing, the play looks weak and the rules of the game look like they are innefective - the interior game is non-existent, which is all a shame.
There needs to be a TH-cam channel based around breakdowns like these
Love him or hate him, he's one of the best offensive player we ever witnessed.
But chokes in the playoffs.
Dude averaged more than 11 free throws per game lol
@@reyesmartinez512 to be fair, some all stars can't even consistently make it to the playoffs. Harden just can't beat the Warriors dynasty but who knows, maybe this year.
He still need to make those freethrows, those are not actually "free" he still works for those points
@@hansmina3752 yeah he woks for it by flopping
It’s a big difference between a 2 step back shot and 4 step back shots, and there’s a slight chance that people will miss noticing it. I’ve seen Curry doing it too.
4:20 carrying the ball
akult isgod - definitely .
Under appreciated
Overated
He always chokes in the playoffs. There is Kawhi, there is Gianni's, there is Stephen Curry, there is LeBron James and then there are the chokers like Westbrick and Harden.
The step back travel 👌🏼
Very informative. Thanks!
I don't like that he flops a lot but gotta respect his skills
3:48 This move tho 🔥
James Harden has indeed revolutionized the game of basketball. He invented the "no-call stepback travel." It's horrendous.
Completely agreed. It made basketball unwatchable
How is that even a travel? He bounces the ball while doing the first step back, then he slightly catches it with one hand but only really gathers it as he grabs it with his second hand and steps at the same time. So that's a gather step. Then he takes another step back, that's the first step. Next he lands on his right foot, establishing that at his pivot foot as it's his last step. Then lastly, he shoots the ball. As long as his right foot doesn't come off the floor and touch it again or move somewhere else he is fine to put his left foot anywhere he wants to. It's like if some is going in for a lay up. They do a gather step, two steps and then they can stop and do something similar to a dream shake if they want.
@@XENOX-777 The gather step that Harden abuses was a new thing added in the past year or two to help people like Harden out. Just because he's following the new rule doesn't mean it's a good rule that should have been added.
@@IgnorancEnArrogance The gather step was added to clarify what traveling actually was while they were handling the ball.
Loving these analysis thanks
I'm not against Harden's step back 3s, it's just I think he should focus on making that more efficient than trying that one-legged 3. The dude shot 36% from the arc. Imagine him making over 40% of his 1000 attempted three pointers. I know that 4% seems small but that 4% will translate to 40 more made threes which is big.
He does it the best..step back move. Nice detailed coverage
6:19 "thank you"
Creativity Skill and Genius
Body the line and make him take long 2 pointers.
I agree bro
Body the line and he finishes at the Rim with the best of em. Let's not talk about the 20 free throws he will take attacking the Rim that often. People get into foul trouble now you got back Ups Guarding the leagues leading scorer and hes Hot. You Lose.
Yep its that easy. FOH
Range is a thing now in the nba
So he can hit those too huhs? The only thing u can do with this dude is double team him. Nothing else will work
More Signature Shots:
▪️Michael Jordan: th-cam.com/video/uj1Hw4xgC_Q/w-d-xo.html
▪️Kawhi Leonard: th-cam.com/video/6B4L-wlM8GY/w-d-xo.html
▪️LeBron James: th-cam.com/video/x78KIrkzgew/w-d-xo.html
▪️Kyrie Irving: th-cam.com/video/PPwZN5G50gg/w-d-xo.html
▪️Giannis Antetokounmpo: th-cam.com/video/9jtOOQ43yw4/w-d-xo.html
I would make him go left cause most time he’s stepping back to his right it’s the same shot so make him have to step back to his left that means the ball is pocketed in the left hand first then he would also have to swirl (sway) his shot. See he’s lefty so make him step back on the dominate hand most people step back to the off hand so that the shooting hand is free to shoot and ready to go.
Wish I could show it better than I explain.
It’s all about being comfortable
Make him uncomfortable by having his feet side by side. He keeps one foot forward (the left foot) so that he can step back and pull up right into a comfortable shot.
Make that foot switch the other way or side by side and then he mostly like won’t shoot or he will miss.
All his steps are usually made from a left foot forward setback to the right.
I play a lot of basketball we did experiments on good shooters about this same thing. It works but we aren’t James harden either
Just my opinion but it worked on really good shooters and I think if a good defender knows this it would throw harden off.
Maybe the Jazz were really onto something last season during the playoffs guarding Harden from behind and forcing him to drive towards Rudy.
When i was young i used to play exactly the same way HARDEN plays...dribble dribble then dribble dribble dribble....i was unstoppable and nobody could score more points then me...
But i never won anything and nobody liked to play on my team...
4:57 for people who say " harden travels "
U dumb asl if u think every time he does his setback his foot don't leave the ground
@@Mikeyb.__ You dumb asf thinking Harden the only one that utilizes the gather step. You should know better being a Giannis fan, if you say Harden's stepback is a travel, then most of Giannis's layups/dunks are travels too.
Are we watching the same video? His back foot comes up off the ground!
@@mr.clutch_6878 you're an idiot.
@@auc2.0 good analysis. Calling someone an idiot while not having your own arguement makes you just as dumb
Man Harden changed the rule for the worst. Now you got to reconsider the traveling rules. That’s greatness
It is a thorough synopsis of "what not to do" on winning a NBA championship.
His step back isn't the reason they didn't win, it's part of the reason they ever had a chance.
Winning games in the regular season get you in the playoff. Winning games in the playoff get you the championship.
@@haitungying7808 I guess you forgot about the Golden State Warriors...you know..that team that has like 17 all stars...or something like that..who by the way the Rockets took to game 7 in the WCF 2 years ago and was 1 quarter away from going to the NBA finals. Last year harden set historic numbers carrying the rockets on his back while half the team was injured. But continue hating on him and spewing out ridiculous statements.
His regular season map stats are fools gold. Do get them in the playoff. Suppose his fans could hang on that as a chance to win the championship. Personally, I much prefer actually winning than a chance of winning.
Rocket fans cannot have it both ways. Rockets system is to have Harden as the one man show, offensively of course, and have him beat the 17 all star dubs. It is their designed scheme. So when they got beat, their designed scheme got beat. Not just one year, but 3 yrs. Apparently, Houston still thinks do-or-die with Harden ISO will work eventually. Btw, with KD down and Thompson down the last 2 games, Houston actually got beat by 15.5 all stars, not 17. When Curry scored 40pts in the second half to beat Houston, none of his 40pts were iso. It was motion basketball. Motion ball beat iso ball. Dubs beat Rockets. It is all about the system, not about players.
I'ma fan of this series; keep it up
The double step back is unstoppable 😂
This dude is something else.
Harden flopping is his greatest achievement cuz it works anytime he uses it and im being real
It’s not a flop if there is contact or if his landing is obstructed, it’s the defenders fault for being careless
His step back package is elite.
Can I get the stat on how many double step backs harden takes?
You need this move playing pick up games or 1 on 1. If you master it you will be unstoppable at the parks.
Spurs and warriors offense led to titles
Kobe and MJ isos + triangle offense led to titles
Dantoni harden "efficient smart basketball" has led to embarrassing playoff defeats year after year. Dont compare
Facts
Can You Make More Videos like this? And do one on fast-break offence please?
His signature shot is a travel 75% of the time. The praise he gets is beyond me.
Belak I swear
😂😂 you don't know about the gather step huh?
Play 0:39 at .25 speed. You can see Curry take a real gather step and step back while dribbling. While the next play, Harden has the ball in his hand and takes 3 steps back.
If you look properly you can clearly see that when he gathers the ball he also takes his gather step with his left foot at the exact same time. However he doesn’t take a step with his right foot. Then he pulls his right foot back (with it still in the air) then steps with his right foot (first step), then he pulls his left leg back and steps (second step) and the shoots. So it’s clearly not a travel.
James Hardens most signature move is the playoff flame out
Real words are being spoken up there
And now he has a buddy on his team that's going to do the exact same thing he's doing LOL they can flame out together
Man averaged 35 against the Warriors last year he can’t do it on his own
@@yungchris93 and he had 3 bad turnovers in the 4th quarter of game 6 in his own house when steph was clowning them. This year harden might average 35 in the first round attempting 28 shots a game and the rockets lose the first round. But yall will still be like "hE aVeRAgeD tHiRtY FiVe tHo"
@@zionthedon7745 PREACH!!
Please do another for his euro step.
I love the step-back shots.
I love fade-away jumpshots
To me it's hard to guard but great defenders like Pippen, Kobe even Tmac said its possible to stop they just don't work hard enough I guess. The fade away of Kobe and MJ and Kareems Sky Hook to me is still unstoppable Harden always falls short in the Playoffs and can't even showcase it I really wanna see him win a Ring though because he is one of my favorites but players like Kawhi can stop him.
Harden made the most important NBA move that will never win him a chip.
Looks like he getting one this year😂😂👏
Someone needed to edit in Dragonball Z punching sound effects for that Harden Dribbling segment between *3:28* to *3:38* because that....NEEDED TO BE THERE!!!!!
Kobe - post moves
Rondo - behind the back fake pass
Lebron - chase down blocks
Williams - elbow pass
Irving - handles
Kareem - sky hook
Duncan - bank shots
Iverson - crossover
Magic - no look pass
Harden - step back
Hakeem - dream shake
Nowitzki - fadeaway
Curry - long three pointers
Ginobili - euro step
Why wouldn't you take a step-back if you're a shooter? It creates so much space in half a second. Even the best defenders can't guard it.
0:42 when you play at 0.25 speed isn't that a travel? in europe it would be counted as 4 steps but with the first step not counted in the nba it would still be 3?
no thats not counted because he was dribbling.
yamaha r1 That’s three steps look after the last dibble
@@Charles-km7in He gathered the ball with 2 hands and then stepped at the same time. The first one was a gather step, not a travel.
These casuals don't even know what gather step is.
@@firstname4075 Lol
ESPN: Harden's stepback
Paul Pierce: Am I a joke to you?
nba refs: we're going to review traveling calls
harden: ight ima head out ✌
LeeTravius Mckay isn’t it werid the step back ones in this video arent travels tho? Exactly 99% of his stepbacks aren’t the double one
B Ro the double one IS NOT A TRAVEL
MrSPIDEY21 I know they aren’t but everyone complains how it’s a “travel” but he does that one barely
So empressive
Eurostep and now step-back 🔥 but I'm just sad he ain't using the "cooking" move no more