How outrageous is Harden’s “impossible” performance at his peak? (Next issue)

I mentioned earlier how outrageous Harden's ability to draw fouls in the regular season is. I predict that many fans will definitely say that Harden only has whistles in the regular season and not in the playoffs. Now I will talk about whether Harden has whistles in the playoffs. I still don't list the performance, only the data.

Harden has made the playoffs 16 times in his career so far. He has only averaged double figures in free throws per game in three seasons in his career in the playoffs. Compared with his regular season, the number of free throws in double figures in the playoffs is indeed much less. Does that prove that he has no whistle in the playoffs?

Let's first take a look at the history of the top three shooting guards who hit double figures in free throws in the playoffs. Jordan hit double figures in free throws 6 times, Wade once, and Kobe never.

As for the three superstars who are often bound, James has averaged double figures in free throws per game 4 times in the playoffs, Durant has twice, and Curry has not once.

It can be seen from these data that Harden's free throw dominance in the playoffs has indeed weakened a lot, but most of the time he still takes the most free throws. In the past 30 years, only Jordan and James have been able to suppress him in free throws in the playoffs, so it is really untenable to say that he has no whistle in the playoffs.

Let’s compare his successor, Alexander. So far in the playoffs, Alexander has never had a season with double figures in free throws. Even last season, after being scolded for a season, Alexander only averaged 9.4 free throws per game in the playoffs.

Let's compare Alexander's scoring average last season with Harden's MVP season. In the 17-18 playoffs, Harden averaged 28.6 points and 7.8 free throws per game, while Alexander averaged 29.9 points and 9.4 free throws last season. After both men subtracted free throws, Harden averaged 20.8 points and Alexander 20.5 points.

Comparing the two who have averaged the highest scoring per game in a single playoff season so far, Harden has the highest scoring average in the 18-19 playoffs, averaging 31.5 points and 8.9 free throws per game. Alexander averaged 30.2 points and 8.1 free throws per game in the 23-24 season. When both players minus free throws, Harden averaged 22.6 points and Alexander averaged 22.1 points.

It can also be seen from this that if you don't look at other data, just the score, there is almost no big difference between Alexander and Harden, and even Harden is slightly dominant. So why does Alexander have a Grand Slam, but Harden still has nothing but an MVP?

It's very simple, because Harden can only "touch the porcelain" and throw three-pointers. Harden's fame comes from "touching the porcelain" and throwing three-pointers by stepping back. Once the referee does not give the whistle and cannot throw the three-pointer, he He gave up automatically, and one thing that was outrageous about him was that he was given too many whistles in the regular season. In the playoffs, once he tried to cheat a few fouls but failed to get a whistle, he didn't even cheat and became invisible throughout the whole process.

Like Jordan and Kobe, their first priority is to put the ball in, and committing fouls is secondary, because their offensive skills are comprehensive and they do not only rely on committing fouls to score.

Even if Alexander's outside three-pointers have been improving over the years, what about his breakthrough and mid-range skills like Harden's? And just like the foul, Alexander won't stop cheating because the referee doesn't call it. He will continue to make fouls until the referee calls it. This is completely different from Harden.

Having said all that, does anyone still think that Harden doesn’t have a whistle in the playoffs?

Follow me and I will show you a different kind of basketball!

(Little Apple No. 2 Legend)