Coach Phil(osophy) | Harden’s Flops Ruining Youth Basketball

Coach Phil(osophy)

“How are playing styles of current NBA players affecting youth basketball around the country?”

As the NBA continues to push it’s offensive product, we are continually seeing a lack of defense. The poster boy for this (drawing bogus fouls) is none other than James Harden, who I’ll discuss later on.

It seems to me that the league is lacking coaches willing to play through the foul-count. If they were more focused on defense and forced the refs to continue making calls, the entire league could get away from the 140-point games we’ve been seeing.

Now, I’m not suggesting that all these points aren’t good for the league. What I’m saying is that this type of play is giving the youth an unrealistic view of basketball.

Defense should be the absolute first thing every young basketball player learns. Then, as bodies grow and basketball IQs increase, these players can work on breaking down a good defense.

Right now, young players are only seeing ISO (isolation) ball, slam dunks and 3’s. None of this is realistic in the youth arena.

James Harden – Loophole Extraordinaire

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that James Harden has found the loophole for defensive fouls.

He attacks the basket and is rewarded for throwing his body into the defense, even though establishing contact is not necessarily drawing a foul. Bull-rushing through the lane and getting the foul has turned the NBA purely into 3PAs and free throws.

Harden alone has averaged 10.2 FT’s per game over the last SIX YEARS!!

I believe Donovan Mitchell said it best:

“If that’s what he needs to win the MVP, so be it.”

I’m not unhappy with the way the league plays offense as a whole, but if more teams were willing to get aggressive, get into the offense AND give everything they had on defense, the outcome may be different.

Coach Phil’s Conclusion?

James Harden’s Flops Are Ruining Youth Basketball