The League Today

Oct 7, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles against Dallas Mavericks guard Justin Anderson (1) in the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Much criticism surrounding the current NBA has been centered around the players being labeled as soft. The so called super stars of today’s league are constantly getting bailed out by the zebras who nowadays seem to think every little contact made is a foul. Very rarely will you watch an entire game and not see a renowned super star not get back on defense because he’s too busy complaining to the officials about a missed call.

The “NBA” once stood for “No Babies Allowed” but since the dawn of flopping the league has opened it’s barriers and have gone full fledged ” Now Babies Allowed”. From a bias stand point, I love that James Harden has figured this whole thing out.

“If I drive to the basket and flail my arms out as I’m going up for a lay up, the refs will more than likely give me a call.”

But as a basketball purist I don’t want to see a guy go to the free throw line fifteen times a night because he’s impersonating Neo dodging bullets in The Matrix.

That is why even though it’s impossible not to cringe every time Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen shoots a basketball, it is also impossible not to want a guy like him on your team. Guys like Allen, Chicago’s Jimmy Butler and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard just to name a few are names you’ll never hear in the “soft” conversation. Very rarely will you see these guys complain about not getting a foul or taking a play off, as a coach and fan you love players like this. They defend the opposing team’s best offensive player night in and night out while running all over the court having a knack for making important plays that you won’t see on the box score.

A year ago the Houston Rockets traded back up guard Isiah Canaan and a second round pick for a player of the same identity of the names listed above: K.J McDaniels.