James Harden’s nightmare defensive sequence goes viral
James Harden forgets to defend, stands and watches, then somehow manages to commit a foul. The sequence against the Hornets is surreal
Some plays a coach would want to watch a hundred times with his players. Others he’d probably rather erase from memory. James Harden gave us one against the Charlotte Hornets that definitely belongs in the second category.
During the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 124-112 loss, The Beard found himself at the center of a bizarre defensive sequence that quickly made the rounds on social media.
And here’s the best part: after watching practically the entire play like a spectator, he still managed to get called for a foul.
It’s the third quarter, and Cleveland is already down 16. Grayson Allen misses a three, and Harden goes for the rebound, but Hornets big man Ryan Kalkbrenner beats him to it.
Nothing particularly strange so far.
The problem comes right after that. Kalkbrenner kicks it out to Sion James, who’s wide open beyond the arc, but Harden doesn’t even start to close out.
James misses, Allen crashes the glass and Harden keeps watching, in no particular hurry. Then comes the twist: Harden ends up underneath Allen, and the officials call him for a foul.
So he doesn’t contest the shot, doesn’t go for the rebound and still manages to commit a foul. Hardly the sequence Kenny Atkinson would want to show in a film session.