Keeping Harden from beating path to foul line a tall order
ANTONIO — Kawhi Leonard has a plan when it comes to trying to keep Rockets guard James Harden off the free throw line.
“Try to guard him and don’t foul him,” Leonard said. “That’s basically it.”
If everything were as simple for the Spurs, their upcoming Western Conference semifinal series with the Rockets would be a snap.
The 27-year-old Harden is the most adept in the NBA at finding his way to the foul line, leading the league in free-throw attempts three seasons in a row.
This season he tried a career-high 881, making 746, meaning 9.2 of his 29.1 points per game came from the foul stripe.
His propensity for drawing fouls went up in the Rockets’ first-round series against Oklahoma City, in which he averaged 14.6 free throws per game.
All those numbers should tell the Spurs one thing: Prepare to be frustrated — with Harden and with the whistles — throughout the best-ofseven series that begins Monday at the AT&T Center.
“It’s tough because he’s so smart at exposing contact,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili said. “We have to be very conscious about that.”
Harden appears to have added another trick to his book this season.
A March study by the statistics-based website fivethirtyeight.com discovered Harden — by himself — drew a greater percentage of fouls while in the act of shooting a 3-pointer than any other team in the league. Yes, team. Watching Harden beat a parade route to the foul line can be a helpess feeling. Much depends on officiating. Still … “It’s not completely out of your hands,” Ginobili said. “He’s going to get to the line a few times for sure. If we keep him under 10, it’s a success.”
Ariza assigned to Leonard
While the series will be billed as a showdown between James Harden and Kawhi Leonard — two deserving MVP candidates — it isn’t going to be a one-on-one showdown.
Harden is not likely to draw Leonard as a defensive assignment. Instead, first crack at that will go to small forward Trevor Ariza, a 31-year-old veteran of 13 NBA seasons.
The 6-8 Ariza spent two of those seasons on the Los Angeles Lakers, playing alongside Spurs center Pau Gasol.
“He was a huge key for us winning our first championship (in 2009),” Gasol said. “I was sad to see him leave.
“He’s a competitor, a guy who brings it. We expect him to guard Kawhi for most of the series and make it hard for Kawhi. Fortunately, Kawhi is a great player and makes it hard for him, too.”
Popovich mum on starting center
In full playoff mode after Saturday’s practice, coach Gregg Popovich had no interest in naming a starting center for the conference semifinals.
“We’ll just see where the series goes,” Popovich said.
Dewayne Dedmon started the first three games against Memphis, giving way to David Lee after coming down with an illness prior to Game 4.
Lee, 34, averaged 8.6 points and 6.3 rebounds over the final three games of the Memphis series. Dedmon totaled five minutes in those games.