Plenty of NBA players have become acquainted with the "Eurostep," a misdirection move that often makes defenders look silly.
James Harden of the Rockets might be the best at it (though Andrew Wiggins of the Wolves has used it plenty as well). Last week, a Harden Eurostep against the Raptors brought the move into further discussion: Is it a traveling violation?
The official Twitter account of NBA referees weighed in to say that — at least in the NBA — what Harden did (and often does) is legal.
Basically, a player is allowed to gather a dribble without that counting as a step, then take TWO MORE STEPS, during which he looks like a running back carrying a ball and trying to find a cutback lane. It's absurd.
Maybe we can agree on this: The Eurostep isn't fair. And maybe it should be illegal even if the NBA says it's legal?
Read Michael Rand's blog at startribune.com/randball. michael.rand@startribune.com.
