Late in the first quarter against the Houston Rockets, James Harden sizes up Justise Winslow at the top of the arc before initiating a pick-and-roll. As the screen approaches, Winslow presses up on Harden to better position himself. Sensing this, Harden makes the typical Harden play, catching a brief moment of contact, rising up for a shot and drawing the foul.
It’s the sort of call that can derail many rookies. They’ll feel like an established player is getting the benefit of the whistle, and they’ll react. It might be a visceral, emotional reaction. It might lead to gabbing at the officials, or blaming a teammate.