Harden scores 58 but rockets still lose to Nets

[Surferdad]

I hate Hardens game, and I hate that the league has morphed into a place where games like his are allowed to flourish.

Me too. I give Harden credit for taking advantage of what the league is offering, but I fault the league for creating this monster.

What could be done to change it, other than making radical alterations to the court / 3 point arc etc.?

Harden feels like a logical evolution given the basic math of the game, it was just never really possible in the past because the three pointer was not emphasized the way it is now.

Imagine the league in 10 years ... how many players will approach scoring like Harden does?

Bring back some allowance of hand-checking.  Currently, the 3-pointer is too good to pass up and this has changed the game, not for the better.

[PhoSita]

As teams get better at defending the three pointer and the rim, the mid-range shot actually becomes more valuable. It's always been a tool to punish teams that only defend the rim and the perimeter, only now the midrange is less contested than ever before, so we're soon approaching the point where players who can hit midrange shots at a higher clip than the league-average three shooter are going to be enough to make up for the fact that the three is worth one extra point, because they'll be underdefended.

The Spurs are a top 5 offense this year and their offense is built around two mid range specialists,  which supports your theory.

[rondofan1255]

Dinwiddie hit 3 3PT in final 26 seconds of regulation
Hats off to him