Harden is a winner in Lowry’s books
Raps guard says results matter more than your style of play
The levels at which James Harden of the Houston Rockets is performing these days is simply astonishing. Just when you thought he couldn’t do more, he does more.
The NBA’s leading scorer dropped back-to-back games of 50-plus points this week, going off for 58 in an overtime loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday after putting up 57 in a win over Memphis on Monday. The numbers are scary: In his past 20 games, Harden is averaging 41.2 points per game. Only four other players in NBA history — Elgin Baylor, Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant — have matched that scoring rate.
Harden and Chamberlain are the only players to have consecutive games with 55 or more points.
Harden has 30 career games with 50-plus points in his career, the most by any active player.
Yet still there are critics of his style of play, the incessant dribbling, the basic ignoring of teammates, the seemingly selfish style that goes against the grain of beautiful ball movement and team offence.
Don’t count Toronto’s Kyle Lowry among those critical of Harden’s play.
“Winning is a big thing,” Lowry said this week, in discussing Harden’s game and style. “Everyone not’s going to play perfect beautiful pass-and-go basketball. Whatever helps your team win or whatever your team needs you to do to win games, that’s what really matters.”
“Wins and losses in this league are the things that really matter.”
This week’s numbers don’t lie about Harden’s individualistic approach to the game, although it’s mitigated by the fact the Rockets are without point guard Chris Paul and centre Clint Capela, both of whom are injured, leaving Harden as the sole dominant offensive force.
In those two 50-plus games, Harden made a combined 33 field goals, and none of them were assisted. No passes to set up open jump shots, no dishes to him cutting to the basket — it’s been him and him alone.
“Pretty fun to watch,” Lowry said, going against commonly held opinion. “I enjoy watching basketball, I enjoy watching individual players. There are some really talented players in the NBA and you just like to watch. I enjoy their talents and abilities; it’s pretty cool.”
The Houston-Brooklyn game was memorable for another reason as well. The Rockets took a shocking 70 three-pointers in the game, the most by a team in one game by far. Both teams hoisted 106 between them — 99 in regulation — which set another NBA record.