One huge game at a time, superstar rebuts the critics
Only James Harden could score the most points in a single game in Rockets history, become the first player in NBA history to record a 60-point triple-double … and be criticized for it. Go figure. Harden did it all for his Rockets on Tuesday night, literally and symbolically. He’s the leading candidate for the league’s 2017-18 MVP award, and his 36-13 team is the second best in the NBA, topped only by the superpower Golden State Warriors.
Who leads pro basketball in average scoring with a career-high 31.6 points per game and ranks third in assists (9.1)?
Harden. Who’s first among all players in made 3-pointers (171) and usage percentage (36) while positioning his team for the highest regular-season win total in franchise history? Harden. And who’s done it all while missing new BFF Chris Paul for 18 games, spending Tuesday’s win over the Magic without CP3, Trevor Ariza and Eric Gordon, and shrugging off a hamstring injury, suspensions and a postgame circus in Los Angeles? The Beard, of course. Which is why the predictable postgame teardown of Harden’s 60-11-10 was instantly laughable.
“The face of the Rockets still needs to prove his worth in the playoffs.” Really? We had no idea. Harden’s a two-time MVP runner-up and is the midseason favorite to win the 82-game award this year. He was great in 2014-15, was amazing last season and has been even better this year, taking his overall game to a new level and pushing his on-court commitment even further.
Playoffs leave imprint
And he’s still doubted, critiqued, overlooked, sold short and dismissed by a significant portion of the public. Why? That’s obvious. The embarrassing Western Conference semifinals Game 6 no-show against San Antonio last season. Golden State winning the final two games of a firstround series by a combined 60 points two years ago. The fact the furthest the Rockets have advanced in the playoffs with Harden is a 4-1 defeat to the Warriors in the 2014-15 conference finals. And three first-round bowouts by the Rockets since No. 13 started wearing red in 2012.
That’s also all in the past, and not even the guy who scored 60 points on 19-of-30 shooting Tuesday night at Toyota Center can change that.
Kevin Durant had to leave Russell Westbrook, last year’s MVP, and team up with the Warriors to finally win a world title. LeBron James has been in the last six NBA Finals and won three. Golden State has represented the West in the last three and is again the team to beat.
Harden’s place in NBA history will ultimately be defined by his numbers and rings (or lack thereof ). But acting like he’s the only superstar who’s come up short in the playoffs during the league’s modern era is as laughable as the increasingly outdated antiHarden platitudes.
“He doesn’t play defense.”
Except for the fact Harden pulled down 10 boards Tuesday, which ranked second to only center Clint Capela, had four steals and was involved in several late-game stops.
“He relies on free throws for easy points.”
Yes, Harden’s average of 10.1 free-throw attempts does lead the NBA. But the Rockets’ leader also draws consistent contact all over the court, has become one of the toughest players in the league to defend, and rivals Curry as the best scorer in the game. Harden is deadly with the ball in hand and is still adding weapons to his arsenal.
Nothing wrong with FTs
Michael Jordan, the greatest of the greatest of all time, averaged 10.5 free-throw attempts in 1987-88 and 11.9 in 1986-87. The King has averaged at least 10.2 free throws in three seasons and won the MVP in 2009-10, when he averaged 10.2.
But yeah, free throws are bad, bad, bad if you scroll through social media.
It didn’t end well with Dwight Howard. There were times when Harden’s commitment and priorities could be questioned. The Rockets must at least make it to the conference finals this year, and Harden can’t disappear when his team needs him most.
The Beard has perfected his mysterious image but is still creating his public name.
But to intentionally ignore a 60-point tripledouble — or only see what you want to see — just to maintain a lingering grudge against one of the best basketball players on the planet?
That’s on you, not Harden.
And the face of the Rockets is doing big things better than ever.