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James Harden: Who’s laughing now?

By Bryce Olin

Feb 10, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) points to the sky against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Rockets won 127-118. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) points to the sky against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Rockets won 127-118. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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James Harden has been the best player in the NBA, and it’s not even funny anymore

Back in August, Houston Rockets guard James Harden was asked by ESPN’s Scoop Jackson who  the best player in the NBA was.

“Myself,” Harden said to Jackson.

In August, we all laughed at that idea. Of course, Harden thinks he’s the best player in the NBA. Star players have to have that confidence to make it in the league and achieve greatness.

However, the guy who inspired a four-minute long video of his atrocious defense wasn’t winning many people over, outside of Houston, with the claim that he was the best player in league.

While those clips are hilarious, I’d argue Harden was never as bad of a defender as all those hilarious gifs indicate. He, even, inspired SB Nation to create a 10-minute video of Harden playing great defense, proving his haters wrong.

Fast-forward six months from his initial comment that he was the best player in the league, and James Harden is, without a doubt, the favorite to win MVP this season.

SeasonGMPFGFGAFG%3P%FT%TRBASTSTLPTS
2014-15 ★5736.58.118.1.450.385.8665.86.91.927.2
Career42832.05.712.8.446.372.8524.24.31.419.2

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/26/2015.

Harden is leading the league in scoring (27.2 PPG), and he ranks 11th in assists per game (6.9). There’s simply no player in the NBA who impacts the game, offensively, as well or as significantly as Harden. According to Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated, Harden generates a league-high 44.2 points per game for the Rockets, combining his points and his assist totals.

This season, Harden has eclipsed 30 points, 24 times this season and 40 points, six times. In one game this season, Harden scored 45 points while only taking 18 shots. In the same game, he also dished out seven assists.

It’s utterly ridiculous what Harden has been able to do this season, especially considering he’s doing it without one of the best centers in the league, Dwight Howard.

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While Howard’s absence might be giving Harden more space to roam, offensively, the Rockets are still third in the Western Conference, one game ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers. I have a hard time feeling Houston can sustain their play down the stretch as teams like San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Dallas start to make final pushes for playoff positioning; however, I never thought the Rockets would be this good before the season anyway.

I still don’t think the Rockets are title contenders, but that could easily change if Howard ever gets healthy and makes an impact on the defensive side of the ball and stays out of the way on offense.

For how good Harden as has been this season, I still feel like people won’t give him credit because there’s some stigma against James Harden. Quite frankly, I don’t understand it.

Feb 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) attempts a shot against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) attempts a shot against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first quarter at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

If Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose (poor guy) or any other star in the NBA was having the EXACT same season as Harden on the Rockets, we’d be handing them the MVP already. With Harden, there’s still some reluctancy that I don’t understand.

Maybe, people have something against scoring guards winning the award? Kobe Bryant only won MVP in his career, which has to be one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard.

To the Harden haters, I say this:

You can pick Harden’s game apart just like we can do with any NBA player, including LeBron James, and even Michael Jordan if you want to go back and watch the tape. Harden is a high-volume shooter; he doesn’t shoot the highest field goal percentage in the league; he intentionally makes contact with defenders trying to pick up fouls rather than finishing over them. Those are all very real criticisms of Harden’s game.

You are allowed to dismiss Harden for his past defensive errors and all of the other flaws I just mentioned, but if you do, you’re refusing to accept reality. Harden is the most valuable player in the league this season.

Put any other star player on Houston’s team this season, and there’s no way the Rockets are as good as they are when Harden is leading the charge. Not Steph Curry. Not LeBron James. Not Anthony Davis. Not Kevin Durant. Not Russell Westbrook.

Harden is the best player in the NBA this season.

So, who’s laughing now?

Next: NBA: 50 Greatest Players Of All Time

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