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Houston Rockets: Appreciating (And Defending) James Harden

By Gerald Bourguet

May 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) points up after a play during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Clippers 113-100 to win the series 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) points up after a play during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers in game seven of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Clippers 113-100 to win the series 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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James Harden
Mar 17, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) reacts after making a basket during the fourth quarter against the Orlando Magic at Toyota Center. The Rockets defeated the Magic 107-94. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Harden’s MVP-Caliber Season

For the majority of the 2014-15 season, I was convinced Harden deserved to be the MVP frontrunner, and I wasn’t alone on that stance. Stephen Curry was having a phenomenal season, but for three-quarters of the year, the Golden State Warriors were blowing teams out so badly he didn’t have to log heavy minutes and his numbers suffered for it.

Harden had no such luxury with the Rockets, even if they were a deeper team than people gave him credit for. The Beard averaged 27.4 points, 7.0 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game while shooting a respectable 44 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from downtown for the season — all while playing the second-most minutes in the NBA.

Harden’s shooting numbers couldn’t touch Curry’s, but considering the Beard got to the foul line a league-leading 10.2 times per game and made 86.8 percent of those shots, Harden was an efficient scorer in other ways.

He led the league in win shares, finished second in the scoring race, posted a 26.7 Player Efficiency Rating and carried the Rockets to the No. 2 seed in the West with Dwight Howard missing half the season. If you had told me before the season that Howard would miss half the year, I would have guessed the Rockets were going to miss the playoffs.

Curry deserved his MVP Award, but that doesn’t mean Harden had no legitimate argument for the honor.

Any time you’re talking about a guy putting up Kobe Bryant-in-his-prime numbers, you’re talking about someone who deserves a little more respect than Harden’s earned. There were tons of memorable games and stat lines Harden put up this year, despite the completely inaccurate perception that he and the Rockets “weren’t fun to watch.”

Harden ultimately finished second in the MVP voting, but this runner-up had one of the finest non-MVP seasons in NBA history. He vastly improved his defense and between his propensity for drawing fouls, his one-on-one razzle-dazzle and his court vision, he also became one of the most unstoppable offensive onslaughts in the NBA.

But even more importantly, one year after not being able to take the heat and getting out of the postseason kitchen, Harden was ready to cook when the playoffs rolled around this time.

Next: The Playoffs

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