Houston Rockets: Appreciating (And Defending) James Harden
The Beard’s Future
If you’re still not convinced that Harden deserves your respect as one of the hardest working superstars in the league, consider this: Only three years ago, the Beard choked in the 2011 NBA Finals after winning Sixth Man of the Year.
He stood there in Game 5, arm-in-arm with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, watching the clock wind down on their championship hopes. No one could know that a dynasty in the making was already dead, just like no one knew Harden would soon evolve from the third (bench) member of a Big Three into a superstar expected to carry a franchise on his beard back.
Three years later, he’s a bonafide superstar, finishing second in the MVP voting, second in the Western standings and second-best in the West as the loser of the conference Finals. Harden has completely surpassed anyone’s wildest expectations and for those of you so quick to label him a choker, we have to remember that the guy is still only 25 years old. The best is yet to come.
Assuming the Rockets are able to keep their core intact, they should feel very good about where this Harden-Howard tandem is leading them. The Warriors were just better this year, simple as that. Had the Rockets somehow advanced, they probably would’ve been favored over the Cleveland Cavaliers’ one-man show.
No NBA player is safe from scrutiny. Mistakes are made on a nightly basis and nobody’s perfect. But like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and almost every other superstar in NBA history, focusing on James Harden’s flaws and shortcomings over all the wonderful things he brings to the game of basketball would be a mistake. Appreciating them when they’re gone is too late.
Luckily, there’s still plenty of time for us to correct this vilification before his career is over. Hopefully its remainder will be accompanied by a lot of winning, because that seems to be the only thing that silences the haters these days. Keep stirring that pot, James Harden. People will appreciate what you’re cooking soon enough.
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