Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA Player Power Rankings: Rested LeBron James Thriving

By Maxwell Ogden

Dec 4, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) against the New Orleans Pelicans during overtime of a game at the Smoothie King Center.The Pelicans defeated the Cavaliers 114-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) against the New Orleans Pelicans during overtime of a game at the Smoothie King Center.The Pelicans defeated the Cavaliers 114-108 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
16 of 23
Next
Dec 4, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) steals the ball from the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Rockets defeat the Mavericks 100-96. Harden leads his team with 25 points. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) steals the ball from the Dallas Mavericks during the second half at the American Airlines Center. The Rockets defeat the Mavericks 100-96. Harden leads his team with 25 points. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

8. James Harden, Houston Rockets
Last Rank: No. 11
Position: Shooting Guard
Age: 26
Slash Line: .406/.313/.871
Season Averages: 39.1 MPG, 29.0 PPG, 6.9 APG, 6.5 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 0.9 BPG, 2.7 3PM

James Harden and the Houston Rockets are having fun again. Since opening the season at 5-10, Houston has won six of eight, riding Harden’s contributions to the impressive resurgence.

Harden still isn’t playing at the level expected of him, but he’s dangerously close to it.

The 26-year-old put up 25 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in a 100-96 road win over the Dallas Mavericks, thus setting the tone for a strong week. He followed it with 31 points and nine assists during a 120-113 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

Strangely, Harden attempted just nine field goals to complement his nine assists in a 110-105 loss to the Brooklyn Nets—a game during which the Rockets needed his scoring.

That game, which included his shooting 2-of-9 from the field and committing seven turnovers, contributed negatively to an otherwise brilliant week. It wasn’t enough to neutralize the other two performances, but it required the believed-to-be-superstar to deliver a big performance in the week’s finale.

Deliver he did; Harden posted 42 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and a pair of steals in a 109-103 victory over the Washington Wizards. Superstar status reaffirmed.

Next: Simply Unparalleled