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NBA Player Power Rankings: All-Star Break Edition

By Maxwell Ogden

February 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30), forward Draymond Green (23), and guard Klay Thompson (11) hold their all star jerseys before the game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
February 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30), forward Draymond Green (23), and guard Klay Thompson (11) hold their all star jerseys before the game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 4, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) gestures after making a three point basket against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Rockets won 111 – 105. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) gestures after making a three point basket against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Rockets won 111 – 105. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

9. James Harden, Houston Rockets

Last Rank: No. 10

Position: Shooting Guard

Age: 26

Slash Line: .427/.355/.869

Season Averages: 37.3 MPG, 28.0 PPG, 7.0 APG, 6.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 2.8 3PM

Statistically speaking, James Harden is one of the very best players in the NBA. With crucial mistakes in key moments, and unspeakably high turnover counts, Harden’s flaws simply cannot be glossed over when acknowledging the Houston Rockets’ collapse of a season.

Over the course of the past seven days, Harden exemplified what he is in Houston: the cause of everything good and a facilitator of the bad.

Harden started things off with 33 explosive points, but also committed eight turnovers in a 17-point blowout loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. He was downright masterful against the Golden State Warriors with 37 points, but again left fans scratching their heads in a second clash with the Trail Blazers.

Harden had 34 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds, but also coughed up eight turnovers and routinely looked for the foul instead of the ideal play.

It’s hard to dispute the numbers, and that’s why Harden remains as high in the player power rankings as he is. He’s scoring at an elite level, facilitating the offense, and has improved defensively, although not to the point of being better than below-average.

The reality is, Houston is an absolute mess and Harden is not an innocent bystander. One can’t help but question if these numbers are empty.

Next: A Unique Season