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NBA Player Power Rankings: Russell Westbrook Pushing for MVP

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles the ball against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) dribbles the ball against the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

9. James Harden, Houston Rockets

Last Rank: No. 10

Position: Shooting Guard

Slash Line: .434/.345/.865

Season Averages: 38.0 MPG, 28.6 PPG, 7.5 APG, 6.4 RPG, 1.7 SPG, 2.7 3PM

James Harden is doing everything in his power to help the Houston Rockets return to the NBA Playoffs. He’s flirting with a triple-double on a nightly basis, scoring at an explosive rate, facilitating the offense, crashing the boards, and even improving his effort on defense.

This past week offered some of Harden’s best work to date.

In three games played over the past seven days, Harden averaged 31.0 points, 9.7 assists, and 8.0 rebounds on 50.0 percent shooting from the field. He dropped 32 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds during a win over the Toronto Raptors, and had 27 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in a road win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

During Houston’s lone loss, he tallied 34 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists on 11-of-22 shooting.

For the season, Harden is No. 2 in the NBA in scoring average and No. 6 in assists per game. Those averages of 28.6 points and 7.5 assists place the Rockets superstar in incredibly rare territory.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, only five players have averaged at least 28.0 points and 7.0 assists since Michael Jordan in 1988-89: Harden, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Russell Westbrook.

Next: The Unlikely Success