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NBA: 10 Opening Week Overreactions That Might Be Legitimate

By Gerald Bourguet

Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after defeating the Phoenix Suns 113-110 in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after defeating the Phoenix Suns 113-110 in overtime at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 30, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) brings the ball up the court during the first quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

10. James Harden Will Average A 30-10

When Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni said he was hoping James Harden would double his assists from last season (a career-high 7.5 per game), most people laughed. When the Beard dropped a career-high 17 dimes in the season opener, those same people shat their pants.

Through his first four games of the season, Harden is obviously no longer averaging 15+ assists per game. He is, however, making his 32.3 points, 11.8 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game look sustainable, even if they’ve come with 5.0 turnovers per game attached.

Posting .488/.382/.809 shooting splits probably isn’t going to last for the Beard, but there’s no question Mike D’s offense is empowering Harden as the team’s lead point guard in a way we’ve never seen before.

Last season, Harden put up 29.0 points, 7.5 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game. In this new, up-tempo offense where he is somehow even more of a focal point than last year, the Rockets might need him to post something outlandish like a 30-10-6 stat line to make the playoffs.