In spite of getting off to a shaky start offensively through the first several games of the regular season, Houston Rockets guard James Harden has still continued to show why he is truly in a league of his own.
For over the last four years, Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni has never had any reason to cast doubt on whether or not his star guard, James Harden, could overcome harrowing shooting stretches.
The former Sixth Man of the Year — who rose to MVP status under D’Antoni’s watchful eye in 2018 — has led the league in scoring the past two years en route to guiding Clutch City to 50-plus wins during D’Antoni’s first three seasons under the helm.
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On the way, the Rockets constructed the eighth-highest single-season scoring average in NBA history in 2018-19, as the 68-year-old offensive master sought to sarcastically employ patience when asked about The Beard’s initial struggles.
"“He’s awful,” D’Antoni told reporters in the immediate wake of Harden’s 10-for-42 shooting mark from the field through the first two games on the year. “I don’t think he’s had enough games for us to trust him.“That’s the last thing I’m concerned about.”"
Now, Harden’s sluggish days appear to be coming towards an eventual close, as the player who has typically stumbled out of the starting blocks has found his hot hand once again.
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Harden — who shot just 25.3 percent from beyond the arc through the first seven games — is currently in the midst of averaging 40.7 points per game on 43.6 percent shooting from the field over the last three games for Houston.
"“That’s the confidence that I have,” Harden said per John Jackson of the Associated Press when asked about what has led to his recent success from the floor last week. “That’s the confidence that I’ve built off the work I’ve put in. It’s a mindset.”"
A level of credence that has proven to come in handy despite those who deeply access his nightly stat lines, as the 10-year veteran maestro has continued to show why he is in a league of his own offensively even amid an early malaise.
Despite shooting a career-low 39.4 percent to date thus far, Harden has continued to impressively manipulate defenses with his plethora of moves and ability to drive to either score points inside or get to the free throw line throughout the course of contests.
Harden has not shot the ball up to his standards, but is getting to the charity stripe at a rate not seen since the days basketball aired on black-and-white televisions.
Harden — who leads the NBA with 136 driving points through nine games — has attempted an average of 15.2 free throws during that stretch. Making a league-best 123-of-137 free throws to start the season (89.8 percent).
To put this into deeper perspective, Harden has already made almost double the amount of free throws Giannis Antetokounmpo has so far this season. Antetokounmpo is second in the NBA with 71 over his first 10 games.
Should these trends continue the rest of the way, then there is a strong likelihood that Harden could very well surpass the legendary Jerry West on the list for most free throws made in a single season.
He may not eclipse Wilt Chamberlain for the most free throw attempted in a single season, but the player who has whirled his way to a career-high 37.1 points per game thus far is on pace to become the first player since Kevin Durant to capture three consecutive scoring titles.
After Harden’s 42-point, 10-rebound, nine-assist performance in a 117-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, D’Antoni said he realizes he can be repetitive when discussing his superstar scorer.
"“I feel like a broken record sometimes, but he’s a master of getting what he wants. I think sometimes he might get bored and try different stuff.”"
That is a statement that might be plausible at the onset of the season, as the master of a thousand moves — who has played deep into the postseason for over the last few years — could be on the verge of putting together his best performances yet.