Hoops Habit
Fansided

Houston Rockets: 2019-2020 season player grades

By James Mueller

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 10: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 10, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 10: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on September 10, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 10
Next
Houston Rockets Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Houston Rockets Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images /

Houston Rockets grade: James Harden

James Harden had another extremely impressive campaign this year. For the third straight season, The Beard led the NBA in scoring, averaging 34.3 points per game. Harden had a 62.6 true-shooting percentage, which is the second best of his career, and shot 35.5 percent from 3-point range. He also got to the free throw line a career-high 11.8 times per game and made 86.5 percent of his foul shots.

Along with his scoring, Harden also distributed the ball well this season, dishing out 7.5 assists per game.

Related Story. Most clutch player in every NBA franchise's history. light

But Harden’s defense this season was even more impressive than the huge offensive numbers he put up. Harden has long been known as a guy who does not play defense but that is not the case anymore.

Harden led the league in steals with 125 in the regular season. Harden’s active hands on defense also resulted in him averaging 3.2 deflections per game, which ranked 11th in the NBA. Harden also averaged a career-high 0.9 blocks per game, which was the most by any guard this season.

The Beard was also one of the NBA’s best in post defense, especially in crunch time. Harden locked up some of the league’s biggest stars, include the back-to-back MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, down the stretch.

In the postseason, Harden has some extremely impressive games while also seeming absent in other games. His inconsistency in the playoffs is one of the reasons the Rockets could not make it past the second round of the playoffs.

Despite the disappointing postseason, Harden had a very impressive season overall and finished third in the MVP voting. This marks his fifth time finishing top-three in MVP voting over the last six seasons.

Season Grade: A

Home/Houston Rockets