All-NBA 4th team - checked, if there was one. Responsible for the invasion of Poland/ WW II - checked. Public enemy #1 at BSPN, TNT, r/nba- checked. Beat 4 All-Stars - checked. Beat Goble, Brown, Maddox - checked. Yep, that's the 7th best player in the league going to work. Imagine what the other 6 would do with this roster.
Everyone needs to go listen to what Clint Capela said after the game. James is truely a great leader now. The team has his back and is busting ass because of how hard he’s playing. This is incredible. It’s pretty sweet to legit know that you have the best player in the league on your team. Harden coming for that goat top 10 alltime fellas. Just watch. We’re about to witness something special this postseason with BIG GAME JAMES.
He made 3 shots inside the arc, 44/15/10, one of the most unique players to ever play the game. You can compare most stars to other players, James is special.
Hakeem Olajuwon was 31 years old when he hoisted his first MVP and championship trophy. People have been b****ing and moaning about Harden and all the things he can't and never will do. Players mature, improve, learn what losing feels like. Harden has done nothing but gotten better, and gotten us further along since the 41 win debacle. Now he is playing at a transcendent level. Appreciate this s**t right now, they don't realize how lucky we are.
It might be with Green so excited, donkey on his ass, Klay hanging and Harden with the cold, almost sarcastic laugh stare down. To bring it to watching an all-time great, first I will admit I am not watching games live any more and rarely highlights - Xmas game was the first full game I've watched because it was on our sports channel - after feeling what the Kings felt in 2002, referees just have too much power and this game could've gone that way as the ref was watching KD clearly in the shot prior to him 'saving' the ball inbounds, but happy for Harden, Rockets team and all the fans that are still following every second of this Rockets team in particular. This streak by Harden is just insane and I felt tonight and prior to this run that it was going to take a Kobe type of killer instinct for Harden to become the best he could be aside from keeping up his defensive effort last year. To bring it back to the offense and last night's game, Harden definitely needed a killer instinct to bring this game even close after half-time and I didn't know he had it in him like this, but this statement game proves he does have that. This streak already did, but this game solidified it. The numbers speak for themselves, too many records and crazy streaks he's on with a minimum of 5 threes made, 35 and 5 assists in 9 games, 5 games of 40 points, 39 points averaging over 12 games or so. In general too, he's averaging career highs so far in points and steals, almost in 3p% while averaging a career high 12.2 attempts (he's at .389 and his career high was in OKC at .390 but averaging only 4.7) while also averaging almost 6 rebounds and 8,5 assists. Besides the individual numbers, the team is winning, against great competition at that. What even separates him from Kobe and MJ is his assists and just overall PG skills, he has a chance to be in his own stratosphere, as one of the most unique guards ever to play the game. A player we might never see again. Now let's look beyond the numbers: he's raising other people's games after an off-season with a lot of question marks, the team needed to start over building an identity and a rotation. Lost their defensive coach, added Melo who they had high hopes for. Didn't pan out, defense was awful, offense even worse at the beginning of the year. Injuries, then Melo out of the picture, relying on rookies and then finally CP3 is back only to lose him again. The shuffling of the starting line-up, 8 through 35 games, has been crazy and then for MDA having to figure out who to go with too. He tried MCW, Chriss, Hartenstein, Clark, House, Green, now adding Rivers who's been great, Knight and Ennis back from injures, EGO out again. Harden was far from great at the beginning of the season, and yes he deserves more criticism than the rest of the team. There are always growing pains, but you are the MVP and he wasn't performing at that level at all. Somehow along the way, he saw an opportunity to be a leader. The articles have not stopped coming on about his work habits, extra hours before and after practice. He was dedicated before, but each season he's been changing things: his diet, eating habits, training schedule etc. Right now it's all coming together and he's been forced to, which is when people usually show you what they're made of. He's shown it before, in 2015 in particular, but to think he could take it to this level is something I don't think many expected. It's sad the media is in the state it's in, because as much as he gets praised he gets criticized way too much still. EJ and Barkley agreed what Harden did last night and during this streak is MVP worthy, he's unarguable, maybe the best offensive player in history etc. Sadly, the backlash for his free throw seeking play and his defense is still there. I mainly have a problem with the talk about his defense, because it's solid. He will never be a great one, but he's trying and doing his best. The FT antics I even agree with to a certain degree, especially since in the play-offs you know he won't get those calls when it matters. That's why it's so important he can keep this up, with his 3pt shooting and not just getting to the line. In general it's up to him to keep this up and he has to, if he truly wants to become part of the all-time great which I'm not ready to put him yet. All-Time greats deliver in the play-offs and he still has 5-10 years to get one and I'm 100% sure if he keeps this killer instinct, leading by example on and off the court that he will get his. He is in his prime for sure and to raise his level after last year is nothing short of spectacular, already an all-time offensive player, but it cannot just be a week or month. It needs to continue, which will be interesting to see. Really hope this is the year it will fully carry over into the play-offs! Harden is truly becoming the leader we all hoped he would be and enjoy it while you can, because a streak like this might never happen again for him or it's just a sign of things to come, which is even sweeter.
FIVE STRAIGHT 40-POINT GAMES. James Harden joins Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson as the only players to do that in the past 50 seasons. Let that sink in, Rockets fans.
I think Harden has reached the transcendent level - no player has ever taken a team like this to such heights. If Harden can maintain his drive, the sky truly is the limit.
you forgot vs 5 allstars team and 7 hofers has mj ever played vs 5 allstars, 2 MVPs team? TAKE THAT FOR DATA
There is NO WAY on this beautiful Earth we live in that ANY player is ahead of James Harden in the MVP race after last night. 5-straight 40 point games 11-straight 30 point games with an 11-1 record in that time. This man DESERVES to win back-to-back MVPs. Without him we’d probably be like 3-10 in that time span...
