"You don't think I can do more?" Harden asks. "Just wait. I'll show you." The beard mostly covers up the defiant grin that practically dares you to tell him he's already scraping at the ceiling. "I am the best player in the league. I believe that," he said. "I thought I was last year, too." There's so many factors. I led the league in total points scored, minutes played. Like I said, I'm not taking anything away from Steph, but I felt I deserved the Most Valuable Player. That stays with me. – Houston Rockets guard James Harden That runner-up finish to the Warriors' Stephen Curry is still harder to swallow than a chicken bone. "I know I was the MVP," Harden said. "That's 100 percent given all the things that happened last season. "Credit the Golden State Warriors for an unbelievable year. They had an unbelievable team, coaching staff, everything. "But that award means most valuable to your team. We finished second in the West, which nobody thought we were going to do at the beginning of the year even when everybody was healthy. We were near the top in having the most injuries. We won our division in a division where every single team made the playoffs. "There's so many factors. I led the league in total points scored, minutes played. Like I said, I'm not taking anything away from Steph, but I felt I deserved the Most Valuable Player. That stays with me." "To be honest, I thought I had more in the tank when I went out onto the court that night," he said. "But it was a long, tiring, beat-down season ... Playing the most [total] minutes in the league, dealing with so many injuries every single day ... It's a wear-and-tear. It's a grind. "It was so frustrating, because in that Game 5 I turned the ball over 12 times. I pride myself on creating opportunities to score for my team. So those 12 possessions, instead of getting a shot for myself or one of my teammates, I'm giving an extremely talented Golden State offensive team extra possessions. And you just can't do that in the playoffs. "So that's what my offseason has been all about -- better conditioning and better preparation for this time." "Last year we added Trevor (Ariza) and added Jet (Jason Terry)," Harden said. "Then Brew (Corey Brewer) and Josh (Smith) came part way into the season. We never had an opportunity to have a training camp together, to have guys locked in for an entire season. Then Dwight was out and all the [other] injuries. But somehow we managed to get to the conference finals. "So I'm excited now to hopefully have a full roster healthy for an entire season and see where that takes us. I'll put my team up against any other team in the league. Nobody is better and we're ready." http://www.nba.com/2015/news/features/fran_blinebury/10/06/james-harden-houston-rockets-ready-to-show-more-in-2015-16/index.html
I anticipate he polishes off the midrange this season, ups his defensive focus, and further integrates the post game. With Harden's strength, there is not a single guard he can't abuse in the post.
Loving it, this first line made me feel really excited and fired up: That's going to be my signature. AWESOME!!! :grin: Thank you Morey and thank you James.
He better show up sober and focused on both ends and take the MVP away from Curry. Curry was deserved MVP last season, close enough to give it to James but Curry had a lot going for him including 4-0 in the regular season and showed it with 4-1 in the playoffs It's revenge time.
I'm glad Harden is saying these things. At least he isn't going around wearing shirts like "check my $tats". He is genuinely annoyed that he didn't win the MVP last year and he really doesn't disrespect Curry, he just stated his reasons why he should of won and not Curry. Either way I want my superstar to have a real chip on his shoulder. No gimmicks like "it's on me" but more like I saw what I did wrong and I worked all summer to assure it doesn't happen again. I been saying all summer, this year is ours. Attitude like what Harden is showing only helps reaffirm that belief. We are going all the way boys!
How any ESPN personnel could argue that curry deserved it shows how big of a joke it is. The warriors are so deep they only needed curry to play 3 quarters a game but yet he deserves it...
Our division is a blood bath and we never got any credit for winning. Southwest division is the best in all of sports. James deserved that award. **** the warriors, **** the media, and **** Stephanie Curry. I wish James would've called Curry to the stage to hold his award for him while he gave his acceptance speech. Looking back at the hate James got just because he was better than everyone's favorite player really pisses me off.
Harden is walking into the 2015-2016' season with a brand new sharpen offensive skill set. Fear the beard!
good award but in the end nobody will remember those. players want the MVP trophy & recognition. that's what matters to them.
