if harden doesn't light it up tonight and lead us to a win against the dubs...

He plays on a much better team and still puts up those gaudy numbers.

 

Go rewatch those other games. Klay did not defend Harden the same way he did last game. Also, Canaan had a really nice game last time we played them at home. The threat of someone else who can drive and kick makes a big difference in how much they can focus on Harden.

 

Haha, it's basically a trend with the coaching... He's probably like "Harden is off tonight, let's just play better the next game and not try any adjustments because those just make the game last longer!! Oh this is the playoffs now?? Well, next year then, I already got my 3 year extension, after all Les only likes the reg season and I'm really good at that!"

 

Go watch Westbrook and Waters face guarding him. Just as good as Thompson if not better.

 

OKC tried defending him straight up a LOT of that game, first with Roberson, then with Waiters. He cooked them both. Klay largely took away his ability to go left and refused to foul him. Not even comparable.

 

The best defensive center for sure.

 

Maybe Curry will win the MVP, it not that big of a deal. Curry and Harden are both terrific players, and I'm perfectly happy having Harden on the Rockets.

I just want the Rockets to continue building chemistry. Golden state has had the same core of players for a couple of years now, and I think it shows. With the Rockets, it's always players coming and going. I think the Rockets can improve by the end of the season, just by having time to gel a little bit.

 

Haha, I don't think the sky is falling, and I will continue to watch them. I'm just going to start expecting less. It's been so long since Houston did anything that it would have been better to tank some of those years with Yao/TMac if it meant getting passed the first round and extending their careers. They basically played for the regular season.

Now it's starting to look like a repeat, I didn't expect Harden to get passed OKC that first year, I did however expect them to beat Portland, and if you think Houston is going to do anything with what they've shown this first half of the season, then I'd say you need to watch more games. We've had like 14 years of this mediocre garbage. Good enough to make the playoffs but bad enough to go home after the first round (I know Yao got out of first round once, see first comment).

This team came into the league in the 70s, made the finals 2x in the 80s, 2x in the 90s (2 wins), and absolutely nothing since then. I mean if you like regular season basketball and don't like the excitement of the playoffs, then yes, Houston is playing awesome. They either need to get their **** together against the better teams that have winning records, or make a move with a trade for another playmaker that the coach will play (w/ Harden/Howard). I also think they need to be careful on moving too many players for this trade, I mean ****ing Morey has made some great moves, but he's also gutted his teams in doing so, and it's like we never have players last on the team. It's like he's managing this team like it's fantasy football or an NBA video game, forget team chemistry because there's no stat for that.

 

We've had multiple players out with injuries for extended periods of time at the beginning of the season (including Howard who has missed 12 games). Had the whole team been healthy, including Jones, for the whole season... We'd have a much better record. Not to mention incorporating 2 new players, Brewer & Smith, in the middle of the season. Win or lose tnite, SHOULD NOT determine if Curry should be MVP over Harden. Just my opinion...

 

I see the point but the statement above echos many others.

Thompson does good so, Curry deserves MVP???

I get that GSW have the best record in the league but as already stated, Curry has a ton of help. Basically a lot of you saying Harden is doing it himself while Steph has more help. What are the criteria for MVP again?

 

wow, OP, way to support our guy

diss him after the game if you need to, but before going to war, he needs to know everyone supports him

 

Less comparable - going 6-8 on 3 pointers and going 0-4.

 

I do think Harden definitely deserves MVP consideration, being that he's the reason they have the record they do, without him this team is out of the playoffs.

Unfortunately with this team when players have come back from injury it hasn't helped as expected. The Spurs were having more injuries than us and are starting to come together with players returning, and gearing up for the 2nd half push, with us it's like the coach/players have trouble incorporating players returning. I mean Howard said he's still hurt, but when he came back in some instances the Rockets have played worse. They need to figure out how to incorporate both harden and Howard effectively at the same time. It's like because there's only one basketball when one does good the other player suffers.

 

What if Harden gets zero points tonight but then averaged 35 the rest of the year?

MVP or nah?

 

MVP for sure. I think regardless of tonight Harden is the MVP, because without him this team would be in the bottom of the Western Conference.

 

Swyyguy is like that dude who's never been to New York who sports a yankees cap, yet started pimping out the Red and Gold 'Stros hat when they were a hot commodity.

 

I don't know whether Curry or Harden is clearly the better player, but to say the MVP should be determined by head-to-head stats in 2 regular season games alone is ludicrous.

 

While it would be awesome if Harden wins MVP, hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. It's much more important that he performs in the playoffs.

Let's not forget Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995 regular season against the Spurs

Rockets 1-3 record
Dream's shooting, 10-24, 8-19, 15-34, 21-35
Robinson MVP award rubbing it into Hakeem's face in the WCFs
And rest is history

If Curry winning MVP means Harden gets more motivated in the playoffs? All the better.

 

lol clearly weighing 1 game absolutely in the first half of the season (for a full season long award) is being an anti-homer and a realistic fan.