Harden probably scores more unassisted points per game than anyone in history. Not sure if that’s a good thing.
First off, Rockets are playing at a faster pace than both Kobe '06 and MJ '87. Secondly, so even at Chicago's slower pace, Jordan's significant difference in minutes played gives him the higher Points per Game. But on a normalized basis of Points per 100, Harden scores more. Harden is also scoring more on per 36 minutes basis. And just to be clear, this isn't Points per Player's 100 Possessions, it is Points per Team's 100 Possessions, rather than a Points per Game. Here's the math: (100 / Team Pace) * (48 minutes / MPG) * PPG = Points per 100
This was before the Brooklyn game, but per possession this is where he stacks up. As for his season ending average. I think it will dip. It would be awesome to see him get a huge PPG average like 36/37, but with the team healthy you have to hope his mins, shot attempts go down while his assists increase a little. That being said, I'm hoping for at least one 60pt game this season. Something special to nail the MVP case shut.
Maybe it isn’t, unless him having to work for every shot starts to wear him out and hinders his scoring ability down the road.
Besides Paul he has never played with another legit playmaker to create anything for him and Chris has been for the majority of the season.
Wow. Just wow, this season has been special regardless of outcome. I've only seen one or two players score the ball as effortlessly as Harden in the past 20 years of watching the NBA. I just worry he's burning himself out for the playoffs again.
As of 1-24-19 Games played = 44 Points = 1596 Average = 36.3 Remaining potential games = 35 Average needed over remaining games to finish season at: 33 ppg / Must average 28.9 to finish season 34 ppg / Must average 31.3 to finish season 35 ppg / Must average 33.4 to finish season 36 ppg / Must average 35.7 to finish season 37.1 ppg / Must average 38.1 to finish season 38 ppg / Must average 40.2 to finish season 39 ppg / Must average 42.4 to finish season 40 ppg / Must average 44.7 to finish season So to top MJ and only be behind Wilt, Harden has to average 38.1 to finish the season. Still a gargantuan feet to even top MJ... which makes you really respect MJ. And 38+ is probably like a 0.01% possibility... wonder what odds Vegas would give on that. ALL THAT SAID, this is my first update in three games, and in that time, he scored 146 points and averaged 48.7 ppg... so... yeah.
not only will he get 5 more 50 points games... but I'm sure he will get at least 1 more 60 point game! what's the record for most 60 point games in a season? I imagine besides wilt its like 1?
List of 40+ Games Games 40+ with less minutes played than points vs Games 40+ with more minutes played than points 16-1 = Harden 16-2 = Jordan's 35 ppg year 28-9 = Jordan's 37 ppg year 19-8 = Kobe's 35 ppg year Wilt's 50 pt year for all games (not just 40+ games). He averaged 48.5 mpg 49-31 @Shaq2Yao thought you'd like this random stat, too.
I think he finishes the season with a lower average than his current 36.3, but 32 is too low. Likely around 34.
Harden is scoring much more efficiently than Wilt. Wilt's best TS% is 0.550 in 62/63 season. Harden's TS% this season is 0.622, dwarfing Wilt's best season.
If Harden gets 39 or more against the Raptors, he's averaging 50+ over 6-game stretch. What's the longest stretch anyone else has averaged 50?
Wilt averaged 50.4 points in a reason on 80 games. So I guess it is at least 80 games. It will be a while before Harden catching Wilt.
