Can Harden win POTM? UPDATE: Harden named POTM Before we compare Harden to Westbrook, I'd like to point out one thing: Harden's shooting over the last 16 games (since Dec 1st) can put to rest any continued ideas that he's shooting poorly this year. Since Dec 1st, Harden is no longer shooting poorly, so we can look at Nov as a slight slump. In the last 16 games, compared to the first 17, he shot .477% FGs, .381% 3Gs and .615 TS%, while scoring 29.25. He's now up to 44% FG% overall and 58% TS%. POTM: Westbrook versus Harden As much as people have been talking about Westbrook's monster PER, Harden still has noticeably better numbers overall for December. Check this out: For December: <table><tr><td></td><td width=30>G</td><td width=30>MP</td><td width=30>PPG</td><td width=30>FG%</td><td width=30>3G%</td><td width=30>TS%</td><td width=30>TRB</td><td width=30>AST</td><td width=30>USG%</td><td width=30>Ortg</td><td width=30>Drtg</td></tr><tr><td>Harden</td><td>14</td><td>37.5</td><td>30.6</td><td>.478</td><td>.386</td><td>.618</td><td>6.0</td><td>7.1</td><td>32.9</td><td>122</td><td>102</td></tr><tr><td>Westbrook</td><td>16</td><td>32.8</td><td>28.3</td><td>.445</td><td>.255</td><td>.541</td><td>6.1</td><td>7.4</td><td>40.0</td><td>111</td><td>102</td></tr></table> 30.6 PPG on .618 TS% with a noticeable difference in Ortg, plus 6 RBs and 7 ASTs. Harden did get 5 more MPG than Westbrook, but I think the difference in Usage pretty much balances the numbers. The one big thing for Westbrook is the 11-5 record vs Harden at 9-5. btw: Durant did play 10 of those 16 games with Westbrook.
Westbrook gets it, for sure. He has done as much or more with less. Durant played, but was returning from injury, so even those games it wasn't like Westbrook was playing along an MVP caliber player.
I hope so. But let's be honest here, as far as narrative goes he's at a pretty big disadvantage, Westbrook has gone absolutely nuclear while playing on the league's current most scrutinized/hyped/analyzed team.
But look at those stats above, Harden went nuclear moreso, no? I agree with the narrative of OKC, but Harden has the better stats for December, same production while significantly more efficient at it. btw: can someone run the December PER splits. I can't find them. That's what everyone points to -- Westbrooks monster PER. But I'm willing to bet Harden is over 30 for December, as well.
dont get me wrong nothing would please me more than seeing him accomplish these achievements but come on it's time we make noise in the playoffs.
If Dmo will finish his whole career being a Rox, who do your prefer that his career achievement will be exactly like one of these 2 players? - Karl Malone - Robert Horry
I'm pretty sure Durant won player of the month, heard it on NBA radio. Surprising on account that KD only played 10 games...seems like kind of a reach to me.
That's just bull****. I'm tired of the league jacking off KD and his rip through cheap move. I will be livid, considering how many games he missed, if they shoehorn him into MVP talks.
