Look at Westbrook, willing his team to victory twice. Gives effort on defense too. That's what I expect from Harden too..
This season (so far): Davis Harden Lillard/Westbrick(aka Bath Salts) Leonard The start to this season has been insane.
Davis, Lebron, Curry, Westbrook, Kahwi and some others are more likely to end in my top 5 than Harden.
If we blew up the Cavs and sent Irving, Love, Thompson and Durant to different teams this would be a much more fun league to watch. That being said it can't be understated how important Harden and Westbrook signing extensions with their teams was. Set a precedent that needed to be set.
Harden is in a group of 7 or so guys that can all make a case for being in the top 5 Harden Curry Lebron Durant Davis Westbrook Leonard I'm not sure I'd take any player in the league over the brow if I'm starting a team, but I'm also not sure whether he's a super stud or a Kevin Love big numbers on bad teams kinda guy. I'm leaning towards a huge stud, but we don't know yet. Harden has done a lot more up to this point. I'd also take Harden over Westbrook and Leonard. So yeah top 5 for me, but I could understand leaving him out.
It is difficult to find joy in watching this team play with guys like Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson out there chucking the ball and doing much else. Nene can't shoot or block shots. Capela probably has the worst hands in the league. Ariza as inconsistent as ever. Outside of Harden, I'm not sure if any of the other players on the Rockets can be considered an asset. Not really happy with the way the Rockets are putting players around Harden. And, let's be honest, it doesn't seem likely that Harden will get these calls in big games with a large audience watching, especially against teams with "earned respect" / bigger stars like the Warriors/Spurs/Cavs.
If you look at who is actually the most valuable to their team, no one more than Harden. Overall, he has been stellar, top 5. You have to keep in mind just how average our roster is, but you also have to give MDA and Morey credit in that they are designing the system such that we are REALLY focusing on our strengths. Harden IS tired right now, I see it, I can sense it from the type of turnovers he's picking up, from the arc of his shot. But this is a bump he's going to get over. We need to finish this road trip succesfully and if after this road trip we are 4th or 5th in the West, we have to give the team so so so so much credit for putting themselves in position for homecourt advantage with an insanely road-heavy schedule to start the season under a new coaching staff with very few in-season practices.
Top 5 in scoring, top 5 in assists, top 5 in PER, top 5 in WS, top 5 in WS/48, top 5 in RPM, top 5 in BPM, top 5 in VORP, top 5 in team record in the WC, and last but not least top 5 in MVP race as of now. You gotta be delusional to say Harden is not a top 5 player right now.
Durant also makes a case along with Lebron, but those teams are just really good. Love & Irving, Curry...that's a lot of help.