Houston Rockets: James Harden is the most unguardable player in the NBA

Houston Rockets star James Harden become the most unguardable player in the league. If he keeps it up, he will win the MVP award

The number one question right now in the NBA is: How do you stop the Houston Rockets and James Harden? Well, the answer to that question is you can’t, but hopefully you can keep him under 30 points which is easier said than done.

Last night, the Toronto Raptors threw their best defense at Harden and was able to hold him to 35 points in their 121-119 home loss to the Rockets.

For most players 35 points is a good night, but lately 35 points just seems like an average game for Harden who is averaging 44.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists a game for the month. So predicting he will repeat as the Western Conference Player of the Month is an understatement since he is dominating the league in a way we have not seen in years.

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This season, Harden has become unguardable or maybe I should say unstoppable. He is playing like a one man show and no team can stop him. His step-back three pointer has become the most unstoppable move in the league.

In fact, according to ESPN NBA analyst Kirk Goldsberry, Harden is averaging 25 points a game from the 3-point and free throw line. He is also connecting on 43 percent of his step-back 3-point shots while only getting two of the over 300 step-back 3-pointers he has taken blocked by defenders.

A more telling statistic is that Harden has drawn over 60 fouls from behind the 3-point line alone this season, which leads the league. The Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard is behind him with about 40 fewer drawn fouls from behind the 3-point line.

So, how do you defend Harden? Well it is not easy since the referees are quick to blow the whistle on the slightest bump or what look to be a bump or touch while guarding him and he knows it. Half the time Harden is looking to draw a foul so a defender must be extra careful.

One main problem is too many defenders are too careful trying not to get in foul trouble or give up an easy 3 or 4 point play, which Harden feasts on to help pad his season average of 36.2 points, 8.2 assists and 6.5 rebounds a game. If Harden ends the season with those numbers, you can pencil him in for the Most Valuable Player of the Year Award.