NBA: 10 takeaways after the first week of the playoffs

NBA Boston Celtics Kyrie Irving (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
NBA Boston Celtics Kyrie Irving (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
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NBA Houston Rockets James Harden (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)

James Harden is absolutely absurd, and that playoff narrative will die

There has been a narrative forming over the last few years that James Harden can’t perform in the playoffs, or that he comes up short when it matters most. While some of that did begin to erase itself after the Houston Rockets nearly pulled off the upset of the century by pushing the Warriors to a Game 7, it’s time it completely dies.

Harden has arguably put up back-to-back NBA MVP seasons and has been absolute insane through the first two games of the playoffs this season. Even if the Rockets lose in the second round at the hands of the Warriors (again), I’m not sure, assuming he continues to play at this absurdly good level, it’ll be the faultiest of Harden.

James Harden is a big-time performer and probably would already have an NBA Championship win under his belt had Kevin Durant not elected to join the Warriors a few years ago. It’s time for the Harden narrative to die.