NBA in Threes: 5 starters combined for 266 points; Injuries for the Raptors
By Jade Johnson
Houston Rockets
I’m not giving the Houston Rockets any props for winning this game against the Golden State Warriors. It’s a game they should have won. Had they lost, it would have been simply ridiculous. So, blah, blah, blah, 36 points and 13 assists for James Harden; 18 points, six assists and two steals from Russell Westbook, hooray. I’m honestly more impressed with Clint Capela‘s 19 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks.
But what I want to focus on here is my confusion in the way Harden was spoken of by the guys who called this game, Mike Breen and Jeff VanGundy. In their pregame preamble, they discussed how Harden is leading the league in scoring in spite of such poor shooting. After this game, he’s averaging 36.5 points on 39 percent shooting from the field and 27 percent shooting from 3.
A lot was made of the fact that he’s been scoring so much because he’s been getting to the free-throw line at an unprecedented clip. He’s averaging 15.8 attempts and making 14.3. Here’s where I get confused. Why is this such a wonderful thing? Why is this worthy of praise and accolades? Especially when his team is at the bottom of the league in terms of their defensive rating.
Second to last in points allowed, and dead last in field goals allowed, opponent three-point field goals attempted and opponent three-point field goals made. Maybe, instead of focusing every season in new and ridiculous ways to score lots of points, Harden should focus on, oh, I don’t know, becoming a more complete player? Becoming the kind of leader that can will his team to win in the playoffs the way LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard can?
Even just a little bit of improvement in defensive intensity would allow me to think better of Harden and his chances of ever winning an NBA title.