Rockets, Bucks Clash, MVP Visits Milwaukee for First Time
Opportunity Knocks. Unguardable Season. One Shot.
“You have to think about one shot. One shot is what it’s all about. A deer’s gotta be taken with one shot.” A line from the classic film The Deer Hunter, emphasizing the importance of seizing a moment. Milwaukee and Houston are both lucky. You only get one shot to get a superstar, game-changing level player in the NBA. And the Rockets and Bucks each have that kind of rare, seminal talent. Guys who are changing the way the modern game of basketball is played. Guys like the Beard, and the Freak. On Tuesday night, the Rockets and Bucks clash in a monumental matchup featuring the league’s leading MVP-candidates. James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo square off as they head into tonight’s game evenly favored in the push for MVP. Many pundits agree the race is too close to call at this moment in time. Including tonight, 8 games remain for these squads. Tonight’s contest will play a huge factor in determining who wins the award.
The Rockets ride into Milwaukee having won 14 of their last 16 games. At 14-3, they own league’s best record since the All-Star break. Meanwhile, the Bucks, despite having the best record in basketball, are only 7-5 in their last 12 games. They recently suffered devastating injuries to Malcolm Brogdon and Nikola Mirotic, and as a result, the Bucks haven’t been as good. When the Rockets had all their injuries, they only got better. James Harden carried them through a treacherous portion of the season. The Greek Freak hasn’t been able to do the same for his team over his last dozen games. Looking at value, if Houston doesn’t have Harden, they’re not in the playoff hunt in the brutal West. If Milwaukee doesn’t have Antetokounmpo, they’re still a 6 or 7 seed in the East. Before the Bucks suffered their injuries, they were one of the deepest teams in the NBA, and a heavy favorite to get out of the East. Milwaukee’s also had one of the easiest schedules in NBA-history this season. If that doesn’t explain why James Harden should be the MVP in a few sentences, go look up the definition of valuable.
Just when it seems like the Rockets might be able to stay healthy, reality hits, and the injury bug returns to Houston. Eric Gordon is questionable for tonight’s contest, after suffering a sprained ankle in the last game. Gerald Green is expected to miss the next few games, and Kenneth Faried is out tonight with a sore knee. Just remember, the last time Houston was severely hit by the injury bug, James Harden kick-started the Unguardable Tour. Even though the streak was snapped at 32 games, Harden’s play never diminished. The Beard took his tour and turned it into the Unguardable Season. Still unconvinced Harden should be your choice MVP? Just take a look at what he did last week, winning Player of the Week in the West, after averaging (only) 44.3 points per game, after shooting an incredible 50% from the field, including 52% from long-range, and leading the Rockets to a 3-1 record.
When opportunity has knocked this season, and the lights have been the brightest, James Harden has answered the call. Every. Single. Time. Tonight, all eyes in the NBA world will be on the matchup in Milwaukee. The Beard and the Freak both have wounded soldiers on each of their squads. Expect it to be a close matchup, but if anyone’s experienced adversity this season, it’s James Harden. He’s used to playing with men down. The Freak isn’t as accustomed to this as the Beard, but Antetokounmpo will have his home crowd behind him. Tonight’s clash was tailor-made for this season James Harden is having. Expect him to put on a show tonight, as the MVP visits the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee for the first time. Harden just might be saving his finest dish to serve up tonight. The fans in Milwaukee have been duped into thinking they’ve seen the MVP in person all season. When in fact, he makes his only appearance in town tonight. The scene. The moment. The timing. The Beard has another grand opportunity. Harden can end the MVP-conversation tonight, with a typical Harden performance in a Rockets win. But… in these types of games… this season, the Beard always puts on a show for the ages. Harden has the insight to realize the scope of the situation.
Tonight’s game should be compelling, but one thing is certain. The Beard knows you only get one shot to prove yourself in games of this magnitude. Harden has relished in one-shot situations this season. The MVP-race? He’s ready to go reclaim what’s rightfully his, and end all the “debate”. On the road, against the NBA’s best team, the Bucks. It won’t be easy. Look for the Rockets to be ready. Harden knows one shot is what it’s all about. A deer’s gotta be taken with one shot.
Fiserv Forum: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Jersey Colors:
Milwaukee Bucks (55-19): White
Houston Rockets (47-27): Black
TV: 7 PM CT- TNT, ATT Sportsnet SW