Harden’s Record-Breaking Night Sends Rockets Past Grizzlies, 113-101, Caps off Historic 2018
Year of the Dog. Another One. Hello, 2019.
What a year. In 2018, Chinese New Year was the Year of the Dog. In the NBA, 2018 was the Year of the Beard. And the two are eerily similar, themselves. James Harden even acted like one briefly in a recent post-game interview, after a Rocket win over the Celtics on December 27th. He mimicked a dog’s snarl when questioned about his status as the league’s reigning-MVP. The Beard growled (slightly, somewhere mid-sentence, something I’ve never seen in his post-game interviews, another great example of how his mental approach to the game and focus has completely shifted from past years) when asked about his MVP-status, “I receive a lot of hate, but it won’t stop me from going out there and killing every single night (gets that Jordan look in his eyes), and being that dog that I am.” Harden’s a dog all-right. Feisty. He’s mad about something. Like someone took his bone. Or has a bone he knows is his. That Championship. James Harden was finally named the league’s MVP, and led the Rockets to within a win of that NBA Championship. Houston had the best regular season in the franchise’s storied-history, led by James Harden, barking at the rest of the NBA, as they complained and hated on one of his most un-glorifying abilities. The sheer nerve to use the rule changes to his advantage, that happen to combine a critical aspect of his game (Getting Free Throws and luring defenders,) which results in an unstoppable force in today’s NBA. Don’t hate the player, hate the game (or the rules/officiating). James Harden… that dog.
That dog finished the year with another loud bark, this time a 40-point triple-double. The Rockets finished 2018 strong with an MVP, record-breaking triumph over the Grizzlies, 113-101. Harden finished the night with 43 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 dimes. Clint Capela had a solid double-double with 19 points and 13 boards. Gerald Green came off the bench to hit 6 of 11 from long rang, and finish with 18 points, resulting in one of his best games of the season. Houston outscored Memphis by 23 with Gerald on the floor, despite Green getting only 25 minutes of court-time. Danuel House was solid again in the starting lineup, contributing 16 points, as the Rockets remain undefeated with their House starting. Houston also has yet to lose with Austin Rivers in the lineup. The newest Rocket had 12 points in his 4th game with the team (1st as a starter) in another solid game for Houston. He’s been impressive every night and knows his exact role. Most importantly, he brings some desperate defensive pressure and intensity to Houston’s backcourt, which they’ll certainly need in their upcoming stretch (and to win it all). Although Memphis made things somewhat interesting late, the Rockets pretty much cruised to their 10th victory in their last 11 games. Kyle Anderson led the way for the Grizz with 20 points and Marc Gasol had a double-double, but other than that, this game was all about the record-breaking guy with the Beard. James Harden capped off the year by continuing to break records and climb up the NBA’s record books. The Beard broke the great Oscar Robertson’s record with his 8th game in row with at least 35 points and 5 assists, an NBA-record. Harden also passed MJ on the all time scoring list with his 7th game in a row with at least 35 points in a row. It was also his 11th straight game with 30 or more points. Oh, and his 4th straight contest putting up 40 or more points on the scoreboard. And there’s another one. The Beard also tied some guy named Curry’s record with 7 games in a row with 5 or more 3-pointers made, connecting on 6 from deep. Another one: the Beard became the first player to score 40 or more points on 8 or less field goals made. Just for fun, and because it’s the holiday season, Harden also became the NBA’s all-time scoring leader on New Year’s Eve, totaling 255 in his career on the last night of the calendar year. Another one. The Beard also joined Jordan and Kobe as the only players to score 400 or more points in a 10-game span. If you know James, he’s got a lot of friends, he couldn’t join just one exclusive group to closeout his extraordinary year. He also joined Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook in the “recorded a 40-point triple-double 10 times” Club. Another one. James Harden isn’t on fire. He is fire. There is NO definition for what he’s doing during this ridiculous hot span. It’s never been done before. Appreciate it while it’s happening, nothing goes on forever, and this streak of play isn’t going to last forever. Maybe Harden keeps it up for a few more games. Maybe he goes cold starting with a Warriors-rematch. Maybe he has an all-time season and can keep this up all year. Regardless, appreciate it, Rockets fans and true basketball fans everywhere. Each season is different and this is a once-in-a-lifetime talent at the peak of his powers, in a once-in-a-lifetime season. I can feel it.
People keep asking if they’re back. With or without Chris Paul, with this James Harden, the one who was never seen before this season, the Rockets are back. The Beard’s having a season comparable with the best of all-time, you can count where his season rank’s on one hand, come playoff time. Harden is playing on another planet and, in the process, brought the rest of the Rockets with him. This group is even more tight-knit than last season’s. The new acquisitions have fused seamlessly, and the chemistry difference from the beginning of the season is night and day. Obviously, everyone has to buy in for chemistry to work, but when your best player also becomes your best leader, it changes everything. Everything you don’t get to see. The Beard’s one-on-one sessions with House and others. Extra-work in the film and weight room. The talk. To each player in practice, before, during, and after games. All the little things. All that Beard Talk. I used to think The Beard was quiet. James Harden isn’t quiet anymore. Even after winning his coveted-MVP, the Beard has a lot of talking to do. Now that he has that title, there’s a different trophy Harden wants to add to his hall-of-fame accomplishments. He’s sick of being known as the MVP. The Beard wants to be known as a Champion. That title is the one bone he wants most, more than anything. Winning the MVP opened his eyes to the realization that, to be a legend, you have to have add a ring to legacy, it just sounds better. If you were a dog, it’s something you would bark for. The Beard’s been doing a lot of barking to his fellow dogs, motivating them to bring out the most in each bite. And in a dog-eat-dog league, the Rockets are biting the most, and barking the loudest. They’re backing it up with their actions too. The squad has come together as a unit and everyone has complemented each other brilliantly, with House and Rivers adjusting to new roles as if it’d been their job for years.
Hi there, 2019. What a time to be alive, as the forces collide. Up next, Houston’s most brutal 4-game stretch of the season (Warriors, Blazers, Nuggets, Bucks) is looking them dead in the eye. The Blazers are a sleeper playoff team in the West, they’re not an elite team, but Portland boasts one of the best home-court advantages in the entire league, and a win in Portland is never easy. The Nuggets and Bucks both currently hold the #1 seed in their respective conferences, and the Warriors are, well, the Warriors. Speaking of the latter, the NBA’s Goliath is on the schedule next. Houston travels to the bay to take on the team they were built to beat: The Golden State Warriors. Yea, those guys, the Champs. And in the end, they’re the only team the Rockets need to beat if Harden wants to get that elusive title, that bone. The one he’s always wanted, but never really knew he wanted, until this season. The Beard’s been playing like a legitimate solider, carrying the Rockets through the toughest part of the schedule. The Beard looks to keep playing like a true Warrior, as he faces off against a group of players who wear the name “Warrior” on their jerseys, on Thursday night. We’ll see who barks and bites the most. There’s a probable chance the Rockets 5-game winning streak comes to an end, but the Rockets still have James Harden in the midst of the ultra-prime of his career. As long as the Beard has Houston is this zone. One focused on attention to detail, defense, and role-reliant players. A zone that allows him to be the best player on planet Earth, when everyone buys into their roles, and gets everyone to “run as one”, as the team’s motto says. Chris Paul will be back, but this a good team the Beard has around him even with CP3 sidelined. If it unfortunately happens again, Houston will be ok. They’re got the reigning MVP, and the next game against the Warriors will be a great test for both teams, especially how the Rockets hold up without CP3. Granted, the playoffs will be different, but the Beard is durable. Look at the history. Harden rarely ever gets injured. Chris Paul might not be there, I’m praying he will stay healthy but we’ve all seen what can happen. What we didn’t see last year was the fire in the Beard’s eyes. A fire that only arrived this season, a flame in the MVP’s eyes people still haven’t noticed due to Harden’s mind-boggling stats. It’ll be arguably the Rockets toughest game of the season on Thursday night. The Warriors are the Champs and despite this season’s struggles, still the best team, until proven otherwise. Oracle is still the toughest place to win in the NBA. Houston’s going to get their best shot of the year from an opponent all season on Thursday. The Rockets need to ride their hot streak into the game early to avoid digging themselves out of any holes. Harden and co. will look to dig Golden State its own hole as they try and stay hot, and further disrupt Golden State’s chemistry on and off the floor. The Warriors will be ready for the heated Rockets, as Oracle will to try to make as much noise as possible to disrupt Houston’s hot streak. Should be great game with a playoff-like atmosphere. An excellent opportunity for the Rockets’ younger players, who are getting more playing time due to injuries, and will get much-needed playoff-type experience in Thursday night’s battle. 4 really great players (Durant, Curry, Thompson, Green)… against a dog (Harden). The obvious bet is the Warriors I’d guess. But then again, curiosity killed the cat. I’m more of a dog person, myself. I’d bet on James Harden. Oooh… that dog.