Harden’s Dominant Performance Carries Rockets Past Jazz, 102-97
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” Words that were said once upon a time, by someone who goes by the nickname of, “The Goat”, among other things. The Michael Jordan missed over 12,000 shots in his career, including 26 game-winners, and lost around 300 games. No one’s perfect. Even the greatest, superstar athletes, who, when compared to the average person on the street may seem immortal, make mistakes. James Harden’s made plenty of mistakes. Game 6 against the Spurs, 3 years ago. An early-season hangover caused by last season’s defeat in the Western Conference Finals, after a historic season for the Beard, and the franchise. His “poor” defense. Harden’s took a lot of tough shots in the past, when he could have instead easily driven the ball to the hoop. His effort, can at times, seem unconvincing to the fleeting observer. You’ve probably heard casual fans perceive his defense as questionable at times. We all make errors, blunders, and slip-ups. It’s only human nature. The greatest players (and people) learn, and improve, from their faults, to better themselves in the future. Say what you want about James Harden’s “slow start”, I think he was just learning from his mistakes. And class has ended, for the Beard as a student, folks. He’s now teaching, the art of how to excel in an NBA where every call is questioned. And last year’s MVP is taking the entire league to school, making defenders look like they’re deer in headlights, rocking the ball back and forth, keeping the opposition clueless as to what arsenal Harden will pull out of his bag of tricks next. The Beard’s also putting a lot of his competition on posters, so kids across the country can have a reminder of what “unstoppable” looks like when they wake up and look at their walls. That “make it happen” kind of mindset, that MJ mentioned, defines what separates the good from the great, the great from the superstars, the superstars from the legends. On Monday night, The Beard realized that if the Rockets were going to gut this one out, he was going to have to make it happen. The Rockets gave themselves a comfortable 18-point lead, built around another solid defensive team effort. The improved communication on defense is getting overlooked, as James Harden continues to torch the entire league and any player who gets in his way (a la Rudy Gobert). As much as the Rockets wanted to blow out the Jazz and get some rest (the team’s in the midst of a 3 games in 4 days stretch) that was just wishful thinking. Utah stormed back to tie the game at 94 apiece. Until James Harden “made it happen.” Again. The Beard scored 11 of Houston’s final 13 points, including a personal 8-0 run to finish off the Jazz and lead the Rockets to their 4th consecutive win, 102-97. Last year’s MVP finished the night with 47 points, 6 boards, 5 dimes, and 5 steals, continuing to perform at an even higher level than last season during Houston’s current winning streak. James Harden is currently playing the best basketball of his life. People can complain about a missed travel call all they want, but they can’t argue that James Harden is playing better than anyone in the NBA, right now. He’s shouldering a Rockets team still dealing with injuries, trade rumors, and new acquisitions. And he’s learned. A lot. The last time the Rockets played the Jazz, Harden had one of his weaker performances of the year, finishing with a mere 15 points. The Jazz had figured him out. Or, so they thought. Since that blowout defeat, Harden has been on a tear. Despite the heartbreaking collapse in Dallas, the Rockets have won 4 in a row and Harden has jumped back into the MVP conversation, playing with spectacular force (on both ends of the floor) at the highest level in his entire career. The last 4 games, the Beard’s had two triple-doubles, including a 50-point game, and is playing with a different level of fire. A burning desire to win, that comes from within. Something only the greats can channel. Jordan played with a fiery intensity, and James Harden has been able to channel the motivational fire that fuels the best in the game, and it all started with his first basket to start the winning streak. The Javale McGee Dunk. More importantly, was his statement afterwards, as he flexed in the direction of LeBron James, as if to say, “it’s time to pass the torch, I’m the real King James.” Try and guard him. No one can. And the Beard proved that last night. The Jazz simply couldn’t guard him. The biggest shot of the game, a dazzling step-back three from Harden over Donovan Mitchell, gave the Rockets the lead for good, and sent the Toyota Center crowd into a circus-like frenzy. P.J. Tucker was the only other Rocket to score more than 15 points, with 16 to go along with the usual hustle and grind he brings every night. After the game, Chris Paul, who’s seen a plethora of some of the most dominant offensive forces to ever play the game from MJ himself to Kobe, summed up Harden’s night poignantly: “I say it all the time, he’s the best offensive player I’ve ever seen,” Paul said. “Like, seriously. He can drive, he can shoot, he’s got ball handling. It’s going to be a tough night for you, whoever it is. I don’t care what you’re doing.” And neither does the Beard, because he knows he’s unstoppable. Harden’s playing with the kind of confidence that Jordan, Kobe, Iverson, all had when they knew they couldn’t be stopped. As long as The Beard is able to channel that fire within, and use it when the squad needs it most, the Rockets will be fine and should have a rested, motivated Harden for the playoffs. Up next for the Rockets, the Washington Wizards come to town. The Wizards just received ex-Rocket, Trevor Ariza, in a trade. Last year’s glue-guy for Houston makes his return to the city on Wednesday. The Rockets will look to prove all that Ariza is why Houston’s off to a slow start wrong, as Houstonian Danuel House is quietly showing he’s more than capable of filling the void Ariza’s absence left. Other players need to step up offensively (Eric Gordon, among others) and give the MVP some assistance so he’s not worn out come playoff time. The Rockets won’t have to rely on Harden to do this every night. They can’t. That’s asking a lot. Even from someone who’s currently “making it happen” in a league of his own.