James Harden has saved Houston’s season and revived his MVP chances

0
220


HOUSTON — James Harden heard all of the talk.

Some of it was about his Houston Rockets, who followed last season’s 65-win campaign by beginning this season with an 11-14 record, one that left them languishing in 14th place in the Western Conference in mid-December. Some of it was about him, as the league’s reigning most valuable player was almost instantly ruled out of competing for a chance to repeat as the award’s winner this season after a sluggish start of his own.

So Harden went to work. He put in extra time in the gym. He put in extra time in the weight room. Eventually, things began to turn around — for the Rockets and for Harden.

Suddenly, things look a lot different here in Clutch City. Houston has ripped off eight wins in its past nine games, including Thursday night’s 127-113 victory over the Boston Celtics. Much of that success has been because of Harden, who has played like a man possessed, including his 45 points while tying a career high of nine 3-pointers in Thursday’s win, and at a level exceeding even his MVP campaign last season.

“The game slows down [for him],” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “I wish I knew [how] because then I’d have a clue of what he does.

“I don’t think anybody can figure out what he does, just because he does it so well.”



Source : ESPN