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In Houston, Rockets’ incredible scoring machine named James Harden just seems to keep outdoing himself lately.
I watched Monday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Would you believe that James Harden scored 57 points, captured 9 rebounds, and sold popcorn at halftime of the Rockets’ 112-94 victory?
OK, he probably didn’t sell popcorn at halftime, but he did have 36 points in the first half alone!
Did I say that he scored 57 after playing another game just 24 hours earlier on the road in Orlando?
Did I mention that he scored 57 points without having the Rockets’ starting center, Clint Capela (thumb injury) or starting point guard, Chris Paul (leg) in the line-up?
Did I fail to say that Memphis came into Houston’s Toyota Center sporting the NBA’s best team defensive statistics (102 ppg)? As Rocket’s Hall-of-Fame analyst Calvin Murphy pondered, “Don’t you think Memphis might have tried to double-team him”?
The most amazing stat about James Harden’s performance was that he played only 34 minutes in the game to get his 57 points. Harden (aka “The Beard”) scored nearly two points for every minute he was on the floor Monday night for the Rockets.
The Rockets’ guard is the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player. Counting last night’s performance, James Harden has now scored thirty or more points in 17 consecutive games.
With that, Harden’s streak eclipsed the prior longest streak (since the ABA/NBA merger) held by Los Angeles Laker legend, Kobe Bryant, back in 2003. The NBA all-time 30 points per game streak record is held by Wilt Chamberlain (20) in 1964 followed by Elgin Baylor’s 18 consecutive games in 1961 and into early 1962.
Harden is currently averaging nearly 35 points per game and is a whopping five points per game ahead of both Kevin Durant (Warriors) and Anthony Davis (Pelicans – for now).
James Harden’s sizzling hot streak has taken greater significance with Chris Paul’s being sidelined with his latest injury (hamstring) twelve games ago in mid-December.
The Rockets’ scoring machine has done his personal best to keep the team in contention in the always-tight NBA Western Conference standings. Houston has moved up to fourth place and has won seven of its last ten games.
James Harden’s critics may talk about how the Rockets’ guard receives more-than-favorable treatment from the NBA’s referees. An 86% free throw shooter, Harden averages nearly ten points per game from the free throw line alone.
Harden is big enough (at 6’6”) to score over smaller NBA guards and strong enough to work his way to the basket to score lay-ups. He leads the NBA in three point shots made (nearly 5 per game) and shoots 38% from long-range.
Whether shooting from inside or outside, James Harden reminds me of San Antonio Spurs’ Hall-of-Fame legend, George Gervin. “The Iceman” averaged over 25 points per game over his 14-year professional career in the 1970’s and 80’s.
Both were gifted scorers. Neither player met a shot they didn’t like!
For now, Houston Rockets fans are enjoying the chance to watch history unfold.
With only three more games to go to reach Wilt Chamberlain’s all-time 30 points consecutive game scoring streak, James Harden is on quite a historic roll.