James Harden: HOH's Week 25 Silver Booster Award Winner

The Houston Rockets have concluded the last week of the schedule and passed that checkpoint with flying colors!

It was a glorious week for the team as they were able to handle their opponents in better fashion than they were able to last week.

I’m not saying that they were perfect but we’ve certainly seen some marked improvement when is comparing the past to the present.

The Rockets faced the New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets and closing out the season against the Utah Jazz.

It’s just great to hear that they completed the week undefeated.

This not only enabled the team to grab the No. 2 seed in the NBA Playoffs — a huge advantage — but to win the Southwest Division, a feat that hasn’t been completed since 1994.

The Rockets are, unfortunately, in the toughest division in basketball where all teams regularly contend for the postseason.

Along with the Rockets, the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and the Pelicans are all members.

The Pelicans have not made the playoffs in the past few seasons as they move on in life without Chris Paul but seizing Anthony Davis in the draft and signing big men such as Omer Asik has set their compass for success in the right direction.

Considering that they’re four teams that have 50 wins or greater shows how difficult this division really is — and it will be hell for opponents for many seasons to come.

But the playoffs will be underway tomorrow and the Rockets have their work cut out for them as they look to get out of the opening round for the first time since 2009.

But this week, one guy stood out the most in terms ensuring the team reached its highest potential.

You probably know who…

Because of this, excellence deserves to be recognized — today on that type of basis continuously, we will honor an individual player that made the most impact in helping the team, despite whether it resulted in a win or a loss.

We’ve dubbed it House of Houston Silver Booster Award…

And this week’s Silver Booster Award goes to…

James Harden!

The Beard is now a five-time winner of the award as he becomes the first and last recipient of it this season.

And rightfully so…

He had quite a bounce-back from a previous lackluster week.

Harden did the things that he’s normally known for — being the prolific scorer that he is, while getting his teammates involved in the action and playing upgraded defense.

All of these attributes were needed as the Rockets needed to win all three games this week to get some sort of an advantage while participating in the playoffs.

The phone rang and the Beard answered the call with confidence.

However, it remains to be seen if Harden will win the Association’s Most Valuable Player Award because his best opportunity to make that case was against the Spurs and he didn’t quite take advantage of that opportunity.

Because of this, it’s likely that Stephen Curry will win because of the overall impact he has had on his team and the fact the Golden State Warriors have been ho-hum for 99 percent of the season running like an efficient, well-oiled machine.

Yes, 66 wins can do that for you and it’s because Curry has been at the controls.

It’s a tough pill to swallow because Harden has carried this team on his back with all of the injuries that have mounted and the Rockets still managed to churn out a 56-26 record, the third-best in franchise history.

I do think that Harden has a chance but his best opportunity is give it his all and remain consistent in the playoffs as well as through next season to be considered in the running again.

More from House of Houston

Who knows?

This team may get red-hot and the Beard may be flirting with an NBA Finals MVP nomination.

I know, I know, I’m putting the cart before the horse.

But it doesn’t hurt to dream something that isn’t so far-fetched.

For the record, Harden averaged 25.0 PPG, 7.7 APG, 6.0 RPG while shooting 20-for-46 (43 percent) from the field and 31-of-33 (94 percent) from the charity stripe.

Not a bad stat line for the week if you ask me.

Although he did not win the scoring title, I’m sure that’s the least of our concerns as well as Harden’s.

Russell Westbrook, the winner, would very much rather be participating in the postseason rather than being a spectator on the couch.

So that title doesn’t matter?

Do they even give awards out for that anyway?

James Harden: HOH’s Week 25 Silver Booster Award Winner

By Brian K. Patterson | Apr 18, 2015

More from House of Houston