Houston Rockets: Driving And Burying Narratives

Throughout the years, James Harden has been regarded as the best shooting guard that the league has to offer. However, despite his accomplishments on and off the basketball court, he has also been one of the most maligned players to date.

The knock on Harden used to be his inability to perform in the playoffs. He has now put that one to bed, but there’s something new brewing.

The popular thing to do with James for the past two or three seasons has been to show his one or two defensive lapses a week and crown it as “he doesn’t play defense”.

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Perhaps it’s the way Harden addresses the media or his “nonchalant” attitude towards others, but regardless it seems that media outlets have it out for him. After going to the Western Conference Finals last season and having his best season to date, James Harden and the Houston Rockets find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Despite everything that is happening to the Rockets team this season, Harden is having an even better season statistically this year than last when he finished 2nd place in MVP votes behind Stephen Curry.

To make matters worse, Harden also is teammates with another media scapegoat in Dwight Howard. Personally I’ve never seen a player that is second in the NBA in scoring, leadshis position in assists and rebounds and get criticized to the extent that #13 does. Averaging 29/7/6, Harden is THE reason that his team is even in the position to fight for a playoff spot night in and night out in the first place.

Since the All-Star break the Rockets are posting a 97.3 defensive rating when James is on the floor and a 112.2 rating when he goes out. Over the last six games, when Harden is on the floor the Rockets post a 101 defensive rating and without him 116.6.