[NBA.com] Harden is seriously balling right now.

seclusion · Nov 3, 2012

Didn't see this posted, my apologies if it was:

NBA.com said:

ATLANTA – Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale is doing his best not to feed the hype where James Harden is concerned. Really, he’s trying not to read too much into the numbers Harden has put up through two games in a Rockets uniform.

It would help if Harden wasn’t on pace to win a scoring title, MVP honors and lead the Rockets into the playoffs.

Laugh if you want, but Harden’s stock is soaring this week. The unstoppable former Sixth Man supreme in Oklahoma City has turned into a defender’s worst nightmare since being traded to Houston last weekend.

Harden is basically unstoppable, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound lefty who can do it all — score, handle, pass and even defend — while also showing the unique ability to step from the shadows, so to speak, and into the spotlight without blinking.

He topped his 37-point, 12-assist, 6-rebound, 4-steal debut in a win over Detroit with an even more jaw-dropping and career-high 45-point, 7-rebound, 2-steal showcase in a 109-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks Friday night at Philips Arena.

“I hope [he does], but I doubt he’s going to average 37, 12 and whatever,” McHale joked before Harden unleashed on the Hawks, who tried everything but simply had no answer for a player capable of beating you from every angle.

Harden’s season stats after two games – 41 PPG, 63.6% FG, 87% FT, 42.9% 3PT, 6.5 RB, 7 AS, 2ST, 4.5 TO, 2.5 PF – say it all.

His 82 combined points are the most by a non-rookie in his first two games with a new team in league history. And he joins Wilt Chamberlain (106 in 1962-63, 105 in 1961-62 and 86 in 1965-55) and Michael Jordan (91 in 1986-87) on the list of the top five scoring starts through two games in league history.

Harden’s doing this in roughly six more minutes per game than he played in last season, when he took home Kia Sixth Man of the Year honors and helped the Thunder reach The Finals. If he keeps this up, he’ll be in the running for some other Kia-sponsored hardware, along with a spot as a player/host during All-Star Weekend in Houston in February.

These first two games have been the ideal platform for Harden to show off the fact that he’s got the chops to be a headliner and not just a candidate for best supporting actor.

“I was just trying to make plays,” Harden said after torching the Hawks. “My teammates were looking for me, and I just was able to score the basketball. But it wasn’t just me. Chandler (Parsons) hit a big three, and Jeremy (Lin) hit a big three, so guys were stepping up at big times.”

No one is happier to see Harden in a Rockets uniform than Lin, who stroked the Hawks for 21 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists of his own. Lin doesn’t have to worry about being the face of the franchise hand the pressure that come with that distinction as long as Harden keeps doing what he’s doing.

“I always felt for Jeremy, it’s so hard to live up to the Linsanity hype and all of that,” McHale said. “Jeremy’s a very good basketball player. James allows him to go out there and do just that, be a very good basketball player. And together, they can be really good together. When we made that trade, though, the guy who was happiest about it and was calling up everybody to make sure we were going to do it was Jeremy Lin.”

Harden has embraced the spotlight that comes with his new role.

“It is different,” he said. “It’s a lot different having the entire offense run through you. But that’s my job now, and I accept that.”

He’s been a model teammate, too, according to McHale. But he’ll have to continue to adjust to the increased attention. He’s no longer the third bullet point on the opposing team’s scouting report, like he was in Oklahoma City. And with that No.1 spot comes added attention that require Harden’s undivided attention.

“He’s going to have nights where he’s gonna draw two [defenders] and is just going to have to make the easy plays and play out of it,” McHale said, “because three guys cannot guard four guys behind you. I told him, you’re probably going to see more of that than ever before. Don’t let it frustrate you and keep making those plays. You do it enough and he’ll get back to those opportunities where he gets to play one-on-one.”

After seeing Harden the past eight quarters, those numbers don’t really seem to matter … at least not to Harden!
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http://hangtime.blogs.nba.com/2012/...pops-hawks-for-career-high-45/?ls=nbahpsplit1

RocketForever · Nov 3, 2012

Harden s definitely a candidate for the player of the week award.

37/6/12 and 45/7/2. You just cannot argue against statistics

LCII · Nov 3, 2012

RocketForever said: ↑

Harden s definitely a candidate for the player of the week award.

37/6/12 and 45/7/2. You just cannot argue against statistics
Click to expand...

a candidate? nay, a lock

AFS · Nov 3, 2012

LCII said: ↑

a candidate? nay, a lock
Click to expand...

Agreed. Who else even comes close to playing at this kind of a level so far?

liljojo · Nov 3, 2012

RocketForever said: ↑

You just cannot argue against statistics
Click to expand...

Sure you can. I've seen it done a million times in this forum.

mvpcrossxover · Nov 3, 2012

how many people play this good after a max contract?

LosPollosHermanos · Nov 3, 2012

Impressive. What got me the most was how he scored. That was efficient as ****. The man got the rim at will. All of us have seen stars put up crazy numbers, like when T-Mac was here. But it was on nights he would just shoot lights out. Harden was relentless at attacking the entire night.

Great. Great. Game.

Spiegel · Nov 3, 2012

Player of the month. Lin-harden-asik and hopefully next season Millsap say it loud houston dynasty on the making.

rocketsfan4 · Nov 3, 2012

Spiegel said: ↑

Player of the month. Lin-harden-asik and hopefully next season Millsap say it loud houston dynasty on the making.
Click to expand...

Man would love to get a lunch pail guy like Millsap. Need a non-flashy team player grinder at the 4 who can board and play hard D. Would even sacrifice blocked shots at the position, although that would be a bonus. I really think Greg Smith has great potential there, is almost an identical size to my first favorite Rockets player of all time, Moses Malone.

BBAL · Nov 3, 2012

seclusion said: ↑

Didn't see this posted, my apologies if it was:

Harden’s season stats after two games – 41 PPG, 63.6% FG, 87% FT, 42.9% 3PT, 6.5 RB, 7 AS, 2ST, 4.5 TO, 2.5 PF – say it all.

His 82 combined points are the most by a non-rookie in his first two games with a new team in league history. And he joins Wilt Chamberlain (106 in 1962-63, 105 in 1961-62 and 86 in 1965-55) and Michael Jordan (91 in 1986-87) on the list of the top five scoring starts through two games in league history.
Click to expand...

Amazing.

maizer · Nov 3, 2012

"Harden is seriously balling right now."

Where's my orly owl :grin:

jamisonrocket · Nov 3, 2012

I knew he would be good but damn, he has been exceeding me expectations. Now that the league knows he's capable of being a treat like this, I wonder if he can he keep the high numbers up. I'm not expecting this Beardsanity to last, but 20+ point per game still would be more then I expected

Spiegel · Nov 3, 2012

rocketsfan4 said: ↑

Man would love to get a lunch pail guy like Millsap. Need a non-flashy team player grinder at the 4 who can board and play hard D. Would even sacrifice blocked shots at the position, although that would be a bonus. I really think Greg Smith has great potential there, is almost an identical size to my first favorite Rockets player of all time, Moses Malone.
Click to expand...

Moses was/is a HOF talent man. Hecleaned up the glass and destroyed people with ease. I understand what you mean regarding Greg though, Aldrich is just terrible.

JMAD21 · Nov 3, 2012

I know it's only been two games! But I think it's very safe to say that Harden will be contending for a scoring title this year! I don't see another shooting guard that can keep him out of the Allstar game!

With a player like this, anything can happen! I'm so pumped

mike_lu · Nov 3, 2012

77% TS% so far ... wow

Lihao · Nov 3, 2012

seriously, always thought Harden is a very good player, but never saw this coming, damn he's ****ing incredible atm , Lebron who? :grin:

seclusion · Nov 3, 2012

maizer said: ↑

"Harden is seriously balling right now."

Where's my orly owl :grin:
Click to expand...

Ya rly.

J Sizzle · Nov 3, 2012

Just think....this team was nowhere near as fun as it is right now a week ago.

tinywang · Nov 3, 2012

Ball so Harden

LC Rox Fan · Nov 3, 2012

JMAD21 said: ↑

I know it's only been two games! But I think it's very safe to say that Harden will be contending for a scoring title this year! I don't see another shooting guard that can keep him out of the Allstar game!

With a player like this, anything can happen! I'm so pumped
Click to expand...

With him carrying the team, I'm pretty sure he will be in MVP contention as well with that ridiculous statline

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[NBA.com] Harden is seriously balling right now.

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