NBA: Now is the time for James Harden to win the MVP

With Dwight Howard out of the lineup for at least a month, can the Houston Rockets shooting guard, James Harden, lead his team, and win the 2014-15 MVP?

Ever think something was going completely well, and it really wasn’t?

Back in 2012, James Harden, was the second youngest player in NBA history to win the Sixth Man of the Year award. Because of his game, Harden helped the Oklahoma City Thunder reach the 2012 NBA finals. However, the Thunder lost in the finals to a better and more experienced Miami Heat team and the results were catastrophic for their franchise.

In the offseason when Harden was looking for a contract extension with the Thunder, their management lowballed him with a four-year, $54 million offer and he didn’t want to resign. After failing to reach an agreement with the Thunder, he was traded to the Houston Rockets, and because of the Thunder’s decision, they haven’t been to the finals, or looked as good as team since.

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For anyone who’s ever been laid off, chased out, or casted out of a place, then they’re most likely rooting for the Houston Rockets this season.

The Rockets are a team full of players who experienced this such as, Josh Smith, Dwight Howard, Corey Brewer, Trevor Ariza and, Alexey Shved, who all were cast out of their respective teams and now have joined together to form arguably the most hungry team in the league.

The proverbial leader of the

castaways

Rockets is none other than the best shooting guard in the game of basketball, Harden.

But even being the leader of a team brings added pressure that other players don’t have to face and this season the Rockets have one of the best chances to make it to the 2014-15 NBA finals.

However, the Rockets finals chances took a huge blow as their starting center, Howard, is now out for the second time with a knee-related injury. Before, Howard’s right knee strain caused him to miss 11 games in the month of November and December. Now, Howard has another right knee injury that will force him out of the lineup for at least a month.

Because of his Howard’s injury, the Rockets are going to lean even more on Harden’s skill set as a basketball player. Without Howard in the lineup, can Harden lead the Rockets? Will he be able to propel their team to make a late season push to get the No. 1 seed in the league and catch the Golden State Warriors?

Jan 30, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13), guard Corey Brewer (33) and guard Patrick Beverley (2) celebrate against the Boston Celtics during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

The goal is very obtainable as the Rockets are only 2.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 2 seed, and 5.5 behind the Warriors for the No. 1 seed.

For someone playing at an extremely high level it might be difficult to improve on the consistent numbers that Harden’s putting up this season. Thankfully it seems like he’s the type of player who enjoys a challenge.

This season the Rockets are reaping the benefits of Harden’s offensive blossoming, and the fifth year player from Arizona State is putting up career-highs across the board averaging 27.0 points per game (league leading), 5.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

It’s easy to see why Harden’s so good, and it’s not a physical reason. Harden looks like he’s still playing with the mentality that the Oklahoma City Thunder made a huge mistake to choose another player over him, which they did, and he’s making everyone in the league pay for it.

Think about the best defender in the NBA. Think about how great lateral movement they have. Think about the chase down blocks they get in the open court. Think about the way that they force their opponents into difficult shots time and time again. For as good as anyone in the league is at defense, Harden’s offense is superior. Force him into a difficult shot and he’s going to make the defender look foolish as he drains it between their eyes.

Simply put, there isn’t a soul in the NBA who can stand toe for toe with Harden and shut him down.

It goes without saying, but the question that lingers over Harden’s team is, where would the Rockets be without his game?

Unlike Harden’s MVP counterpart, Stephen Curry, he doesn’t have the talent surrounding him and it doesn’t affect his team’s winning performance. The Warriors have either Curry or their shooting guard, Klay Thompson, that can lead their team if the other is out of the lineup. The Warriors even have Draymond Green, David Lee, and Harrison Barnes, all of which on a nightly basis make appearances in the highlight reel.

As for Harden his value to the Rockets is unparalleled. On the year Harden’s stats can make his MVP argument for him.

Harden is No. 1 in total points scored, No. 1 in Win Shares, No. 1 in Offensive Win Shares, No. 1 in Value Over Replacement, No. 3 in Box Plus/Minus, No. 5 in Defensive Win Shares, No. 6 in minutes per game, to cap it off he’s No. 3 in Player Efficiency Rating.

This season the MVP is Harden’s trophy to lose.

Furthermore, what’s more impressive about Harden’s MVP candidacy is that if he wins the award, which he should, then he’d be the first player in the history of the league since, Bill Walton, to ever win the Sixth Man of the Year, and the MVP. That feat alone is an accomplishment within itself.

With the All-Star break right around the corner a lot of players are going to take a break, and give thanks that they are playing in the midseason showcase.

Us as fans, we’ll watch Harden and appreciate his basketball skill, he’s too talented a player to deny that. Just realize he’s still one of the five best players in the league and he too got snubbed by not getting the starting position over Kobe Bryant.

People just keep adding more weights on Harden’s shoulders that should drive him to win the MVP award.

It’s his for the taking and it’s time to grab what’s his.

Next: What more can Kawhi Leonard do in his NBA career?

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NBA: Now is the time for James Harden to win the 2014-15 MVP

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