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NBA: 2014-15 preseason MVP candidates

By Bryce Olin

Jan 29, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) is pressured by Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) is pressured by Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 20, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) controls the ball during the second quarter as Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) defends in game one during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) controls the ball during the second quarter as Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) defends in game one during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

4. James Harden, Houston Rockets

So what if James Harden’s defense sucks?

If he tried at all, his defense would be fixed. If you want to knock Harden for his insistence to get to the free throw line every time he drives or his cold-shooting in the playoffs or his disappearing act, sometimes, in big moments like the 2012 NBA Finals, then fine, but to get hung up on a guy’s defense when a good portion of the league has, literally, no will to even play defense is pretty ridiculous. Like 95 percent of the league takes plays off on defense, but Harden gets a couple gifs and YouTube videos made showcasing his poor defense, and now it’s a thing.

Just shake it off, James.

I’m not defending Harden’s defense at all; he’s atrocious at times, but he also averaged 1.6 steals per game and was 15th in the league in total steals last season. That’s pretty good, actually.

Harden is one of the best scorers in the league and is nearly impossible to stop if he gets a step on his defender and gets into the paint. He’s like a heat-seeking missile; he just finds contact and forces opposing players to foul him. Last season, he finished second in total made free throws behind Durant.

Season G MP FG FGA FG% 3P% FT% TRB AST STL PTS
2011-12 62 31.4 5.0 10.1 .491 .390 .846 4.1 3.7 1.0 16.8
2012-13 ★ 78 38.3 7.5 17.1 .438 .368 .851 4.9 5.8 1.8 25.9
2013-14 ★ 73 38.0 7.5 16.5 .456 .366 .866 4.7 6.1 1.6 25.4
Career 371 31.4 5.3 11.9 .445 .369 .849 4.0 3.9 1.3 18.0

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/5/2014.

Last season, Harden averaged 25.4 points and 6.1 assists per game. Entering his sixth season, he’ll have to do more to keep the Rockets in the playoff picture, and I expect he will do more. Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin are gone and Harden will have many more possessions with the ball in his hand trying to create offense.

Last season, Parsons and Lin, combined, shot 22.6 times per game. Who’s going to shoot those shots now? Trevor Ariza will like take about ten shot attempts. If Harden shoots four more times per game and makes half of them, he’ll be averaging 30 PPG.

Harden WILL average 30 PPG this season, and that should put him right in the thick of the MVP race, especially if the Rockets are winning in the West.

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