NBA Playoffs 2017: 5 players facing the most pressure

2. James Harden — Houston Rockets

While Russell Westbrook might not make this list, the other top MVP candidate for this season does without question. James Harden’s 2016-17 regular season work has been incredible, which is both obvious and still worth stating. He may not have the triple-double average of Westbrook, but he’s posted a better assists per game number (11.2) and a more efficient season than the Thunder point guard.

However, the semi-dirty secret when it comes to Harden is that his postseason production hasn’t been the greatest. In four playoff trips with the Rockets, Harden has averaged 26.9 points, 6.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game. That may look fine, but when you factor in that he’s also shot a meager 41.3 percent and turned the ball over 4.4 times per contest in those 34 games, it’s far less impressive (Basketball-Reference).

It’s also not a coincidence that the one year (2015) the Rockets made it out of the first round is the one year of the four that Harden shot better than 41 percent from the field. Harden’s playoff shortcomings aren’t breaking news by any measure. Many have pointed to the decrease in foul calls in postseason play as a primary factor, which is certainly in play.

But with his MVP-worthy season and with much of the argument for him over Westbrook being predicated upon the Rockets being the better team, he’s going to be expected to again make it out of the first round. In fact, he’s going to be expected to at least challenge to make the West Finals with this Houston team. That’s going to require him to submit his best postseason performance of his career. Pressure doesn’t get much greater than that.