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NBA Power Rankings: Highs and lows for the Toronto Raptors

By Ian Levy

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 6: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors looks on with Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 6, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 6: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors looks on with Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors during the game against the Indiana Pacers on January 6, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – JANUARY 5: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 5 , 2019 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – JANUARY 5: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets looks on during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on January 5 , 2019 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

169. . 23-16. Previous: 15th. Houston Rockets. 12. team

The Houston Rockets have been surging lately, behind the incredible exploits of James Harden. Since Dec. 11, the Rockets are 12-2 and Harden is averaging 39.4 points, 9.2 assists, 6.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. Peppered in among those 14 games, Harden has also had four triple-doubles, including a 50-pointer, a game-winning 3-pointer over the Warriors and five straight games with 40 or more points.

The numbers get even more incredible the more you stare at them. Over this 14-game stretch, Harden has scored 551 points and had a hand in another 318 by virtue of his assists. Houston has scored 1609 points over the same span, which means Harden was directly responsible for 54 percent of their total scoring. This, of course, doesn’t include open shots his teammates found because of Harden’s gravity, or easy buckets on offensive rebounds after big men have rotated to contest his shots.

It’s an almost unprecedented offensive load, carried with almost unprecedented offensive efficiency. The question is, how long can he keep it up?

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