Fansided

NBA Playoffs 2019: 5 players facing the most pressure

By Micah Wimmer

TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 22: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on against the Toronto Raptors on March 22, 2019 at 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - MARCH 22: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on against the Toronto Raptors on March 22, 2019 at 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 Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
HOUSTON, TX – MARCH 30: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets hi-fives fans after the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 30, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – MARCH 30: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets hi-fives fans after the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 30, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. James Harden

After finally winning the MVP last year James Harden is putting together a perhaps even more impressive season, averaging the most points per game since Michael Jordan three decades ago. Yet after the Rockets’ Game 7 collapse against the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals last season, it sort of felt like Houston had their chance to unseat the champs and blew it. Now, Harden is saddled with the backhanded compliment of being seen as the league’s best regular season player, a player who is staggeringly impressive from October to April but, due to his heavy workload, is bound to run out of gas as he gets deeper into the postseason.

If Harden wants to prove to fans that he is capable of postseason success, the Rockets must win at least their first round match-up and potentially go even further. No one really expects the Rockets to unseat the Warriors as they looked poised to last year, but doing so would showcase that Harden’s style is not limited to regular season success and can win games when they matter most.

Home/NBA Playoffs