James Harden has been defying basketball logic in the last few months. While having a 30 point night was considered a job well done, Harden has made it ‘routine’.
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Harden has been scoring 30 points for 21 straight games and is closing in on Wilt Chamberlain’s record.
Harden has breached the 40 point barrier 10 times, the 50 point barrier 4 times and the 60 point barrier once during this humdinger of a scoring run.
The 60 point barrier was breached during Rockets’ impressive win against the Knicks at the Madison Square Garden.
What was most impressive about last night’s performance was that Harden got all of his 61 points working in isolation, something that is extremely unique to Harden’s style of play.
Harden’s streak started against the LA Lakers, when the Rockets managed to beat the Lakers 126-121.
Rockets were in 14th place before Harden took off. He has now managed to carry his team to the 5th spot in the Western conference, giving them a wonderful chance of making it to the playoffs.
Harden is determined to write NBA history, wanting to see his name written alongside Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.
Harden concedes that he has a long way to go before getting a place in that ‘elite list’.
“Kobe and Wilt and Jordan — now we’re talking about the elites of the game, the greatest to ever touch a basketball,” Harden said.
“It’s honorable to be up there with those names. Honest, I have a long way to go. I’m not even close to what they accomplished in their careers. But it’s pretty cool to be in that conversation and almost there. But I have a lot of work to do.” he added.
Harden has admitted that all the work that he is putting in the gym and during training is to ensure that he is remembered as one of the greatest players of all time.
“That’s one of the reasons you play the game of basketball: to be, when it’s all said and done, mentioned as one of the greats, the greatest that ever dribbled a basketball, whether it’s Wilt, whether it’s Jordan, and the list goes on” Harden said.
“Obviously, you want to win championships and want the individual accomplishments, but every day (when) I’m in the gym and work on moves, I think about that.
“When I’m done, whenever that is, I want my name up there with them. It’s a good place to be in.” he added.
Harden is doing it all on his own, especially after the hamstring injury that CP3 suffered in December.
The major weapon that has aided Harden in this insane scoring spree is his step back 3, one that the NBA defenses have just not been able to crack
If he keeps going at the same rate, he might as well get his second MVP title in two years.
