Dwyane Wade lauds Game 7 block as his favorite Harden play ever

“That’s probably my favorite James Harden play ever,” Wade said of the Game 7 block. “When your offense isn’t clicking, do something else.”

All-Star guard and MVP finalist James Harden referred to his potential series-saving block in the waning seconds of Game 7 as one of the top moments of his storied NBA career to date.

It seems that recently retired NBA legend Dwyane Wade — who, like Harden, is also regarded as one of the league’s top shooting guards of all-time — agrees with his assessment of the significance.

On Twitter, Wade wrote:

That’s probably my favorite James Harden play ever. When your offense isn’t clicking, do something else. Big-time block, and yoga pose in mid air [laughs].

That “yoga pose” allowed Harden to avoid Lu Dort’s attempt at throwing the loose ball off of him on his way out of bounds. That gave Houston possession of the basketball, and the chance to add to the 1-point lead at the free-throw line and take precious additional seconds off the clock.

Dort had scored a game-high 30 points for Oklahoma City, and he had made 6-of-11 from 3-point range (54.5%) before that final shot.

So when the rookie elevated to launch his shot with the Thunder trailing by a point in the closing seconds of Game 7, it seemed highly plausible that he could make it and (probably) end Houston’s season. Instead, Harden’s well-timed defensive rotation and block saved the day.

Speaking postgame, Harden was asked where it ranked among the top moments of his NBA career. Even for an eight-time All-Star and former MVP, “The Beard” said it was near the top of the list.

One of the top ones. Definitely. It’s cool to get 40 or 50 points, or to be shooting the ball extremely well. Obviously, we all want to do that. But to get recognition, and for it to pay off when it counts on the defensive end. It shows that I’ve been engaged and locked in. For it to show in a clutch moment, it means a lot.

Like Wade, All-Star teammate Russell Westbrook also came to Harden’s defense regarding his contributions on that end of the floor.

James has been playing defense. If media people actually look at the numbers — since you guys like to look at numbers — look at them, and you’ll see and get your answers. James defends. This notion of in the past where he would lose his man and do different things, but he’s improved. Not just from me being here this year, but he’s improved on that side of things.

It gets overlooked because he’s such a good offensive player and you guys see one thing and go ‘Oh, he can’t play defense.’ That’s not true. I think he led the league in steals, deflections, he’s around there, defensive net rating — whatever that [bleep] is that yall like to use — he’s up there.

After ranking just No. 15 overall in net defensive rating during the 2019-20 regular season, the Rockets have surged to No. 1 in the playoffs.

That’s why they’ve moving on to the second round after defeating the Thunder in seven games, even with an off shooting night (4-of-15) by Harden in Game 7 and an offense that ranks just 10th in net rating out of 16 playoff teams. During the regular season, Houston was No. 2 in the NBA in scoring — and the potential of combining that elite playoff defense with a mean reversion on offense could make Harden and the Rockets very dangerous in the days and weeks ahead.

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“It boosts the confidence,” Harden said of winning with defense. “Everything is gravy when you’re making shots and everything is rolling offensively. I think we found some guts, and we ground it out defensively these last few games. Even last game [Game 6] we lost, we still played really good… defensively, we just couldn’t make shots.”

“Our shotmaking is going to come, and when it comes, it’s going to be scary,” Harden said. “Because our defense has been very, very solid.”

Harden and the Rockets now move on to the second round of the playoffs for a star-studded matchup versus LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the top–seeded Los Angeles Lakers. Tip-off of Game 1 is set for 8:00 p.m. Central on Friday, with the game broadcast nationally on ESPN.

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