On Friday night, James Harden had 44 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists in a 10-point victory by the Rockets over the 76ers in Houston.
It was Harden’s first triple-double of the 2019-20 season, but what made it most remarkable was the efficiency. The former NBA MVP made 13 of 24 shots (54.2%) overall, including 6-of-12 (50%) on 3-pointers.
Philadelphia guard Josh Richardson has considerable length and athleticism with his 6-foot-6 frame, and he tried his best to slow Harden down. But nothing seemed to work on a consistent basis, and Harden delivered a pair of dagger step-back 3-pointers against Richardson in the closing minutes to put the game away for the Rockets.
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Speaking Sunday at Philadelphia’s practice — their first since Friday’s game — the 26-year-old Richardson had a succinct assessment:
He might be the best offensive player ever.
Josh Richardson on James Harden: “He might be the best offensive player ever.”
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) January 5, 2020
Richardson had similarly rave reviews in his comments to reporters in Houston on Friday night, immediately after the game went final.
Regarding Harden, he said:
That’s why every team every night has a different scheme against him, trying to figure it out. And nobody has figured it out yet.
Josh Richardson on James Harden: "It's always frustrating when you're playing against guys like that. I mean, that's why every team every night has a different scheme against him, trying to figure it out. And nobody has figured it out yet."
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) January 4, 2020
RT for The Beard!
44 points 💥
11 assists 💥
11 rebounds 💥 pic.twitter.com/EmbfjanWcI— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) January 4, 2020
There’s certainly a case for it.
Through 34 games, Harden is averaging 38.4 points per game, which would be the highest total of any NBA player in 56 years and the most by a guard ever. Even in the tough Western Conference, the Rockets have won 24 of those 34 games — good for a 58-win pace over a full season.
But it’s the efficiency that stands out most. Harden now has a career-long streak of seven straight games shooting at least 50% from the field.
Through Friday’s game, Harden has shot 50.0% or better in 17 of his 34 games played (50%) this season after doing so in 23 of his 78 games played (29.5%) in the 2018-19 season. Excluding an initial nine-game slump to begin this season, the 30-year-old has now finished at 50% or better from the field in 16 of his last 25 games (64%).
James Harden is unique.
Unguardable Tour Part 2 !
44 pt , 11 reb, 11 ast in win vs Sixers.
I called it and saw it live tonight.
If he isn’t in your top 2 for MVP…you’re intoxicated by Haterade💯— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) January 4, 2020
Harden has also made at least four 3-pointers in 11 consecutive games, with an average of 6.4 made 3-pointers per game over that span on 49.6% shooting from behind the arc.
The numbers show that Harden is somehow more efficient as a scorer in 2019-20 than he was in his historic scoring season a year ago — and the results are still improving even more as 2019-20 moves along.
Richardson seems to have taken notice, and he’s far from alone with regards to Harden’s current and recent NBA peers.
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Harden and the Rockets (24-11) are in the middle of a rare stretch of four consecutive off days before resuming play Wednesday night in Atlanta, where the Hawks (8-28) have the league’s third-worst defense.
Harden scored 60 points in just three quarters versus Atlanta when the teams last met in late November, which could make Wednesday an ideal opportunity for the future Hall of Famer to make more history this season.
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