http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18390464/nba-power-rankings-marc-stein-week-11-rankings Harden's Houston Rockets have moved up to No. 3 in the latest edition of ESPN.com's weekly NBA Power Rankings in the wake of a 4-0 week, which was capped by The Beard's ridiculous 53-point, 17-assist, 16-rebound masterpiece against the New York Knicks.
We have to win that upcoming game against the thunder and harden HAS to have a big game. Otherwise that will drive the narrative in WB direction
Yea I get that. What I'm referring to is the MVP race. Thought that was obvious. While power rankings have no bearing on MVP race, media narratives do. If harden doesn't have a big game and Westbrook does, he furthers his narrative.
I will forever remember that 50-pt / 0 assist game by Isaiah Thomas ... right up there with both of Carmelo's 50-0s.
http://www.nba.com/article/2017/01/...-11-cleveland-cavaliers-golden-state-warriors Record: 26-9 Pace: 101.0 (4) OffRtg: 112.7 (3) DefRtg: 105.2 (17) NetRtg: +7.5 (4) James Harden capped the Rockets' 15-2 December and a week in which they averaged 131 points per game with a never-before-seen 53 points, 16 rebounds and 17 assists against the Knicks on Saturday, accounting for 95 Houston points via his points and assists. Harden is on pace to crush the record for most assists on 3-pointers and now Eric Gordon is on pace to become the second player in history with 300 threes in a season. Despite injuries to Clint Capela and Patrick Beverley, the Houston offense is rolling, but the Rockets play eight January games (most in the league) against top-10 defenses, starting with a visit from the Thunder on Thursday. Net rating is always a good indicator of how good a team is! OKC has 2nd easiest schedule up-to-date so if Westbrook carries them through January and in top 5 standings, I'd say he's making the strongest case. Also check out Lowry, who's at 45% from three!!: "
Stein called Westbrook's triple double his fastest in his career. Other media outlets were also gawking at this. Ok was not Harden's triple double his fastest in his career and just as impressive if not more impressive? Russ's triple double at halftime in 19 minutes of play: 11pts/12a/10r Harden at halftime in 19:50 of play: 24pts/11a/9r Harden recorded his triple double at 22 minutes at 3 seconds of play time: 27pts/11a/10r Harden's triple double just on how fast and how many points is far more impressive than Westbrook's triple double by halftime.
I would have never believed you had you told me the Rockets would be in the mix with the Warriors, Cavs, and Spurs a third of the way through the season. Hats off to the whole Rockets organization. Everybody deserves credit. EVERYBODY.
I looked this up at halftime of the Rockets game. fwiw: Russ's didn't get the 10th rebound when the buzzer sounded at the end of the half. So, if you are going to exactly list Harden's time, might as well list Russ's time at exactly 18:43 Harden had 6-6-6 in 11 minutes of play. So, I was tracking it to see how fast he could do it. But then he did something even better.
@heypartner ok good to know. The article I referenced for Westbrook's triple double said "in about 19 minutes." Interesting. So media rounded up to give Russ a triple double by the half when it was really: 11/12/9 While Harden's non-rounded up almost triple double by the half was: 24/11/9 I had to recover the game from my DVR and fast-forward/watch again to get Harden's stats per play time. What's also so impressive was the amount of 3s he had in that 27/11/10 in 22 min. I didn't count but it seemed like...a lot. Hitting so many so early he had to throw in that shimmy.
Russ had a triple double at halftime. I was saying he had it before halftime. Got his 10th be with :34 left. Total time was 18:43. Media didn't round anything, ppl just reported "at half-time" and looked at his total minutes.
Here is an alarming fact, and one thats kind of telling of how we are nowhere near the same tier as the Warriors or Spurs: We have a losing record against +.500 teams!
