It’s been a tough season for James Harden, what with his Houston Rockets struggling all season to find themselves. Repeated losses have only served to add fodder for pundits as to why a team who made the Western Conference Finals last season barely made the cut this year.
On paper the team was stronger with the core back, added depth and two rookies with projected high ceilings. Moreover, Houston was healthy for the most part, whereas last season there were times make-shift lineups were utilized due to all the injuries. Recalling that campaign, then head coach Kevin McHale had talked of the frustration surrounding practice given there was seldom enough bodies to put 10 players on court.