James Harden, SG, Houston Rockets (53-25, 2nd in the West)
PPG 27.6
APG 6.9
RPG 5.7
James Harden has made a very strong case to the media, and the rest of the NBA, as to why he should win MVP. Harden has kept his Rockets dominant in a tough Western Conference without big man Dwight Howard for much of the season–he’s been Mr. Do It All. If not for his stellar play, Houston would probably be in competition with the Pelicans and Thunder right now, fighting for the eighth seed. Averaging a career best 27.6 points per game, Harden leads the league in scoring, and has posted two 50-point games this season, which has never been done in Rockets franchise history. The left-handed guard can beat you from the outside and the inside, and though he’s not the quickest, he is very deceptive, which has helped him lead the NBA in free throw makes and attempts (680-785.) The stellar play of Harden has Houston in a position to ascend to the second seed in the Western conference playoffs, which says a lot for a team that missed a Top 5 player at their position (Howard.)
