James Harden and the Houston Rockets may have a lot of doubters but one of his teammates certainly isn't one of them. Patrick Beverley has a lot of belief in their superstar and knows he can lead their team to greater success.
Despite coming off a season seen by most as a disappointment after having an early exit in the first round of the playoffs, the 28-year-old point guard expects Harden to be named MVP and bring the Rockets to the NBA Finals next season.
Patrick Beverley's belief in James Harden
When asked what he expects from Harden and how the team will fare this coming season, the 28 year old point guard told Oliver Maroney of Basketball Insiders:
“MVP and leading us to the Finals. Simple.
“James is like a brother to me,” Beverley added. “So I’ve seen him improve each year in [regards to] him being a leader.”
“He’s only a polarizing figure to people who don’t watch, players voted him MVP [in 2014-15] for a reason. He’s had a winning team every season of his career, with multiple Conference Finals appearances.
Evaluating Beverley's claim for 2016-17
Beverley may have a strong case with his claim as to where his team will be next season. Even after losing their starting center, Dwight Howard, to free agency this summer, the Rockets have made significant moves to bolster their lineup. The loss of Howard may even be a addition by subtraction after much friction between him and Harden.
Houston was also successful in luring Ryan Anderson and Brazilian center Nenê. They also added sharpshooter Eric Gordon to their fold to bring more scoring punch from the perimeter.
Harden had one of his best seasons last year, averaging 29.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in a league-best 38.1 minutes per game. He certainly proved that he can carry the scoring load and involve his teammates on the offensive end, but the team as a whole needs to support him.
It will be a very huge task to bring a team to the finals and overcome other powerhouses in the strong Western Conference a year removed from a 41-41 season. With an overhauled lineup and a leader who is one of the best players in the NBA today, the Rockets just might be able to do it.
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