James Harden has entered uncharted waters when it comes to his scoring pace this season, soaring into a different stratosphere when it comes to putting points on the board and propelling his Houston Rockets into playoff contention.
The Beard now has three consecutive 40-point games, seven straight 35-point games and nine consecutive games scoring at least 30 – with no intention of slowing down.
“You can't settle,” Harden said, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “Never can settle, never can be satisfied. I always want more.”
Harden's unquenchable thirst for barreling to the basket, pump-faking and dazzling with step-back 3-pointers leading to tasty buckets is more of a means of need than for show, as his Rockets are now without star point guard Chris Paul — a pivotal cog in the rotation.
Head coach Mike D'Antoni has seen his best player's usage rate go through the roof, and while other coaches would ensure he's rested properly, he's sitting back and enjoying the show.
“I just sit back and enjoy it,” D'Antoni said. “He does things that are just phenomenal. He is phe-nomenal. Just relax and watch him. He's great.”
Harden hasn't had much time to think about his scorching scoring pace, one that has made him the first since Kobe Bryant to reach 33 points per game. The Mamba put up 35.4 points per game during the 2005-06 season.
“I just try to continue to be aggressive, be aggressive and have confidence in the shots and the things I do on the court,” Harden said. “There's no other way to put it.”
Amid Harden's scoring barrage, the Rockets have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games and 4-0 without Paul in the lineup — a feat only possible due to the Rockets star's conviction.
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