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Bold NBA predictions: Can LeBron James win the MVP at 36?
SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports’ Mark Medina and Jeff Zillgitt make some bold predictions for what must be an unprecedented and unpredictable 2020-21 season.
SportsPulse, USA TODAY
The Houston Rockets star missed the start of the training ground. He would have missed the opening of the Rockets season if the NBA had not postponed the game due to a lack of available players.
But despite these circumstances, James Harden has shown for at least one night why the Rockets’ headache is still worth it. Although the Rockets ended with a loss of 128-126 in overtime for the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, Harden finished with 44 points by hitting 12 out of 22 on the field, 6 out of 13 in the 3 and 14 16 range of the throw line free. He also achieved his career record with 17 assists (17).
“I was not surprised at all,” said Harden. “I know what I’m capable of.”
Fair.
Harden recorded 44 doubles with 40 career points. This marked his eighth 40-point game against Portland, which broke the tie with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Larry Bird in most of the 40-point games against the Trail Blazers franchise.
But Harden blamed his four turns and admitted he needs to improve his fitness after registering 43 minutes. He also admitted that he will watch footage of the final Rockets game, which ended with him making a pass that ended in a turn.
Still, the Rockets entered Saturday’s game without point guard John Wall, point guard DeMarcus Cousins, point guard Eric Gordon and point guard Mason Jones because of NBA contract tracking procedures under their COVID-19 protocols. Harden reportedly missed the Rockets’ scheduled debut against Oklahoma City after violating the league’s security protocols before the NBA postponed it.
“There is never an NBA game where there is not a moment when you say, ‘Wow, I can’t believe this just happened,'” said Rockets coach Stephen Silas. “He did it about three or four times tonight with his steps back and the moves he makes and the things he does, even in the heap of how smart he is. There is a lot in him that is really good. He showed a lot tonight. . “
Harden took a 26-foot step back to tie the game in 123 with 38.9 seconds remaining in overtime. After Damian Lillard’s reverse layup, Harden took a 25-foot step back to a 126-125 pad with 15.3 seconds remaining. CJ McCollum responded with a 3-point basket that gave Portland an advantage of 128-126 to 6.9 seconds remaining. Silas said he planned a move for Harden to run in isolation, but he missed a shot and made a pass to PJ Tucker. Blazers defender Robert Covington stole Harden’s pass, however, to seal Portland’s victory.
“I was trying to make a quick decision. When I got into painting, they did a great job using their warm hands,” said Harden. “It would have been a difficult shot to shoot some guys, which I could have done. But I’m going to watch the movie and get better at it.”
Follow Mark Medina on Twitter @MarkG_Medina.