Houston Rockets: Of course, James Harden wins Player of the Week

The Houston Rockets were undefeated this week thanks to the play of their MVP. He has been rewarded with his second Player of the Week award of the season.

In the most non-shocking news you’ll read all day, James Harden has been awarded the Player of the Week award. The star of the Houston Rockets has been on another level lately, putting up huge numbers and leading the team to victory.

This week saw the team go 3-0 as Harden dropped 40 points in each of the games. Against the Thunder, a top-3 team in the West with the No. 1 defense, he put up 41 points as well as 6 rebounds and 7 assists. Against Boston, another top-10 defense, he dropped 45 points and 6 assists while being guarded by Marcus Smart. Against the Pelicans a couple nights ago, he had 41 once again to go with 9 rebounds and 6 assist.

Those averages all led to a pretty obvious choice for Player of the Week in the Western Conference.

James Harden named Western Conference Player of the Week for second time in three weeks. Averaged 42.3 points 6.3 assists as Rockets went 3-0.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) December 31, 2018

This is now James Harden’s second Player of the Week award, both of them coming here in December. Is it time to start thinking about him winning the Player of the Month?

Player of the Month?

To me, it’s pretty obvious that James Harden should win the Player of the Month award for December. He still has one more game tonight, of course, but he is easily having the best month out of anyone in the Western Conference. He is carrying the Rockets on his back and forcing them back into the playoff picture, as they sit just 3.5 games back of the No. 1 seed.

The numbers tell about his month, as well. In December, James Harden is averaging a ridiculous 35.9 points and 7.5 assists per game while shooting 44.8% overall and 40.7% from deep. The Rockets have gone 10-4 in those games, with the potential to make that 11-4 and undefeated for the month at home during December tonight when they face the Grizzlies.

On the season, his true shooting percentage is up to 62.1%, higher than it was last year when he won MVP. If the Rockets can find their way back to the top of the conference led by James Harden, I could certainly see him being back in front in the MVP conversation once again. He has been absolutely incredible and fun to watch, despite what the Harden haters are saying these days. Let’s hope he continues playing well throughout the rest of the season.