It’s hard to imagine that, with all of his amazing performances in Houston, James Harden hasn’t eclipsed the 50-point mark in a single game.
Until now, that is.
Harden was sublime against the Nuggets, scoring 50 points on just 27 shots. The remarkable, yet completely expected, part of Harden’s performance was how he recorded those 50. He scored 12 from beyond the arc, 22 came from the free throw line and 14 at the rim. It produced one of the most unusual shot charts of the season:
https://twitter.com/basketballtalk/status/578761321296056320/photo/1
Yet, for as unusual of a shot chart as that might look, it’s precisely the type of shot location the Houston Rockets, specifically Daryl Morey, wants to see. The Rockets run a system that values and emphasizes the three most valuable shots in basketball: three-pointers, baskets at the rim and free throws. Ever since he came to the Rockets, Harden has been the physical embodiment of that desired offense, scoring most of his points from deep, at the rim or at the line.
True, his style of play — particularly the dramatics he employs to draw a foul — can be tiresome to watch at times, but there’s no denying he’s a magnificent talent. On nights like this, when he puts everything together, it’s like watching DaVinci work on a canvas.
