What is wrong with James Harden?
The short answer is probably nothing; he'll figure it out in due time. But while two of Harden's 2014-15 MVP race running mates — Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook — are undefeated and one-upping each other during eye-popping opening weeks, the Rockets star and self-proclaimed reigning MVP has wilted and his 56-win club from a year ago is winless through three games, having been miserably outscored in each.
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So the struggles require some explanation.
Harden shot poorly again during Sunday's 109-89 loss to the Heat. Trailing by 19 at the half, the Heat went on a 21-1 run in the fourth quarter to flip the blowout script.
Harden was horrid in the second half and didn't register a point in the fourth quarter. He finished with 16 points for the second straight game, 12 of which came via the free-throw line. He shot 2 of 15 from the field and was 0 for 10 from 3-point range. In three games, Harden carries a 22.2 field-goal percentage, and he's sunk a putrid 3 of the 32 shots he's taken from behind the arc.
We could go on. Point is, it's bad. And the Rockets are the first team in NBA history to open a season with three losses by 20 points or more.
Questioned about his shot selection after the game, Harden downplayed a fundamental issue.
"I'm just shooting my shots that I would normally shoot. I'm not trying to think about it too much. As good as a shooter as I am, I'm going to have struggles throughout the season. It's tough. I've just got to stay with it. ... We've lost three in a row, but it'll get better."
It won't get much easier. Harden and the Rockets next host the high-scoring Thunder and former teammates Westbrook and Kevin Durant, who are 3-0 and coming off a 117-93 shellacking of the Nuggets. Both are among the top five in scoring, in a place Harden resided all of last season. It seems like forever ago.
Spurs of the moment:
Ageless wonders Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili became the NBA's all-time winningest trio, notching No. 541 together with a 95-87 victory over the spry Celtics. It was fitting, since Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish previously held the record. The Spurs' newcomer LaMarcus Aldridge was the catalyst, though, scoring 24 points with 15 rebounds and five assists in his best performance with his new team.
Tweet of the night:
Well, the Rockets might not be that bad ...Three games in and the Rockets look as far out of character as Jose Mourinho's Chelsea
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) November 2, 2015Stud of the night:
A key to the Mavericks' season may be how often Dirk Nowitzki, at age 37, can carry the team like he did Sunday. Nowitzki registered 25 points on 13 of 18 shooting, finishing one rebound shy of a double-double in a 103-93 win over the Lakers. The other 37-year-old on the floor, Kobe Bryant, shot 3 of 15 from the field and 2 of 8 from beyond the arc, scoring 15. So advantage Nowitzki. By the way, congrats to Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, who passed Don Nelson (339 wins) as the all-time winningest coach in team history.
Dud of the night:
The Bucks were a chic pick to emerge as a fresh-faced contender in the East, but they're off to an 0-3 start — the franchise's worst since 1976-77. The Raptors handled the young Bucks in a 106-87 win. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a bright spot for the Bucks, but he has yet to jell with newcomers Greg Monroe and Michael Carter-Williams well enough to pull out a win.
What's next: (All times eastern)
Suns (2-1) at Clippers (3-0), 10:30 p.m.: The Clippers are flying high, paced by MVP-esque performances from Blake Griffin. But Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight both are scoring upward of 20 points per game and are making the under-the-radar Suns fun to watch. This should be a high-scoring affair.
Grizzlies (2-1) at Warriors (3-0), 10:30 p.m.: If there's a team that can cool off the torrid Warriors, it's the Grizzlies in a rematch of last year's Western Conference finals. Stephen Curry is averaging 39.3 points per game, which is fun to think about, however unsustainable.
