Long Known as Just a Scorer, James Harden Is Suddenly the NBA's Top Assist Man
Ridiculous.
That's the word Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni used in the bowels of the Toyota Center after a recent practice. He was describing the numbers James Harden is putting up this season.
Coming from the man who practically ushered in the NBA's current run-and-gun, pace-and-space offensive era with his groundbreaking seven-seconds-or-less Phoenix Suns teams in the early aughts, that may sound hyperbolic, but it's fitting.
"Since (his numbers) are ridiculous, yeah, you have to be surprised," D'Antoni said, laughing. "But we said that he would do that. Now whether we believed it or not, that's the question. But it's good. I'm really happy with it."
He should be.
Through the first nine games, Harden, who is coming off back-to-back triple doubles for the first time in his career, is averaging 30 points, eight rebounds and a league-leading 13 assists per contest.
Yes, those are insane even by D'Antoni's standards. After taking over in Houston, D'Antoni did tell Bleacher Report that Harden could lead the league in assists, but he is nonetheless stunned. As is the rest of the league.
Ask Harden, the self-professed best player in the Association, though, and it's just another day at the office.
"Feels good," Harden said. "Nothing's changed for me these past three years. It's just being able to actually dribble the basketball up, get us into our offense and make the play."
Nothing has changed? Though it's still early, Harden's claim is worth investigating.
Last season, he led the league in minutes played per game (38.1), field-goal attempts (1,617), field goals missed (907), free throws (720), free-throw attempts (837) and turnovers (374) while averaging 29 points and 7.5 assists. His usage rate was 32.5.
This year, his minutes are holding steady (37.8), but he's 10th on the list for field goals (83), 13th for field-goal attempts (171) and sixth for free throws (76) and free-throw attempts (91). He still leads the league in turnovers (52), and his usage rate is 33.7.
Perhaps the most telling numbers are his assist percentage and player efficiency rating: Last year, they were 35.4 and 25.3, respectively. This year, he's at 62.1 and 31.2.
That significant increase in efficiency, despite the turnovers and his questionable defensive effectiveness, is a huge deal.
The reason for his improved box plus/minus—6.7 last year to 12.7 this season—is simple.
Now, instead of just employing his crafty Eurostep on isolation plays to create and get to the basket, he has the option of attacking opposing defenses with an array of pick-and-rolls and kicking it out to teammates for wide-open looks.
"We got better shooters, so it's a lot easier," Harden said. "They can really shoot, and it's my job to give them confidence and get them the basketball when they're open. We've been doing that, and we'll continue to do that."
In addition to cashing in on lobs to Clint Capela for dunks, Harden has been effective at kicking the ball out to three-point snipers like Eric Gordon—who tied his career high of seven three-pointers made during Saturday's 106-100 loss to the San Antonio Spurs—and Ryan Anderson, who has already drilled 20 three-pointers off Harden passes.
"Teams are switching screens with me and him," Anderson said. "So let's say the big guy is guarding me, and obviously, if they switch onto James, they're in trouble. So we're figuring out ways when I should roll, when I should dive, when I should pop and when I should slip. There's a whole lot more to going into a screen-and-roll with James, and so we realize that's something we can take advantage of."
Although Anderson is still new to the fold, he and Harden are quickly becoming simpatico on offense.
"You have to make reads, and James is really good at that," Anderson added. "If we make a mistake or if he sees an opening or something better that we can do, he tells us. Those are the opportunities where we can talk to each other, watch film and get better."
Trevor Ariza has seen Harden's transition from the 2 to the 1 firsthand, and, well, he's not surprised that he's excelling.
"It's just a mindset," Ariza said. "Knowing that he's playing the point guard, he's more aware, trying to get other people involved. ...I think I've become jaded to his game because I see it every day. So anything he does is not really that surprising. I get to see him every day in practice."
"I think the job that he's doing is tremendous," Capela said. "I think the chemistry is why now James is able to have all these assists, fancy passes and all of that. All of the team feels involved. The team is more involved than last year. Everybody's getting shots."
Because he's so good at it, most fans only associate Harden with being a prolific scorer. But the Arizona State product has always been a willing passer.
Having an offense that creates open shots and guys who can knock down those open shots will make the difference as he continues to morph into the playmaker who even his former coach, Kevin McHale, didn't think he could become.
"Guys are knocking down shots and our offense looks really good," Harden said. "We're making good progress, but we got a long way to go."
Only time will tell if Harden can continue to drop dimes at this over-the-top rate or whether he'll finish with the highest assist total since John Stockton and Steve Nash.
But one thing is for sure: Everyone is enjoying the show.
"When Pat [Patrick Beverley] comes back it, will take a little bit of the burden off [Harden] so he doesn't get as tired in the fourth quarter," D'Antoni said. "That's an area we want to improve in, but the pace is good. He has his own pace, and no one can play like James. He sets the pace, it's a great pace, and that's the pace we'll go."
Rockets Insider's Notebook
Patrick Beverley To Return This Week?
According to the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen, Beverley is certain he will return to action this week.
The Rockets' hard-nosed defender has been out since the first preseason game with a sore knee. After undergoing successful arthroscopic knee surgery on Oct. 25, Beverley says he feels fully healthy and "expects to have no limitations" in terms of playing time, per Feigen.
"I'm completely healed. I did a lot of contact (Friday). I've been getting a lot of contact. It's up to me to get my rhythm. I don't want to come in and play limited minutes. When I come back, I'm going to be full force. I can't say what coach is going to do or how many minutes I'm going to play. But when I come back, I come back to play an overtime, a double-overtime game. I'm ready. I'm excited to get back out there and compete.
"
The Vipers Get Deep Threat Wiltjer
Rockets rookie Kyle Wiltjer has been assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
Wiltjer appeared in only three games for Houston this season and hasn't been able to crack the rotation with the rise of Sam Dekker, who is surprising D'Antoni with his inspired play.
"You know what, I think he's playing really well," D'Antoni said of Dekker. "I'm really surprised about his athleticism. I didn't know he was that fast, that big. He just needs to keep improving, but he's playing well."
Wiltjer, who has yet to score his first regular-season basket, logged only six minutes of playing time over Houston's first nine games, but he should get lots of time to work on his skills with the team's Development League affiliate.
All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats accurate as of November 14 and courtesy of NBA.com/Stats and Basketball-Reference.com.
Maurice Bobb covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @ReeseReport
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