Pulse of the NBA

(SportsNetwork.com) – “James Harden uses national stage vs LeBron James to make MVP case”

“How James Harden clawed to the front of the MVP race”

“James Harden for MVP? It’s getting easier to say”

Those were the some of the headlines around the internet on Sunday after Harden and the Houston Rockets beat the James-led Cleveland Cavaliers, 105-103, in overtime.

James’ quest for a fifth MVP trophy took a big hit in my eyes as he missed two free throws with 4.2 seconds left in overtime with Cleveland down one point. I think it’s difficult to make the case anyway for James over Harden, with the Rockets being four games better than the Cavaliers despite injuries to two key players and playing in the much tougher Western Conference.

For me, it’s a two-man race between Harden and the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry.

I don’t think anybody would’ve envisioned the Rockets having the third-best record in the West (41-19) and being in the hunt for the Southwest Division title – they trail the first-place Memphis Grizzlies by 1 1/2 games – without having the services of Dwight Howard for 28 games.

But in Howard’s absence, the Rockets have managed to go 19-9, with one of those defeats coming in Tuesday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks with Harden sitting due to a one-game suspension.

And on top of the Rockets missing their eight-time All-Star center for an extended period, they had to do without their starting power forward, Terrence Jones, for 43 games.

As for Curry’s MVP candidacy, I’m not quite sure the Warriors would’ve survived the loss of their second-best player, Klay Thompson, as well as the Rockets have done without Howard.

Curry has been the best player on the best team, and I could certainly see why he could get the nod, but I just think Harden has been more valuable to this point.

As for the aforementioned Jones, he started off very slowly when he returned in late January, but it looks like the Rockets power forward really is rounding into shape lately and showing how much he was really missed.

Coach Kevin McHale inserted Jones into the starting lineup on Feb.23 and both Jones and the Rockets have prospered from the move.

Houston won the first four games after the lineup change, before dropping the contest in Atlanta without Harden.

Over those five games, Jones is averaging 18.4 points, 10 rebounds and 2.2 blocks and shooting a phenomenal 62.7 percent from the field.

Meanwhile, Jones’ and Howard’s absences have given third-year big man Donatas Motiejunas a chance to grow his game, and he’s had a bit of a breakout season. The 24-year-old 7-footer has a good low-post style, can shoot from deep and just seems to have a nice feel for the game.

Motiejunas is averaging 11.8 points and 6.1 rebounds and is shooting 51 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from 3-point range.

Obviously the Rockets miss Howard, but it seems their offense runs more smoothly with Motiejunas, due to his versatile skill set.

Over the last 16 games Howard has been sidelined, the Rockets are averaging 103.3 points per game.

If, and when, Howard returns, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of impact it has on the offensive end.

QUICK DRIBBLES

With Taj Gibson missing the last two games with a sprained ankle, rookie Nikola Mirotic has stepped up big time for the Chicago Bulls. The 24-year-old power forward had 31 points and nine rebounds on Sunday in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers and put up 23 points and eight rebounds on Tuesday in the Bulls’ win over the Washington Wizards. Mirotic’s playing time has been inconsistent, but in games when he’s played at least 25 minutes, he’s averaging 14.9 points and 7.9 rebounds, and is shooting 48.3 percent from the floor and 41.8 percent from 3-point range. The Minnesota Timberwolves’ Andrew Wiggins is a heavy favorite for the NBA Rookie of the Year award, but I think if Mirotic had gotten similar playing time, he would get the nod.

The Utah Jazz are 5-1 since inserting center Rudy Gobert into the starting lineup following the trade of Enes Kanter to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Gobert’s presence has really been felt on the defensive end with the Jazz allowing just 82.6 points per game over that stretch. The 22-year-old from France is averaging 12.8 rebounds and 3.3 blocks along with 10.6 points since becoming a starter, and pulled down a career-high 24 rebounds in Tuesday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

Categorized in: NBA