Harden has 37 points, Rockets rout Thunder, Westbrook 118-87

It doesn’t seem fair.

Some think that it’s going to come down to Russell Westbrook and James Harden.

But I’m here to tell you that he’s the MVP for this reason: Russell Westbrook and James Harden succeed because the systems that they run are designed for them to dominate the ball and dominate the stats. Here’s a look at what the starting lineups will likely look like for both teams.

And while the Rockets average more assists than the Spurs per game, the Spurs’ assist-to-turnover ratio is better, among the best in the National Basketball Association. He did so a couple of games in the Thunder’s final four last year, sitting out in Portland and then again in San Antonio to close the year.

Pundits have been pegging the Rockets for a possible stumble in the postseason, but they’ve been awfully good.

That won’t happen if MVP contender James Harden has any say about it. Olajuwon’s team won just 47 games and captured the 6-seed. Should Houston take care of business from deep, that alone may bury the lower-seeded team in this series.

There have been fleeting signs of that dominant big man through the 2016-17 regular season where his offence has improved greatly.

Similarly to Beverley, the Thunder have a defensive answer for Harden and his name is Andre Roberson, a legitimate candidate to be selected to his first-ever All-Defensive team this awards season.

Greg Monroe has played in 538 regular-season games. In transition, they do a great job of getting 3s.

“I definitely go back and look at the games, but I have a mental book of what worked and what didn’t work”, Roberson said.

This is what they’ve lived on and this is what they should continue to live on. Rockets won 118 to 116. If you can limit them and make it all about Harden, you do it. If the Houston defense can force them instead of committing them, that’s a big win.

ATS records: Oklahoma City 45-36-1, Houston 42-40.

Whilst Ilyasova was traded away just after the season began, Oladipo and Sabonis were both starters at the beginning of the campaign. Harden might be the league’s best distributor, but it wouldn’t mean almost as much if Houston didn’t lead the National Basketball Association with 14.4 made three-pointers per game. Houston had 31 second-chance points to just four by the Thunder. I don’t expect the games to be terrifically easy or aesthetic but I’ve got.Cavs in 5.

Beverley went to the bench soon after that to a huge ovation and a high five from Houston Texans star J.J. Watt, who watched the game from a courtside seat.

The Thunder cleared 20 turnovers seven times in the regular season as well. “He could play a variety of different positions in the series”.

“Obviously, they’re a great offensive team”, Westbrook said. However, Russ Westbrook really likes to shoot the ball. Get ready. This will be the new “Houston, you have a problem”.

James Harden, the MVP favorite, seamlessly embraced Rockets’ Coach Mike D’Antoni’s wish for him to become a point guard, setting career highs in points (29.1) and rebounds (8.1) per game while leading the league in assists (11.2, also a career high).

Adams has to find a way to contribute while he’s on the court against a Rockets side who will go small at the drop of a hat.

“Just stay solid, stick to the game plan and it’ll work out”, Adams continued. Should Los Angeles not win the series – and maybe at least one after it – count on more questions about whether it’s time to break up the core of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.

It’s too bad he doesn’t have the wins to go with the performance. But Russell Westbrook stepped up to the plate and delivered. If he slips at all, they slip.