All over the NBA, coaches are resting their stars to prepare for the playoffs. A trend that started in San Antonio has spread to Cleveland and Golden State, and now we seem to have weekly talk radio debates about how terrible this trend is for the sport and how to fix it.
Well on Monday, reporters asked MVP front-runner James Harden whether he would be taking any games off, given that his Rockets are essentially locked into the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, and his response was awesome.
While stars are taking days off around the NBA, @Jharden is not: "Mike (D'Antoni) knows not to come at me with that." #Rockets
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 20, 2017
While stars are taking days off around the NBA, @Jharden is not: "I'm a hooper and I just want to hoop. I'll rest when I'm done." #Rockets
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 20, 2017
Whether or not you think the Spurs, Cavs and Warriors are justified in resting their best players, you have to admire Harden’s sentiment. He wants to play all he can.
And Harden certainly isn’t just talk. He has played in all 70 of Houston’s games this season, after playing all 82 last year and 81 the year before. If you buy tickets to a Rockets game, you know you’ll see Harden play.
Harden’s commitment to playing every night surely makes the NBA happy.
On Monday night, commissioner Adam Silver sent a memo to owners asking them to dissuade their coaches from resting stars, at least without proper notice to the league and the media. Silver might be displeased with some of the NBA’s best teams, but he’s got no quarrel with Harden and the Rockets.
Oh and just because Harden might be less rested than some of his superstar peers doesn’t mean he can’t score game-winning coast-to-coast lay-ups, as he did Monday.
James Harden's latest MVP case: A game-winning coast-to-coast take. ?? pic.twitter.com/UzPQ4IpXf8
— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) March 21, 2017
Who needs rest?