By scoring 11 points on 33.3% shooting in game five, former MVP James Harden did not leave any time for doubters to rush to the national media and criticize his performance. He disappeared again, and the disastrous narrative lived on, tarnishing the legacy of the future hall-of-famer.
Harden bounced back exceptionally in game six and had the same doubters as quietly as a mouse. He continuously called for screens to get the switch on Jamal Murray and Christian Braun, where 'The Beard' was focused on his crossovers, step-backs, and crafty left-handed layup package.
Moreover, Harden dominated the elimination battle and impressed with a game-high 28 points, eight assists, six rebounds, two steals, and a block.
Harden's entire box score was something to embrace, but when looking at a few columns to the left, fans can see that he played 47 minutes. As the game was 48 minutes long, he only sat for one, showing how much he would put his body and fatigue to the side to win on the cusp of vacation.
However, the 11-time All-Star almost gave the game away in the clutch with an atrocious strategy that benefited the Denver Nuggets.
James Harden tried to run the clock out, and this led to bad possessions and fast breaks for the Denver Nuggets
The near-collapse began following an LA Clippers timeout after Aaron Gordon drilled a three, blocked Norman Powell, and was re-energized from a Jamal Murray field goal. This miniature 5-0 run reduced the Clippers' lead to six points with under three minutes left to play.
Furthermore, after the timeout, Harden had four seconds left on the shot clock and missed a floater. This bucket was an easy two for him, but he applied extra pressure to the ball, causing it to bounce hard on the iron.
A few possessions had surpassed, and with 58.1 seconds left, Harden fouled Christian Braun on a shot, which directed the Nuggets' guard to the free-throw strike.
Following Braun's second free-throw, head coach Tyronn Lue called his last timeout. He wanted to prevent chaos, and to a surprise, Harden's fourth turnover of the night occurred thereafter.
How this mistake happened is a shocker from a player with a high IQ, yet Harden waited patiently, saw five seconds left on the 24-second clock, and drove before Russell Westbrook poked the ball free. Luckily, Ivica Zubac stopped Jokic from scoring with a phenomenal block.
That said, despite Harden's sensational game, his postseason narrative would have been proven right if the season ended through his carelessness with the rock.