Houston Rockets

Rockets GM trolls the media over criticism of James Harden

Published Mar. 8, 2016 4:37 p.m. ET

foxsports

On Sunday night, the Houston Rockets became the seventh team to beat the Toronto Raptors in Toronto this season.

It was a huge win, backed by James Harden's tremendous 40-point, 14-assist, five-rebound, one-turnover performance. But during the game, Harden was allegedly caught sleeping on one defensive possession that ended in a DeMar DeRozan layup:

James Harden defense (via @TheCauldron) https://t.co/3JJPiffsNZ
— SI NBA (@si_nba) March 7, 2016

Because this is the Internet, and NBA reputations are made of steel, Harden was raked over red coals for his apparent lack of intensity:

Harden isn't Kawhi Leonard, but this criticism was a little unfair for multiple reasons, and Rockets general manager Daryl Morey used it to add a little nuance to the conversation—while taking a shot at the media:

dont mess w/narrative, your focus should be on 1 possession in gm, not Harden 40/5/14 &1 of only 7 wins @TOR this yr https://t.co/cfypizmfbG
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) March 7, 2016

Could Harden have played this better? Sure. But had he overcommitted to stop the drive, his man, Patrick Patterson, would've been wide open in the strong-side corner for three. The rotation wasn't his to make:

Even that line of defense is besides the point. Harden was absolutely spectacular in a game his team won, yet the narrative insisted on criticizing him for this one play when he may or may not have done something wrong.

The Rockets might be the most disappointing team in the league, but Harden is having a masterful season. He leads the league in points, minutes, free-throw makes and attempts. Only one player has a higher usage percentage while only six guys have a higher PER.

In short, he's awesome. And Morey is absolutely right to stand by his franchise player.