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#4 James Harden's clutch gene
So historically, when James Harden, with either of his teams (Rockets or the Oklahoma City Thunder), has had a chance to shine at the grandest stage of them all - the Finals or Conference Finals - he hasn't.
Last year, he disappeared in a must-win Game 6 in the Conference Semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs. Houston lost the game and the series against a Spurs that were missing both Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker. After averaging 27.4 points, 10.2 assists, 44.0% shooting from the field and a net +13 over the first five games of the series, he only put 10 points, 7 assists, 18.2% shooting and was a -28 in Game 6.
Harden first got a taste of these high-pressure games in 2012, when he faced the Miami Heat in the 2012 NBA Finals. He wasn't the flat-out star then, however, he was an important piece of the team after Durant and Russell Westbrook. He was a reserve player who played starters minutes and after scoring double digits points in every game that Playoffs, he failed to do so in three of the five Finals games. The last three games of the series, he averaged 12.0 points (2012 Playoff average - 16.3), he shot 9-for-31 (29.03%) and was a net -26.
In 2015, Harden was the first time rose to superstardom in terms of postseason success, by carrying the Rockets to the Conference Finals against the eventual champions the Warriors. Once again, he started the series on fire at least individually. Through the first two games of the series, he averaged 33.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 9.0 assists, which resulted in two close losses by four points and one point. It all went downhill from there.
Other than an inspired 43-point showing in Game 4, where he led the team to a lone win in the series, it was a disappointing show. In Games 3 & 5, he averaged 15.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists on 18.5% shooting from the field and a net -35.
"The Beard" has a got a lot to prove when it comes to showing up when the team needs him the most in Playoff must-win situations.
