Total Consecutive 30-Point Games for Harden Set at 15.5
- Books posted a prop bet on the number of consecutive games in which James Harden scores 30 or more points
- The over/under has been set at 15.5
- Harden had a 32-game streak last year, but now has ball-dominant Russell Westbrook as a running mate
After a special season in which James Harden completely shouldered the load for the Houston Rockets, the question now turns to whether or not he will replicate that in 2019-20.
Arguably Harden’s most impressive feat last year was scoring 30-plus points in 32 consecutive games. Oddsmakers’ latest NBA season prop sets the bar for Harden’s longest 30-point game streak at only 15.5, but it’s important to remember that he’ll have a much different cast around him.
O/U Longest 30-Point Game Streak by James Harden in 2019-20
| Over/Under | Odds |
|---|---|
| Over 15.5 games | -120 |
| Under 15.5 games | -120 |
*Odds as of Oct. 22.
Last year, Harden put together a historic season, and on his way there, he dropped 30 points in 32 consecutive games. The only other player to match that mark? Wilt Chamberlain, whose longest such streak was 65 games during the 1961-62 season.
What’s especially impressive about Harden’s 2018-19 was that his production shot up while his efficiency did not suffer at all. He averaged 36.1 points per game (up from 30.4) while his field-goal percentage dropped only 1%, his 3-point percentage stayed level, and his free-throw percentage jumped up by 2%.
Harden can take over a game, and carry a team that is riddled with injuries, while remaining just as efficient.
Will Westbrook Get in the Way?
Chemistry has been one of the biggest talking points around Houston during this offseason. The backcourt now features two ball-dominant, high-usage former MVPs. Between Russell Westbrook and Harden, how will the guards co-exist?
.@JHarden13 in Miami:
? 44 points
➡️ 7 assists
? 8 treys
? 5 stealsHighlights ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/NGlvYA0hzP
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) October 19, 2019
It’s actually not that far-fetched, and there are a few factors that indicate that these two players can co-exist. These two have been close since high school, and their relationship is a much deeper one than Harden had with his previous sidekick, Chris Paul.
Westbrook and Harden are two big personalities who may wear on each other down the road, but in year one, all parties appear re-energized.
More importantly, though, Westbrook wants to win. He’s won the MVP and every other individual accolade, but a championship is the one elusive goal. Harden is the better offensive player, and if Westbrook really wants a ring, he’ll defer to the incumbent.
What’s the Best Bet?
Harden is a special player, but his streak last year was born out of necessity. Paul (and others) missed significant time with injury and Harden was forced to completely shoulder the offensive load. Westbrook is dealing with a slight hand issue, but as a whole, his health is more reliable than that of the aging Paul.
There is no doubt that Harden will once again have an MVP-level season, but will he have to single-handedly take over a stretch of 30 games the way he did last year? It’s unlikely.
Pick: Under 15.5 (-120)
With four years as radio host with The Ticket Sports Network and various written contributions to publications such as Fansided, Southbound and Down, and Last Word on Sports, Jake Mitchell comes to SBD with NFL, NBA, NCAAM, NCAAF and MMA know-how you can count on.
