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Sportsbook Releases Props on James Harden’s Performance Based on Quality of Strip Clubs in Different NBA Cities After Reddit Thread Goes Viral

Sam Cox

by Sam Cox in NBA Basketball

Updated Apr 9, 2020 · 3:35 PM PDT

James Harden driving to the hoop
James Harden is not expected to match his streak of 32 consecutive 30-point games from 2018-19. Photo by Keith Allison (Wikipedia).
  • Oddsmakers release odds on Harden’s performance based on strip club quality in different NBA cities
  • A viral reddit thread explored the correlation between Harden’s nightly performance and the quality of strip clubs in the city
  • The entire story came about after the Rockets dismal loss in Miami a few weeks ago

James Harden’s love of strip clubs is as well known as his stepback three. After Harden’s Houston Rockets were thrashed by the Miami Heat on November 3rd, a Reddit user investigated the impact of strip clubs on Harden’s performances – the findings were alarming.

Harden’s best performances come in Toronto – ranked 30th in the strip club quality – and his worst come in Miami, the city that stands atop the strip club pile.

MVP, all-time great scorer, and long-time torturer of NBA defenses. What if, 11 years into his NBA career, it turns out the best way to stop Harden is to make sure your city has some bad nude bars.

Harden Over 55 Points in Toronto (30th Ranked Strip Clubs)

Outcome Odds
Yes +1000
No -2500

All Odds taken Nov. 15.

Harden’s last three outings in Toronto have seen him scored a combined 115 points. Maybe those 30th-ranked clubs in Toronto aren’t up to Harden’s standards, and the extra rest while he’s in the city sees him bring his best game.

Since the start of 2016-17, Harden has scored 55 or more nine times. He’s one of the few players in the league where a night like that feels worth speculating about.

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There’s good evidence Harden excels in Toronto with its mediocre clubs. Plenty of people will like the look of +1000 for a player who definitely has it in him to pass 55.

Harden +/- in Cleveland (2nd Worst Strip Clubs)

Outcome Odds
Over 14.5 -120
Under 14.5 -120

This is an odd one. Using +/- can be dangerous at the best of times, such are the factors that influence it beyond a player’s individual game. Harden might go and spend the entire build up to the game in the NBA’s second-worst strip club city, but there’s still a good chance the Houston Rockets thrash the Cleveland Cavaliers.

A +/- of over 14.5 should almost be expected for Harden, regardless of the strip clubs distracting his attention.

Go and enjoy Cleveland, James, your +/- will still look fine.

Harden’s PPG Lowers vs. LAC (4th Best Strip Clubs)

Outcome Odds
Yes -130
No -110

Harden scored 47 against the Clippers recently, but that was without the lure of Los Angeles’ clubs.  The fourth-best strip club city in the NBA could prove an obstacle for the former MVP – Harden scored well below his season average in both games in Los Angeles last season, combining for 61 in the two games.

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A night out is surely going to impact his scoring. That extra tiredness will slow him down just a touch, and I can’t imagine hitting stepback threes is all that easy when you’ve been out until the early hours.

Maybe Harden can still do it, but he can still have a good night and lower his scoring average (he’s averaging 38.2 points per game this season).

Harden Combined Point Total in 4 Los Angeles Games

Outcome Odds
Over 150 -120
Under 150 -120

Luckily for Harden, he gets four (yes, FOUR!) trips to the fourth-best strip club city in the NBA this term.

That’s a lot of matchups with LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis and Paul George, and that’s a lot of nights at the Canadian Ballet.

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Four of the biggest games of Houston’s season, opportunities for Harden to face the best players in the league. Los Angeles is a city made for Harden, combining elite NBA outfits with some of the best strip clubs the USA has to offer.

Averaging 37.5 points per game against the LA teams is a pretty big ask without the possible nights out before.

Harden to Hit PPG Average vs. Suns (Most Avg. Strip Clubs)

Outcome Odds
Yes +800
No -2500

Average strip clubs – according to the famous Reddit thread – should equal somewhere near his average performance.

Of Houston’s two visits this season, one is part of a run of three games in five days and the other is the second of a back-to-back. How much this influences Harden’s strip-club-based decision making is something only he can tell us (it seems unlikely he will).

One thing is for sure: Twitter will explode if Harden puts in a perfectly average night in Phoenix.

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