Simply put, James Harden is a special offensive talent. He is so supremely gifted that locking him down is more idealistic than realistic. Elite scorers like Harden will eventually find a solution for every defensive scheme.
The true barometer is whether opposing teams can chip into a superstar’s efficiency. Harden finished with a cool 34 points in TD Garden on Thursday, but the Celtics forced him to work tirelessly for it, and that’s the ultimate goal. He shot 7-for-27 from the field, and converted 15-of-15 from the charity strike. Uncharacteristically, the 28-year-old offensive dynamo coughed up eight turnovers, tied for his second highest total in a game this season.