2018-19 NBA Western Conference: Southwest Division Standings so far

#1 Houston Rockets

Harden's style of play has drawn criticism from former NBA players.

It has largely been a one-man show down in Houston, considering where they were in December compared to where they stand now. The Beard has been on a tear, single-handedly carrying his team from an early-season hole to a comfortable playoff berth at the moment.

Plagued by injuries to prominent names like Chris Paul, Clint Capela, Austin Rivers and more, the team's effort to still be 5th in the uber-talented Western Conference is one worth applauding. The Rockets are 33-24 (0.579) on the season and 7-5 against Southwest division teams.

James Harden's second consecutive MVP bid with a league-best average of 36.6 points per game is something that has been consistently downplayed by reputed experts of the game. Come to think of it, it seems like the only way he could have saved his team from falling into an insurmountable abyss.