James rivaled for his title, MVP


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I don’t usually follow the NBA until the playoffs start, but this year, I have been slightly more tuned in throughout the season. I must admit that this is largely because my team has a good shot at going deep into the playoffs. However, this season has given me more reasons to watch than just being a fairweather fan.

Part of my aversion to the NBA regular season is the constant hype that usually surrounds LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. While I openly root against both of these players at every chance I get, I can’t deny their greatness. But since I do dislike Kobe and LeBron, watching regular season NBA games that are all about them makes me uninterested.

Kobe has recently battled injury and is a part of a struggling Lakers team and luckily for me, the Clippers are the better team in L.A. right now, so Kobe’s star is dimming if only slightly. And Kevin Durant has given LeBron a run for his money in the MVP running as of late, but his injury-ridden season has paved the way for another rising star to rival LeBron.

Sunday’s Rockets/Cavs matchup was full of scrappy plays and scuffles between LeBron and the other King James, MVP hopeful James Harden, who leads the NBA in scoring. The game definitely had playoff implications for both teams, which explains why the game went to overtime and was decided in the final seconds.

But I think the biggest takeaway from the game was the intensity and competition between Harden and James. Aside from the constant tussles, the two MVP candidates and their respective teams played a close game that was back and forth through the final seconds of overtime. James and Harden were neck-and-neck the entire competition.

James and Patrick Beverly got into a skirmish that earned them each a technical foul. James and Harden got tangled up many times, one such encounter ended with Harden kicking James in the groin and drawing a technical.

James had 37 points to Harden’s 33 and they each had eight rebounds. LeBron had four assists and Harden had five, while LeBron had three blocks and Harden had one less. Though they were evenly matched, it is hard not to say that the           105-103 Rockets win was decided by a pair of missed free throws by James.

Houston had won five consecutive games to take control of the third seed in the Western Conference. With Dwight Howard out with a knee injury, it’s hard to deny that Harden has emerged as a leader and made a strong case for MVP.

The Cavs on the other hand halted a 10-game winning streak against the Western Conference and held them from moving into the number one spot in the Central Division.

I do think the emergence of Kevin Durant and James Harden marks the downturn of LeBron’s career, as he is already past his peak. And while I support the Rockets and the Thunder and would definitely consider myself a fan of both teams, Durant’s scoring titles and MVPs and Harden’s success this season pale in comparison to LeBron’s four MVPs and two titles.

With that being said, I think the remainder of the season will be very telling of the direction of both Harden and James’ careers. Is there a new King James in town? I personally hope so, but for now that remains to be seen.

Regan Estes is a sophomore majoring in public relations and Spanish. She is also the sports editor of the Daily Trojan. Her column, Wild Wild Westes, runs on Tuesdays.