James Harden to play in Game 5 of the NBA Finals despite an injured left hand and struggles
This year`s NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder have been a struggle for the league`s reigning Sixth Man of the Year, James Harden.
However despite a poor run of form and a bruised left hand, James Harden is expected to play in Game 5 on Thursday night at the American Airlines Arena.
Harden was seen leaving the arena with his shooting hand heavily bandaged because of the injury sustained during the Game 4 104-98 loss. According to a team official, the shooting guard was present to practice with the team on
Wednesday but the injury limited the amount of work out he was able to put in.
The series so far has been a struggle for Harden who was predicted to be the X-factor for Thunder before the finals even began.
Playing in the NBA Finals for the first time in his career, Harden did not make much of a debut and could only muster up 5 points in Game 1 which the Thunder won at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
After making an unimpressive start to the series, Harden came back strong to put up 17 points in the first half of Game 2 but only had 4 points to show for in the second half in a match which OKC eventually lost.
In the last two games played in Miami, Harden shot the ball 2-of-10 from the field on both nights to rack up 9 points in Game 3 and 8 points in Game 4.
The lack of productivity on the offense has had a very negative impact on Harden`s performances as his decision making and ball distribution has taken a definitive toll.
Harden has missed shots that he would have been able to convert on any other day and has also been responsible for committing some silly fouls with the game on the line. Despite his struggles to perform on court, Oklahoma City`s
coach Scott Brook has been very appreciative of the amount of effort Harden has been putting in.
“I don’t judge a guy’s game on shots, on makes and misses. This game is about makes and misses," Scott Brooks said. “Some nights you’re going to make those, some nights you’re going to miss them, but your effort has to be there.
I love James’s effort, and that’s all I judge him on.’’
Whether it’s the jitters of playing in his first NBA Finals or the Miami defence coping up very well with Harden`s offence, OKC at the moment, are in dire need of their leading scorer off the bench to step up. Otherwise it will
be all over for them come tomorrow night.
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