Harden: Winning is 'the most important thing' when considering MVP

James Harden is under pressure after yet another monstrous performance from Russell Westbrook.

On any other night, Harden would be celebrated for his 35-point, 11-rebound, 15-assist effort in a win against the Sacramento Kings. But that was ignored when Russell Westbrook poured 50 points and the game-winning three for his 42nd triple-double on Sunday.

Without the numbers in his favor, Harden pointed at the scoreboard when asked about the ever-shifting MVP race.

"I think that's the most important thing, I thought winning is what this is about, period," Harden told Calvin Watkins of ESPN. "I'm not going to get in-depth with all that, but I thought winning was the most important thing. If you set your team up in a position to have a chance, at the ultimate goal, that's the most important thing."

It's not hard to read between the lines in Harden's comments. The Houston Rockets will finish with at least 54 wins and the third seed, whereas the Oklahoma City Thunder sit at 46. Since the numbers are close between Westbrook and Harden, shouldn't team success decide the winner?

However, that argument only holds up if the MVP race only concerned two players. Kawhi Leonard and Stephen Curry have also piled up stats for teams more successful than even the Rockets. If winning trumps everything, then neither Harden nor Westbrook should win.

Careful to couch his comments, the Beard did offer his good friend Westbrook a compliment after he broke Oscar Robertson's record for most triple-doubles in one season.

"It's a huge accomplishment," Harden said. "He's been playing extremely well all season long, it's never been done before it's a great individual accomplishment and it's great."

It's really too bad that the MVP award will be decided before the playoffs begin. Otherwise the two superstars could duke it out in the first round, where their respective sides will battle in the No. 3 versus No. 6 matchup.