Harden: Playing every game matters in MVP discussion

With only two weeks left in the season, MVP candidates are desperate for one last push.

James Harden's latest angle centers around the issue of rest. Unlike his contemporaries, Harden isn't resting for general maintenance and he should be celebrated for that by season's end.

"Yeah because you're not leaving your teammates out there to dry," Harden told ESPN's Calvin Watkins of the importance of playing every game as it concerns the MVP discussion.

"For me, I worry about always having my teammates' back and always being out there knowing that no matter what I'm going to be out there, unless I'm injured and then that's a different story. I'm going to be out there."

With other stars like Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Curry, and LeBron James getting time off to rest, Harden is suiting up every night. That speaks to The Beard's remarkable durability - Harden leads the league in minutes played over the last three seasons.

This argument still leaves Russell Westbrook, who also hasn't taken a night off this season. But as the Houston Rockets made abundantly clear with their tweet Sunday, stats are empty without the wins.