The Houston Rockets were eliminated from the 2017 NBA playoffs in the second round Thursday, losing in six games to the San Antonio Spurs. That, at face value, is not all that surprising. The manner in which it happened, however, was quite surprising. 

After thumping the Spurs on their home floor in Game 1, the Rockets lost four of five, including a shocking 39-point loss in Game 6 at home, and with Kawhi Leonard sitting due to a sprained ankle. James Harden, Houston's MVP candidate, submitted one of his worst games of the season, finishing with 10 points (on 2-of-11 shooting), seven assists and six turnovers. 

Understandably, that performance led to plenty of jokes and criticism online and in the media. But to Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, the critiques are all unfair. In fact, he went so far as to say, "To me, it's a joke to get on him."

"We're not where we are, Game 5, people are down on him at the end of the game, well we're down 10 without James. You know, yesterday, the guy hardest on James was James," Morey continued. "Coach [Mike D'Antoni] and I saw him briefly after, we wanted to give him some space, and we're gonna meet with him longer shortly. But, you can imagine, all the blood, sweat, and tears he puts in ... I know everyone's disappointed, but he's number one."

Added D'Antoni, "One game can't erase nine months of work."

First of all, it's commendable to see Morey and D'Antoni sticking up for their guy, and I think this is a situation where both parties are correct. 

That was truly an awful performance from Harden, and despite his exhaustion, it's certainly fair to criticize an MVP candidate for stinking up the joint like that in an elimination game at home, when the other team was missing its best player. At the same time, Morey and D'Antoni are correct in that the Rockets never get this far without Harden, and one poor game shouldn't affect his MVP candidacy, or how impressive his season was.