Harden in absentia as Rockets are eliminated

Like it or not, James Harden's meager performance in Thursday's Game 6 loss at home to the San Antonio Spurs will only re-open the debate about whether he or Russell Westbrook deserves to be league MVP.

Harden fouled out with a line of 10 points, seven assists, and six turnovers in San Antonio's 114-75 series-clinching victory over his Houston Rockets. The 10 points tied a season low, and he only took 11 shots in the game - including just two in the first half.

While observers have knocked Stephen Curry's Game 7 outing in last year's Finals, Harden's night was the worst performance by a superstar in a postseason elimination game since Dirk Nowitzki's eight points on 2-of-13 shooting in a loss to the "We Believe" Warriors in 2007.

Nowitzki was the NBA MVP that season - an award Harden may still win.

While the Spurs did a great job containing Houston's pick-and-roll with Harden, the 11 shots were a staggeringly low number considering coach Mike D'Antoni's offensive predilections. Then again, both of his makes came from deep.

Harden's passivity with the ball began in the first quarter and didn't let up.

The performance won't help observers who knock his mixed bag of outings in big games. In Game 6 of the 2015 Western Conference semifinals, the Rockets initiated a 19-point comeback win with "The Beard" on the bench.

"I take responsibility for it," Harden said afterward, according to ESPN's Marc Spears.