The maturation of James Harden continues.

The day after he had his worst playoff game as a Rocket, Harden finished practice and left in a hurry.

Apparently, he took off without completing his standard post-practice shooting routine Sunday afternoon - the extra work that helps separate him from everybody else.

If Harden, who has demanded and earned respect as the leader of the Rockets with his play and words in three years in Houston, was so afraid of media that he bailed on his personal compulsory workout, he has a long way to go to be a championship basketball player.

That is OK; he is just 25 years old.

He is a clear-cut star and, depending on your definition, an NBA superstar.

He could very well have been this year's Most Valuable Player.

He is "The Beard."

If Harden wants to hide from the spotlight of being one of the faces of the NBA, he should cut that thing off. Blend in.

But he wants the attention. Deserves it.

And when you are as good as he has been - beard or no beard - you can't run, you can't hide.

Even after a 3-for-16 shooting performance in a 115-80 loss to Golden State in which the Rockets fell hopelessly behind 3-0 in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals.

I don't blame Harden for being reluctant to talk about the disastrous, unofficial end to the Rockets' season.

I hate to Washington Generalize the Rockets, but only a Globetrotters opponent could be so dominated and not thoroughly embarrassed by such a defeat.

Embarrassment at home

Harden's response could have been to stand there and give clichéd answers to stupid questions. (Dwight Howard was asked how Stephen Curry grabbed a rebound Saturday, as if Howard is supposed to grab every ball that comes off the rim.)

He could have said "I'll see you on Monday," then come out Monday night in Game 4, show the world what he and the Rockets are made of, and avoid the humiliation of a four-game sweep.

Instead, he snuck away.

Still, showing up on Monday is more important than talking on Sunday.

The Rockets aren't known for their home-court advantage, but Moses' Rockets and Hakeem's Rockets never suffered a beatdown like Harden's Rockets did Saturday.

Only twice have the Rockets been beaten worse in a playoff game (2005 against the Mavericks and 2009 against the Lakers), and neither of those games were in Houston. Those were Yao and McGrady's Rockets (2005), and injured Yao and McGrady's Rockets (2009).

Harden's Rockets are tougher, better.

Prior to the 35-point spanking at the hands of the Warriors, the Rockets' worst home loss was a 23-point drubbing by the Boston Celtics in 1981. Boston rookie Kevin McHale had two points in that game.

McHale, now Rockets coach, played a bigger role in Saturday's defeat, but he wasn't on the floor.

Harden was, but he played emotionless and passively, and when the Rockets were faltering, he didn't take charge.

As was the case Sunday after practice, he was nowhere to be found.

The Rockets didn't lose by 35 points because Harden had a bad night. The guy could have scored 40 points as Curry did for the Warriors, and the Rockets were going to be in trouble.

Pressure is on

When Michael Jordan was Harden's age and faced a similar situation against a superior team, he basically blamed his teammates for the loss.

I can imagine what the response on Twitter would have been back then, or what it would be now if Harden said some of the things Jordan said.

Harden isn't Jordan. And though your memories tell you different, Jordan wasn't always great.

So, I'm not going to slam Harden for having an off night against the Warriors. I've seen better players than him do the same.

I won't even dog him for not talking to media Sunday.

But if he indeed failed to prepare the way he always has, the way that has made him one of the best NBA players, that's inexcusable.

Of course, should he go out Monday and take his frustration out on the Warriors with a big night, not taking extra shots (on the practice court or from the media) will be remembered as a good move.

The mature move then would be to not say another word the rest of the series.

The pressure is on.