Harden-Paul duo works wonders

Star guards use each other to improve, and Rockets reap benefits.

Chris Paul could not have been clearer if his comment had been scripted in one of his commercials.

With the game on the line and the Rockets needing another basket or two, he used Tarik Black’s screen and hit a midrange jumper for a team that in seasons past had treated the midrange like a castle moat.

He then turned to James Harden, patted his chest and said, “I got you.”

That might be a theme for the Rockets’ season, with the offseason acquisition Paul trying to take Harden and Harden trying to take Paul to greater success than they had separately.

Recent additions to the Rockets’ winning streak — which stood at 13 entering Monday’s game against Utah — showed the benefit of having stars who pick one another up and work so well together.

“Those are two of the best players in the league,” San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. “You’re not going to find a better leader, a tougher competitor than Chris Paul. Nobody can guard James Harden. (Coach) Mike’s (D’Antoni) philosophy works great with those guys. They’re having a great year. There’s a reason for it. It fits. They’re a monster, no doubt about it.”

The success is about more than D’Antoni’s ability to stagger Harden’s and Paul’s playing time, making sure one is on the court at all times. It has been about more than their ability, clear in victories over the Spurs and Bucks last weekend, to take turns taking over.

They have also increasingly worked together, with the threat of one high-scoring, playmaking guard opening additional opportunities for the other.