A TEXAS-SIZED THRILLER
On the Rockets: Harden, DA’ ntoni & Co. match talent and wits with some of the NBA’s best from Alamo City
The Spurs vs. the Rockets. No. 2 vs. No. 3. The battle for the Lone Star State.
Kawhi Leonard vs. James Harden.
Gregg Popovich vs. Mike D’Antoni.
Entirely disciplined vs. wildly athletic.
Terrific basketball will be on display as the Rockets meet the San Antonio Spurs starting at 8:30 p.m. Monday
If you thought the first round of the playoffs was entertaining, just wait.
The Rockets beat Oklahoma City in five games, four of which were thrilling, nonstop nailbiters.
There was a battle between two MVP candidates, drama among competitors, an incident between a fan and a player.
That series had a lot to offer, but the next one should have even more.
In that first round, the Rockets proved they are a team that can contend. Best is yet to come
When shots weren’t falling, the Rockets adjusted. They defended well enough to pull out wins.
When their star, Harden, wasn’t having his typical highlight-filled nights, role players around him stepped up in big ways willing the team to wins.
The Rockets haven’t played their best basketball in the postseason and they were better than a lot of teams.
The Spurs proved they are the standard.
The “old” guys on the team, guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili put together strong, timely performances when the Spurs needed a boost.
Danny Green and Leonard put on defensive clinics at times.
And Leonard, like Harden, played like the MVP candidate he is.
“As a basketball fan, this is a phenomenal series,” Rockets forward Sam Dekker said. “Kawhi and James are both unbelievable. There’s that in-state rivalry. It should be really fun to watch.”
Let’s start with the marquee showdown: Leonard vs. Harden. Leonard vs. the Beard
Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook is likely to beat them both and be named MVP (a whole other debate we can have), but these two have each had MVP-caliber seasons.
Leonard has become the face of the Spurs since Tim Duncan retired. The forward doesn’t say much and is a cool customer on the court, but he has become one of the league’s top players.
In the regular season, he averaged 25.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per outing. In the playoffs, he’s averaging 31.2 points and six rebounds. Those numbers are good, but his defense stands out. He has won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award the last two seasons and is a front-runner this season.
On the other side is Harden, who has been nothing short of phenomenal this season.
Harden has fared well against the Spurs this season, although the Rockets are 1-3 against them. He’s averaging 29.8 points, 11.8 assists and nine rebounds against San Antonio. Dueling coaches
You could make a case for Leonard or Harden as MVP, but you also could make the case for their coaches for the NBA Coach of the Year honor.
D’Antoni should take the prize this year, especially if Harden is slighted for MVP honors.
He came in as Rockets coach after a season of team turmoil.
D’Antoni is a perfect fit and has changed the team’s culture. The entire mood has changed.
But you could annually make coach-of-the-year argument for Popovich because the Spurs win season after season after season.
On top of how well the two have done this season, they have history that adds drama to the series. D’Antoni has coached against Popovich in four playoff series (three times when he was in Phoenix and once with the Lakers). He has yet to win. Remember 1995?
During the regular season, the Spurs’ bench was key, leading the league in scoring.
The Rockets haven’t run into the Spurs in the playoffs since 1995. The Rockets went on to win the title that year.
Since then, the Spurs have won five.
The series is good for the state, it’s good for the rivalry.
It’s also good for the Western Conference.
The Spurs are known for their discipline, defense and experience.
The Rockets are known for their athleticism, offense and their exciting basketball.
This series is 22 years in the making and should be competitive, close and entertaining.
Two of the best players, two of the best coaches, two of the best benches.
Two of the best teams trying to advance in the postseason.
It doesn’t get much better than this Texas-sized thriller.