A good time was had by all in an efficient home opener
Fertitta’s debut at Toyota Center is rout marked by defensive display
With the Rockets’ home-opener blowout of the Dallas Mavericks a certainty, the Rockets found other ways to make things interesting, or at least give customers a reason to stick around rather than check out the broadcast of the game down the street.
Instead of relying on the 3s, they put in layups.
Instead of romping with scoring, they swarmed with defense.
Instead of business as usual, they had the Texans’ DeAndre Hopkins stop by — resplendent in the Astros rainbow throwbacks — to bank in a “First Shot” free throw.
They even had new owner Tilman Fertitta waving a Rockets flag from his front-row seat, as if merely rolling past the Mavericks 107-91 would not be enough without a suitable celebration.
What the night lacked in drama, with the Rockets taking a 36-point lead on the way to the start-tofinish rout, the Rockets replaced with encouragining signs, showing strides in the areas they had considered most important. Gordon steps up
“I really liked our defense,” said guard Eric Gordon, who had 18 points in 24 minutes as a starter with Chris Paul out. “We knew they were going to be a little tired playing a back-to-back.
“We just took advantage of that playing both ends of the floor.”
The Mavericks were terribly short-handed with rookie Dennis Smith Jr. out with a sore knee, Seth Curry with a stress reaction in his left leg and Devin Harris following the death of his brother in a car accident.
Still, as much as the Mavericks’ issues seemed in large measures about the Mavericks’ shortcomings, the Rockets’ defense against the accomplished scorers that remained was outstanding to the point that Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle described the Rockets as “a very good defensive team, very athletic and physically tough team.”
For all their success on the way to 55 wins this past season, that was not how the Rockets were described, even in their season sweep of Carlisle’s Mavericks.
Even against the shorthanded Mavericks, the Rockets made a strong argument toward changing their reputation.
Midway through the third quarter, as the Rockets took their lead to 30, Harrison Barnes was 5-of16 shooting, Dirk Nowitzki was 1-of-8 and Wesley Matthews 2-of-10.
“They were on a back-to-back so they probably had some dead legs,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “Early in the season, when you’re on a back-to-back, like we were in Sacramento, it’s tough to shoot the ball well.
“But I thought … at the same time, we defended them pretty well. Really pleased with our play early; not so much late.”
The Rockets held what was left of the Mavericks’ usual rotation to 58 points through three quarters before Dallas’ bench put up 33 in the fourth quarter.
But through three games, the Rockets have allowed 104 points per game, 5.6 shy of last season’s average when they went 18-0 when holding teams shy of 100 points for the game.
After allowing 36 fastbreak points against the Warriors in the seasonopening victory, they have allowed six in the two games since, none on Saturday night.
“We did a good job,” said Rockets guard James Harden, who had 26 of his 29 points in the first half. “Our mindset is getting better no matter who we play.
“From the beginning of the game we were locked in. That’s going to be our blueprint, defensive stops.”
The other part of the plan, to pour in 3s, did not click until Harden went 4-of-6 from deep in the second quarter.
But the Rockets got to the rim so easily they scored more points in the paint in the first quarter (22) than the Mavericks scored (20.)
“We just take what’s there,” D’Antoni said. “Obviously, our first is the thrust to the basket.
“If it’s there, we’ll take it. It was there.” Deviate from the norm
In other ways, the Rockets are trying to establish who they are.
They had fewer 3-point shots than an opponent for the second time in three games, winning both of those contests.
They were 3-10 when making fewer 3s than an opponent last season.
They did not have to make them on the way to 3-0 this season.
“We’re trying to build a good defensive base,” D’Antoni said. “We’re trying to understand where we’re offensively.
“I wish (injured guard) Chris (Paul) would be here so we can keep getting better. I would say he knows how to play so it’s not going to be a problem.
“I’m happy. We got a long ways to go, but 3-0 is 3-0.”
On Saturday, how they got there might have even more impressive.