Harden’s job description matches that of Cavs’ James
As much as Rockets guard James Harden wants the decisions to come from vision and instincts, like most artists, he has his influences. That is to say, he copies others. His hero might have been Kobe Bryant, but his job is different. Even before coach Mike D’Antoni gave him the “point guard” title, Harden’s favorite plays came when he saw something in an opposition’s defense and set up a teammate for a shot too good to miss.
More than ever, as the Rockets prepare to face LeBron James and the reigning champion Cavaliers on Tuesday, Harden has a job in
many ways similar to James’.
There are differences. Harden handles the ball and his team’s offense whenever he is on the court; James handles it whenever he wants to. But more than ever Harden’s fingerprints are all over his team’s offense, as James’ have been from Cleveland to Miami and back again.
“It’s pretty similar,” Harden said. “He’s great, obviously, scoring the basketball, but in making his teammates better, the all-around game. That’s why he’s one of the best players to ever play the game.
“For me, I just try to figure different ways to win, get guys involved, get myself involved in the game, each game just try to make an impact any way I can.”
Harden had long since showed the scoring skills, but has evolved as a passer. After averaging a career-best 7.5 assists last season, he has opened the season averaging 10.7 per game to go with his 29.3 points.
James, the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, is averaging 10 assists and 21 points. James has av-
eraged 6.9 assists in his career, two more than Harden in Harden’s seven seasons. But Harden averaged 6.1 in 2012-13, his first season with the Rockets, and has increased his averages every season since.
“I think LeBron has been playing the same way since he was in the ninth grade,” said Rockets forward Trevor Ariza, who is most often assigned to defend James. “(Harden) is growing into an all-around offensive player, trying to make plays and do the right thing.”
James utilizes heft
Both can be difficult matchups, but for different reasons. James’ size — at 6-8 and at least the 250 pounds he is listed — overwhelms; Harden confounds, changing speeds on his way to the rim.
Perhaps no challenge is more daunting than stepping in front of James at full speed when on a break, though Ariza said he does not hesitate to take that punishment.
“Not at all. The only thing you think about when LeBron is coming at you is do you want to win or not,” Ariza said. “If you want to win, you’re going to step in front of him and take a charge. That’s how I play.”
Still, it is far preferable to see James rise up at the
3-point line, and not just for safety’s sake. A career 33.9 percent shooter from the 3-point line coming off the worst 3-point shooting season (26.7 percent) of his career, James’ physical dominance invites opponents to give up those deep looks in the hopes he will remain on the perimeter.
Harden, a 36.7 percent 3-point shooter in his career, has not found many opponents willing to go under screens to give up open looks.
“I don’t know if anybody’s come up with a recipe,” Rockets coach Mike
D’Antoni said of defending James. “As everybody knows, you just hope he doesn’t hit outside shots. You try to keep him on the perimeter as much as you can. He’s arguably the best player we have in the game. He’s a handful. We’re going to have to play really well to beat him.”
The Cavaliers are far more fully formed than the Rockets, with Kyrie Irving asserting himself as one of the league’s premier scorers and Kevin Love, averaging 20 points per game in the first three games, seeming more comfortable in that mix than ever.
The Cavs have won their first three games by an average of 12.6 points per game, ranking second in defensive rating. The Rockets were up and down through their first week, losing in Los Angeles, winning with a solid performance in Dallas and barely hanging on to beat the Mavericks in a brief home appearance Sunday.
“I think we’re in a good spot,” guard Eric Gordon said. “We’re going to go up there and try to win. We know they’re a tough team. They’re a tough team for anybody. The only reluctant part is we’re on the road so much.”
Facing the prototype
There is an element of getting a close look at the most recent champions. For Harden, that also means playing his evolving game while facing the prototype. For all the differences, when both teams need a score most, their best players take those shots or decide who does. If Harden is going to take from anybody, he’ll find few better to emulate.
“Similarities, like he’s a really, really good passer and scorer,” Harden said. “I watch several different players just to take something from their game. That’s how you get better.”