New father Harrell’s return to team favorable for coach
OAKLAND, Calif. — Rockets center Montrezl Harrell returned to the team Friday after three days away to attend the birth of his son, Amari ,on Wednesday.
He was back in time to play, with Nene given the second night of the back-to-back off, but even after an early wake-up call and flight from Louisville to San Francisco that landed at 9:30 a.m. he was energized.
“I feel great,” Harrell said. “This is my first son. To be there for his birth was definitely something great to experience. Amari is a name I came up with. I wanted him to have a strong name. It means My Miracle. He’s a miracle to me. It’s a blessing. He’s going to change my life tremendously for the better. I’m excited. I’m ready for it.”
Friday’s game was the Rockets’ second in Oakland this season in which Nene was given the night off with Harrell playing.
The Rockets did not plan to have Nene out of either meeting with the Warriors, with Nene unavailable with a sore shoulder in December and Harrell unavailable in the first game of the back-toback Thursday. But Harrell’s strengths fit well with the game plan against the Warriors.
Harrell has played well against Golden State, averaging 9.5 points and four rebounds in 18.5 minutes against the Warriors.
“We do a lot of switching and we need his ability to go guard a lot of different positions,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “To be honest with you, he’s done well against almost everybody. Every time we’ve called on him, he’s played well.”
Kerr praises Harden’s talents
Guard James Harden had struggled in his matchups with the Warriors heading into Friday’s game, yet Golden State coach Steve Kerr said that has not entirely been about the Warriors’ defense.
The Warriors have been among the NBA’s top teams defensively and lead the NBA in field-goal percentage defense and 3-point percentage defense. But some of Harden’s issues, Kerr said, have been about the Warriors’ good fortune.
“He might be the hardest player to guard in the entire league,” Kerr said. “If not the hardest, he’s in the top few because of the problems he presents you as a point guard, a guy with that kind of size, ability to shoot 3s, get to the rim and he’s a brilliant passer. All you can do is your best to try to keep him off-balance as best you can.”
Williams alters game as needed
With the exception of his stellar shooting game against the Thunder on Sunday, when he made 11 of 15 shots, guard Lou Williams has struggled with his outside shot.
Excluding that game, he had made 22 of 77 shots in the six games prior to Friday’s meeting with the Warriors.
But he got going in the second half in Portland by looking to drive and take midrange shots. He missed all five of his 3-pointers against the Trail Blazers, but was 5-of-11 inside the arc and said he could look for other shots when his 3-point touch is off.
“You just have to play the game, especially on the offensive end, just take what’s given,” Williams said. “I haven’t made a 3 in a couple games, so just try a different approach.”
Coach Mike D’Antoni said as much as he would like Williams to get his 3-point shot going, he has liked the way he has found other ways to score and work as a playmaker for the second unit.
“He’s going to score,” D’Antoni said of Williams taking midrange shots in the second half in Portland. “I’d like it to not take him a whole half. But he’s going to score. He’ll find a way to make a basket or make a play. The guy’s really good offensively.”