Not quite as easy as it looks
NEW YORK — A day after Rockets guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook did what they do more often than any players in the NBA — Harden scoring 59 points and Westbrook getting a triple-double — Harden said the frequency of the accomplishments has made them taken for granted.
“I think it is only with me and Russ,” Harden said. “Like if Russ gets a triple-double, it’s (considered) normal. If I get 55 or 60 points, it’s (considered) normal. If somebody else was to do that, to have a career night, it’s like ‘Oh my God.’ But I don’t care. I just try to go out there and try to win games.
“If that’s what it takes for us to win game, him getting a triple-double and me getting 50, 60 points, then we’ll continue to do that.”
Harden averaged 36.1 points and 7.5 assists last season, averaging the most assists for any 35point scorer in NBA history. He is averaging 36.8 points and 8.8 assists through five games this season. Westbrook, who averaged a triple-double in each of the previous three seasons, is averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 assists and 12 rebounds.
Westbrook said his stat-stuffing comes from doing whatever is necessary but described topping 50 as more difficult than most understand.
“It’s very tough. It’s not easy,” said Westbrook, who scored a career-high 58 points against the Trail Blazers in the 2017-18 season. “He made it look easy from the outside looking it, but it’s not. I can tell you that firsthand.
“I know a lot of times people see these stats and see numbers, and they’re like, ‘Oh, OK. That’s easy.’ It takes energy. It takes precision. It takes work. It takes obviously talent. To do that throughout a whole game and stay focused is … something you can’t teach.”
Defense in need of improvement
While the Rockets have had the NBA’s top-ranked offense through four games, after allowing 158 points on 62.6 percent shooting in Washington, they have fallen to 29th defensively going into Thursday’s games.
Though the Rockets sought to credit the Wizards’ hot shooting for Wednesday’s performance, they also said there is considerable work to be done to become more cohesive.
“We’re still not connected as a team,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “It’s a little understandable. Just trying to work things out. That’s going to be our key. We’ll keep working at it until we get better at it.
Rockets opponents have made 49.5 percent of their shots, placing the team 28th in field goal percentage defense, while making 40.1 percent of their 3s, placing the Rockets 26th. The Rockets have given up an average of 16.8 3-pointers, the most in the NBA.
“We got to be more aggressive, got to be better on the ball, and we got to help each other, also,” guard Russell Westbrook said. “The main thing is be more aggressive. We got to take away, break teams’ rhythm.
“Just got to lock in. Scoring the ball ain’t a problem for us. Later on in the year, we have to be able to defend at a high level. That’s something we know we need to do.”
Gordon working through struggles
Rockets guard Eric Gordon had made one of seven second-half shots when the Wizards trapped the ball out of James Harden’s hands and Harden delivered a pass to Gordon for a last-minute 3-pointer to put the Rockets in front on the way to a 159-158 win on Wednesday.
The confidence the Rockets showed in him was not a surprise, though Gordon has made just 26.8 percent of his 3s through four games.
“Just got to be ready at all times,” he said. “It’s just about coming in and creating a spark, whether it’s offensively or defensively. That’s what you just need do. You always are going have confidence throughout the game. In the tough moments, those are game changers.”
Gordon made five of 13 3-pointers against the Wizards after making five of 28 in his first three games this season.
“I’m getting better game by game,” Gordon said. “I ain’t going to be like this the whole year. I’m going to get better. It’s almost like around the league, there’s always a player or two on every team that’s in a little funk. James just went through it. We’re getting there. We’re getting better.”