No load management allowed when it’s time to carry a team
The dagger came with 1:31 left in the game when James Harden nailed a 3-pointer then glanced at the Clippers bench.
The players, who’d been up on their feet cheering on their teammates, suddenly deflated and sunk into their chairs as whistles started blowing.
The 3-pointer put the Rockets ahead by seven points. Three ensuing technical fouls on the Clippers would send Harden to the free throw line to put the Rockets up by 10.
They’d go on to win 10293 and improve to 8-3 on the season before entering a challenging stretch through the rest of November.
The Rockets had their issues — they were down three key players by the end
of the game, they struggled defensively and let the Clippers come back from a 17-point deficit, they missed a boatload of shots that should have been easy makes — but it didn’t matter.
The Rockets have Harden.
And when the going gets tough, he can do just about anything the team needs him to to carry them through.
“It’s what we’ve come to expect,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He’s a phenomenal player and he will find a way.”
The Rockets needed that on Wednesday when the revamped Clippers came to town.
While they are still without one of their major offseason additions in Paul George, the Clippers are still considered a favorite to win the NBA title this season.
They were already good last season with the likes of Pat Beverley, Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrel — a scrappy trio of former Rockets who gave the Clippers a gritty identity.
Over the summer, they added George and Kawhi Leonard, making them instant favorites.
The George signing in Los Angeles made way for the Rockets to make their biggest offseason move to trade for Russell Westbrook.
So when the two met on Wednesday for the first time in the regular season, the expectations were high
Neither team was at full speed as they dealt with injuries to key players.
The Rockets were without Eric Gordon, who is out six weeks with a knee injury, and Danuel House who is day-to-day with a back bruise. Clint Capela, who had a productive night with 12 points and 20 rebounds, was out for the final four minutes after hitting his head. He is being evaluated for a concussion.
Despite the absence of key players, both teams impressed and made their first meeting a compelling one.
The game had a little bit of everything.
The Rockets controlled the pace and the score for most of the first half, taking a 49-37 lead into halftime. They did that without Westbrook for the most part as the guard picked up his fourth foul with nine seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Capela was a rebounding machine, and Harden couldn’t be stopped.
He weaved in out of traffic, dealing for long spurts of time with Beverley — one of the league’s peskiest defenders and Leonard, who is often the picture of what NBA defense should look like.
The Clippers chipped away in the second half and took their first lead of the game with 6:53 in the fourth quarter on a Leonard 3-pointer.
The Rockets looked winded, and the Clippers appeared to have momentum on their side.
Again, though, the Rockets had everything they needed in the bearded hero who went off for 17 of his 47 points in the final quarter. He also added six rebounds and seven assists.
Harden’s ability to take over is nothing new.
He’s done it repeatedly over the past several seasons, often being the Rockets’ savior when they are injured, in foul trouble or struggling through tough stretches.
“It’s what I do,” Harden said. “It’s great to compete. I am a competitor and I love it. I just try to execute, get to my spots and get my shots off.
“Nothing changes for me. I am always in attack mode.”
There is no load management for Harden.
He doesn’t rest and unfortunately the Rockets aren’t in a position to let him.
The rest of November won’t be kind to the Rockets. They have a back to back Friday and Saturday with the Pacers and Timberwolves. They still have to host the Trail Blazers, the Mavericks, the Heat and the Hawks this month and have to travel to play the Nuggets and the Clippers.
Harden is going to have to go into takeover mode in a few of those games to lead his team.
The NBA season is long and the challenges are going to just keep coming.
But the Rockets are still very much in the mix, largely due to Harden’s ability to carry them through.
Thanks to him, they picked up an impressive win over a really good team — a win that could matter a lot come playoff seeding time.
Harden hit a dagger and took over a game the way he has so many times.
Because he can do that, the Rockets are a team in the mix to challenge for the top spot in a stout Western Conference.