Rockets raise their game
Doom and gloom was setting in after 1-5 start, but the Harden-led Rockets now are taking off
When James Harden was toying with defenders last week, it was hard to imagine the Rockets near the bottom of the standings.
Whether it was a step-back 3-pointer that will haunt the dreams of Cleveland’s Jamal Murray or dropping a tripledouble in three quarters over the Cavaliers on Friday, Harden looked like the MVP and the Rockets looked like a solid team — one that will make some noise late this spring in the NBA postseason.
What a difference a couple of months makes.
In November, it was easy to assume the Rockets might miss the playoffs altogether if they didn’t make changes in a hurry. They’ve come a long way. From the failed experiment of adding Carmelo Anthony to the squad to the the unfortunate Rajon Rondo spitting incident to a slew of injuries, the Rockets have had plenty to work through this season.
Halfway through the regular season, though, they’ve managed to recover. The Rockets aren’t just back on track, they are back to being a contender.
It’s too early to pencil the Rockets in as NBA champions, but the thought of them winning it all is no longer an absurd one.
After finishing strong last year and falling in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals to eventual champ Golden State, the Rockets were supposed to be at the top this season. Instead, they started 1-5. It was an ugly 1-5, too. They were disjointed on offense and defense. Their chemistry was off. They had no rhythm. It was bad basketball.
Mike D’Antoni and his players never gave up hope that they’d be fine. But pretty much everyone else did.
Now, they are one of the hottest teams in the NBA.
The Rockets’ 141-113 rout of Cleveland put them at 24-17 at the halfway mark. They have won 13 of their last 16 games.
“I think at this point in the season, you are looking for progress,” D’Antoni said. “But you’re also looking to be sure that you are still sticking to what you set out to do and sticking to your principles.”
The Rockets are certainly doing that. Their free, uptempo, 3-point-heavy offense is giving opponents fits again.
They certainly have work to do defensively, but the Rockets have made strides — big ones considering just how badly they looked at the season’s outset.
Chris Paul remains a star defensively, but he has been out 10 games with a hamstring injury. He should be this month and that will help the Rockets on both sides of the ball.
Not only will Paul immediately improve the team’s defense, he also relieves the pressure on Harden offensively. The two together on the court make a special combo — one that could lead the Rockets on a big run during the second half of the season.
In addition to Paul’s return, fellow guard Eric Gordon will be back soon as well, perhaps within a week. Gordon has missed six games with a sore knee.
Paul and Gordon are the team’s second- and third-leading scorers, but the Rockets have been able to get by without them.
The depth has been impressive. From the steady play of Clint Capela and P.J. Tucker to breakout games from Gerald Green and Danuel House Jr., the Rockets seem more complete in the last month.
“A lot of it is our chemistry,” Harden said. “I think that keeps getting better, and it shows on the court.”
Harden’s growth also is a big key in the Rockets’ success. After posting an amazing 2017-18 season that ended with him holding the NBA’s MVP trophy, he has elevated his game even more.
On Friday, in the Rockets’ victory over the Cavs, Harden finished with 43 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. It was the 13th time this season he has scored more than 40 points. He hit eight 3-pointers, making Friday the 12th consecutive game in which he has hit at least five 3-pointers. His triple-double came in 29½ minutes of play and was the first 40-point tripledouble ever in under 30 minutes.
The most impressive thing about Harden is that every defender knows what he is doing, and yet they still can’t figure out how to stop him.
Harden has elevated the Rockets in a season that got off to a rough start. His teammates have filled in around him and now the team is climbing the standings.
What looked like it might be a dud of a season now looks like one that could end with a deep playoff run.