Hawks a good test for offense
ATLANTA — Rockets guard James Harden’s league-leading 12.4 assists are nearly five more than his previous career best and more than anyone has averaged for a full season since John Stockton in 1993-94.
But Harden is not surprised by his numbers, in part because he often has said he does not give them consideration at all.
“I’m a playmaker. I’m a basketball player,” Harden said. “The things I do, I don’t get excited. They don’t surprise me anymore. I just go out there and hoop.”
The Atlanta Hawks could offer a good test of the Rockets’ offense on Saturday. Even after their 123-116 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, the Hawks are second in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing 94.7 points per 100 possessions. They gave up 99, 72 and 95 points in their first three victories.
The Rockets are fourth in offensive rating, scoring 110.9 points per 100 possessions, and are fifth in scoring and field-goal percentage.
“(Atlanta) is hard place to play always, and they’re a good team,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said. “It will be a tough test.”
Howard helped Capela improve
A day before they will meet for the first time as opponents, Rockets center Clint Capela said his practice matchups against Dwight Howard helped him develop because they were so difficult.
“To compete against him at practice, it was really about my confidence,” Capela said. “I was like
‘OK, if I can do that against him, I’m sure I can dominate, like on rebounds.’ The thing I learned from him is to try to be consistent like he was on his game plan and his routine, always try to do the same thing every day.
“He was very hard. It
was a good matchup for me.”
Heading into Friday’s 95-92 loss to the Washington Wizards, Howard averaged 15.5 points and 12 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game.
Capela, his successor as the Rockets’ starting center, is averaging eight points and 7.6 rebounds in 23.4 minutes.
“He’s going to be focused, of course,” Capela said of Howard. “He’s going to be ready to go.”
Bottom line is good to center
When asked if Dwight Howard has been fairly critiqued, Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said at least in one way. The coach said Howard seems to be doing all right, citing the center’s three-year, $70.5 million deal with the Hawks.
“He makes a lot of money, doesn’t he?” D’Antoni said. “He’s been in high volatile situations. I’m sure there’s been some unfair criticism. He’s a good guy, a good player in our league, one of the tops. That’s how he’s judged, really. He is one of the better centers in the league.”