DeRozan big plus for Spurs
The thinking of DeMar DeRozan before joining the Spurs: Shoot.
The mentality now: Share.
Always a skilled scorer, the 29-year-old and fourtime All-Star has taken his game to another level in San Antonio by taking to the floor with a different approach — a get-teammates-even-more-involved approach.
“Spurs’ way, baby,” said DeRozan, whose team leads 1-0 heading into Game 2 on Tuesday against the second-seeded Nuggets.
A year under coach Gregg Popovich has rubbed off on DeRozan , who was acquired in a deal last summer that sent Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors. He’s coming off a regular season in which he averaged 21.2 points, 6.2 assists and 6.0 rebounds. Those are the sorts of numbers no Spurs player has averaged for a season. Not David Robinson. Not Tim Duncan. Not Tony Parker. Not George Gervin.
“All the great players who came through this organization, the history, for me to be mentioned like that is definitely amazing,” DeRozan said. “I’m definitely honored.”
So far, a good start for DeRozan in this version of the postseason. He played a big role in the Spurs’ series-opening win Saturday. Sure, with his shooting (6 of 17 for 18 points), and rebounding (12) but even more with his passing (six assists, including three in the fourth quarter).
“Can’t be satisfied. Now I want to see what it’s like to be up 2-0 on the road,” DeRozan said. “That’s the mentality.”
Harden keys Rockets:
James Harden had 29 points and 10 assists to help the Rockets rout the visiting Jazz 122-90 on Sunday night in Game 1 of a first-round playoff series.
The Rockets had a double-digit lead for most of the game, but the Jazz got within five midway through the third quarter before Houston used a big run to pull away.
The Rockets were up by 15 in the fourth before Harden, who had eight boards, scored six points in a 9-2 run that stretched the lead to 108-86 with four minutes left and then shortly after, both teams cleared their benches.