Regular season may be concluding, but the Houston Rockets are still fighting for a play-in spot with the Warriors. With 38 wins and 35 losses, they’ve just recorded one win and a loss away from the Dubs, so the margins are paper thin. While several of the NBA pundits had counted them out, the Rockets fought their way back through with an 11-game win streak. This massive resurgence has prompted comparisons to their James Harden era which was the last time Houston won 10 games in a row.

In the latest episode of ‘Brian Windhorst and the Hoop Collective’, the veteran analyst makes the comparison. “The Houston freaking Rockets have won 10 straight games; the last time they had a double-figure winning streak, James Harden was en-route to winning his first MVP, and they were in a 65-win season,” said one of the three hosts.

The trio were talking about the Rocket’s win against the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder. Houston sent shockwaves throughout the league by winning the game in overtime 132-126. This performance was on the back of a heroic performance by Jalen Green, who scored 37 points with 10 rebounds, with extreme efficiency shooting 58.3% from the field and 63.6% from three. Moreover, players like Amen Thompson and even Dillion Brooks contributed significantly.

It’s surprising that even after moving on from James Harden, the Rockets’ success continues to draw comparisons to him. Funnily enough, though, the Beard’s inclusion into the new Rockets was denied by Serge Ibaka.

Serge Ibaka didn’t want James Harden in the Rockets

Last year when rumors of James Harden’s exit from the Philadelphia 76ers began to float, there was a chance that he would come back to Houston. However, Ibaka put his foot down, rejecting that notion for several reasons. Chief among those, was the fact that Freed Van Fleet would be able to play the same position as the Beard, while still being “five years younger.” Moreover, the former MVP’s tendency to hold on to the ball longer than is required didn’t sit well with Ibaka.

In addition to that, a rooster around new talents like Alperen Sengun and Green seemed like a more plausible option for him. In the end, Harden went to the Clippers who are currently a lock for the playoffs, so things worked out for him. Even Ibaka and his boys are also putting the pieces together as a team. Is possible for both of Harden’s teams to meet in the post-season?

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