USA Today via Reuters
Dec 28, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 28, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) before the game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Houston Rockets are coming off a very rough off-season. They saw their front-office getting replaced and also a key player like Russell Westbrook leaving the franchise. But everything aside, the commotion around James Harden has left the franchise gasping for stability in their 2020-21 roster.
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Their first game against the Blazers got postponed because of COVID protocols. When they finally played, the Blazers defeated the Rockets in clutch-time when CJ McCollum scored a game-winning three with six seconds remaining. Still, it was The Beard who found a personal gain in that disheartening loss.
USA Today via Reuters
Dec 28, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) and guard David Nwaba (2) speak in the first quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
James Harden and his growing legacy against NBA legends
In that game, the 8-time NBA All-star scored 44 points, 17 assists, and 4 rebounds. He recorded an insane six three-pointers and an FG accuracy of 54.5%. Even though that effort went in vain because of an equally brilliant performance from CJ, James got his name enshrined among the best of the bests.
Harden left Shaquille O’Neal behind by scoring his 44th 40-point double-double. The closest active players to challenge this record are LeBron James (30) and Russell Westbrook (30).
James Harden. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/gR2IPpiwja
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 29, 2020
This data is proof and a notifying sign of Harden’s dominance on both ends of the court. No wonder he impacts the game so well and has been doing so for the Rockets for the past eight seasons.
Rockets are still strong on paper; can they make a 2017-18 level of impact?
The Houston Rockets have never entered an NBA final in the last 25 years. However, it is safe to say that they were the closest to making it possible in 2017-18 when their regular season record was an impressive 65-17, but that finals appearance never happened.
But this time around, they have another chance to make that happen with the players like James Harden, John Wall, Eric Gordon, Christian Wood, and DeMarcus Cousins.
The Rockets’ front office has always done a decent job in putting good pieces around The Beard. However, this time, they also need to do the extra bit to keep their players in discipline if they need to win it big. The onus would be on the new head coach, Stephen Silas.
Do you think the Rockets can get their acts together and perform?
