Harden Uninterrupted as CP3 Returns, Rockets Rally to Dispel Magic, 103-98
Wild Bunch. The Manimal Renaissance. Misconceptions.
“Well, me and the boys here, we got some work to do. You wanna come along? It ain’t like it used to be, but, uh, it’ll do”, the final line from Sam Peckinpah’s epic Western film, The Wild Bunch, resonates now more than ever this season for Houston. This Rockets team is also a wild bunch, in a season full of wild bunches. Houston’s been through 3 seasons of ups and downs mashed up into a little over half a season. They finally got Chris Paul back on Sunday night, and while he’ll never be the same player he once was in L.A. and New Orleans, it was good to see Paul back in a Rockets jersey. Paul’s return only had a positive effect on Houston and Harden’s streak. The Beard didn’t score 30. He had 40, and the Rockets rallied from 16 down to beat the Magic, 103-98, in Houston on Sunday night. This contest featured another close matchup in what has slowly become a stretch of nail-biters for the Rockets. Chris Paul made some key plays down the stretch, including finding Harden for the go-ahead bucket late in the game. The Point God finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 dimes, in 25 minutes of action in his first game back since his latest injury. Many expected Harden’s scoring to go down with the return of Chris Paul. However, many don’t realize the positive effect CP3 has on the Beard’s game. Paul only makes life easier for Harden, as CP3 forces the defense to pay attention to more than just the Beard. Harden’s tenacity and aggressiveness this season, that all started on December 13th (with CP3 in the lineup), isn’t going away. No matter who’s on the court by his side. CP3’s return gives the Rockets two magicians, and while he may be the older/wiser one, Paul still brings plenty of talent to the table. Houston is lucky their other magician is at the peak of his powers, and doesn’t look to be slowing down. The combo still gives the Rockets the best backcourt in the NBA, and when healthy, along with Clint Capela, they’re unstoppable, as they proved last season. It just took a while to get the supporting cast into their respective roles.
Kenneth Faried continued enjoying his career-renassaince in Houston. The Manimal finished with another double-double, posting 12 points and 10 boards. More importantly, his energy has been absolutely vital. Faried contested 15 shots in the game for Houston, tops on the team, including 9 from beyond the arc, also the most. It seemed to take Faried and Paul only a quarter to develop some chemistry, as the two worked great together on the floor. The Manimal and the Beard also continue to be on the same page. Faried’s career is truly being revived in Houston, as his spot on the team is an inseparable marriage. The newest Rocket is more skilled at switching on defense than Clint, due to his smaller size, although Capela is the better defender overall. Faried, like Capela, is a fast learner. The Manimal held Nikola Vucevic to 0/5 from the field in the 2nd half, after the Magic center went off for 17 points on 8/14 shooting in the first half. Faried also posted a plus/minus of +13 in the 4th quarter, highest on the squad in a close, contested final frame. Faried’s presence only gives Houston more versatility and depth on both ends of the floor. The Rockets needed someone who could finish around the hoop, after it seemed like the team missed 10,000 layups over the first half of the season. Faried isn’t shy about throwing the ball down with authority, and will only set the example of how to finish around the basket for other Houston big men. The Manimal has also proven to be a huge crowd engager in his first 2 home games, as he’s slowly becoming a fan favorite in Houston. Daryl Morey has found another diamond in the rough. Faried previously had found himself relegated to a minor role on a bad Brooklyn team. However, the Manimal is a perfect fit in Houston. Similar to Gerald Green, Austin Rivers, and the sorely missed Danuel House, Faried is another role player who fits perfectly in the D’Antoni system.
The biggest misconception in not only the NBA, but in all of professional sports, is that James Harden doesn’t play defense. They said he doesn’t play defense. Well, they were wrong. The Beard has been playing the best defense of his career this season. Defense has always been an aspect of Harden’s game that gets overlooked due to his offensive onslaught on opposing defenders, which has now become (literally) a nightly tradition. Sunday against Orlando, Harden held his own on switches against Magic big men Vucevic and Aaron Gordon, rarely allowing the two to take advantage of the size mismatch. His post defense has always been the best part of Harden’s game on that end of the floor, but now the Beard is better than ever at defending on the perimeter. In the last three games (all close Houston victories) Harden has made the key defensive stop to seal the victory at the end of each contest. In New York, he had the steal and dunk to secure the win. Against Toronto, the Beard made sure Kawhi Leonard saw nothing but Beard when throwing up an airball to help seal a Rockets win. On Sunday against Orlando, Harden blocked a layup from Evan Fournier that sealed another victory for Houston. It doesn’t matter what they say. Harden plays defense every night. Most people just don’t bother to look. Chris Paul notices. With 1:20 left in the game, the Point God noticed something else (a lazy Fournier) as he insisted the Beard inbounds the ball (this never happens). A few seconds later, Harden rolled around a double-screen initiated by Paul, and ended with Faried handing the Beard the ball for an open go-ahead three-pointer. It’s this awareness on the mental level that Chris Paul possesses that will never go away. Harden finally started to feed off Paul’s awareness this season, igniting his own mental resurgence that sparked his current 30-point game streak. Houston’s a much different group since the last time Paul was on the court, and the Point God will never be quicker and sturdier akin to his younger days. But, the Rockets still have a lot of work to do to accomplish their goal of winning a title. And this version of Chris Paul ain’t like it used to be, but it’ll do.