Harden’s 44 Points Guide Rockets Past Nets, 108-98
Semi-Deja Vu. Biggest Weakness. The Necessity of 40.
Houston held on to beat to the Nets, 108-98, at Toyota Center on Saturday night. James Harden, who else, led the way, scoring 44 points, and saving the Rockets from a second-half collapse. This contest, for a moment, appeared to be the same tired story we’d seen many times this season: Houston leads big on a bad opponent, gives up that big lead, and then ultimately loses in disappointing fashion. Except ion Saturday, the Rockets bucked that trend. Houston led comfortably, 42-20, after the first quarter. Or maybe it was too comfortably. The Nets stormed all the way back to take the lead in the fourth quarter and make affairs interesting, but Harden and the Rockets were able to hold off Brooklyn for the victory. A necessary victory, as Houston was coming off their worst loss of the season, a Christmas damper in the Bay Area to the last-place Warriors. A loss to the Nets would have been heartbreaking on a deeper-level. Houston avoided another bad loss, and still have plenty of areas to improve.
How important is it for the Beard to score 40 points for Houston? Well… the Rockets are 12-1 this season when Harden eclipses the 40-point mark. And many of these games Harden has bailed out the squad. But I wouldn’t say Houston needs their MVP to score 40 to win. The squad just needs to quit taking their foot off the gas once they gain a big lead. It’s been the Rockets biggest weakness all season. Looking at other contributors in the win over the Nets, Isaiah Hartenstein had a productive game off the bench. “Hustlestein” got extended playing time in Clint Capela’s absence, scoring 9 points, and grabbing an impressive 13 rebounds. Austin Rivers chipped in with 14 points off the bench. Other than that it was a quiet night for the Rockets other than Harden.
Russell Westbrook finished with 23 points, but on one more shot-attempt than his backcourt-mate. The Beard shot over 60% from the field, while Brodie shot under 40%. Westbrook’s had nights where his shot’s off, and more will come in the future. But Brodie and the squad need to make better decisions as a unit when Russ isn’t connecting with the jumper. Westbrook shouldn’t have more shot attempts than Harden when the Beard is on fire, despite all the defensive coverage Harden sees. Houston needs to use more ball movement, especially when the Beard’s on the bench, so everyone can get involved instead of the game becoming a disastrous one-man isolation show starring Russell Westbrook. Brodie can be a dominant player in isolation. However, he will never be a great shooter, his strength is driving is to the basket. Yet, Russ has problems finishing at the rim this season, missing way too many layups on a nightly basis. Brodie needs to find open teammates if he can’t find the rim, or the Rockets will struggle without Harden on the floor.
Up next, Houston hits the road again. The Rockets take a quick trip over to the Big Easy to take on the Pelicans for a Sunday night game, before returning home for a couple of big games at Toyota Center. Eric Gordon is expected to return. Houston needs his firepower now more than ever, as Russell Westbrook and Clint Capela will both be on the sidelines in New Orleans. Hopefully, EG’s surgery fixed his early-season issues, and he can mesh right back in with the squad. The Rockets need to integrate EG seamlessly back into schemes on both sides of the ball. Splash Gordon is integral to Houston’s success in the long run, and he plays especially well alongside Harden. If the Rockets want to hold onto a top seed in the West, they’re gonna need Gordon to demonstrate why his nickname’s Splash.