MVP Dagger Delivers Final Blow in Epic Comeback, Lifts Rockets Past Champs, 135-134 in OT, Leaves Warriors in a Hardened State
Just Another Game? Drowning in Dizzy Rivers. Don’t Bet Against the House.
Don’t bet against the House. It’s something Golden State will have to learn. Along with how to guard James Harden, but that’s not a teachable subject. Going into Thursday night’s matchup, the betting odds favored the Warriors, and reasonably so. The back-to-back defending Champs, fully healthy, in front of their home crowd. With a matchup against a Harden-dragged Rockets team banged up for much of the season, despite playing their best ball, a lot of people expected Golden State to win this matchup. On Thursday night, the Rockets looked destined to have their five-game run come to an end. Houston was beaten and bruised in the first half, trailing by 17 at the break. Austin Rivers got knocked down and looked concussed. James Harden took an elbow to the face and went to the locker room. The Rockets already had Chris Paul and Eric Gordon out with injuries, and now this? Houston fans and the NBA World thought this game was over. The Rockets found themselves down by 20, in the toughest arena to win, with a little over nine minutes left in the third quarter. Their MVP bruised, and Rivers in a daze, victory appeared to be out of reach. In 99 out of 100 seasons, the Rockets would have lost this game. Not this season. Not in Harden’s World. This season is truly becoming one-of-a-kind. The Beard and Houston proved that, as they rallied back to beat the Warriors, 135-134, in OT, in what turned out to be the most entertaining game of the NBA season, as we approach the halfway-mark. Harden hit an impossible shot, on two of the league’s best defenders with one second remaining, to give the Rockets the lead for good. The Beard took one of the most difficult shots I’ve ever seen in NBA-history with the game on the line. And made it. While getting fouled on another no-call. Harden had no business making that shot. But as the NBA World is slowly beginning to realize: it’s Harden’s World, we’re just living in it.
The Beard’s improbable shot from 30-feet while surrounded by Draymond Green and Klay Thompson (two of the league’s top defenders) was a sight to behold. The bucket made Harden the first player in history to have a triple-double with 10 threes. Afterwards, the Beard shouted something menacing at Draymond that I can’t write here. I’ll just say pretty much everyone agrees with what the reigning MVP declared after nailing the game winner, and giving Draymond the death-stare as he lay, helpless on the floor, with nowhere to go next, but (where else?) whine. The NBA’s leading irritant had been barking unnecessarily all night long, as the officials continue to let him mouth off. They also let Kevin Durant make a critical pass from out-of-bounds (literally) to set up a crucial shot that gave the Warriors a late lead. It didn’t matter, as The Beard put on a performance for the ages. He consumed his 5th straight 40-point game, collecting 44 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 dimes. Clint Capela had another All-Star performance, which now seems to be a nightly occasion, finishing with a career-high 29 points and 21 boards. Austin Rivers came back from a daze to show why Steph Curry’s a one-dimensional player. With Chris Paul and Eric Gordon sidelined, Rivers is the only Rocket besides Harden who can create his own shot off the dribble. Austin created some magic as Rivers dominated Curry in isolation situations on key plays late in the game. When Houston and Harden (who somehow, and hopefully, never gets tired) desperately sought another ball-handler to step up, Rivers had the game of his career. He finished with 18-points, including several clutch three’s that kept the Rockets in striking-distance. Rivers is shooting a blistering 56% off of catch and shoot passes from Rocket teammates. Houston remains undefeated since signing Rivers shortly before Christmas. Another great NBA game in what’s turned out to be a more intriguing season than many expected. Or was it something more?
I had a feeling this game was something more than just a regular season meeting between two powerhouses. James Harden walked into Oracle on Thursday wearing a raincoat (before out-shooting the Splash Brothers combined, with a career-high 10 made 3-pointers). The kind of outfit comparable in its outlandishness to what he wore when he dropped 50 on the Lakers. Only the kind of outfit someone ready to make a statement wears. That night Harden’s first basket was a statement dunk on JaVale McGee that started his entire Jordan-esque tear. After the dunk he turned, grimaced, and flexed in LeBron’s direction (as if to say ‘I’m the King now’). Since, the Rockets are 10-1. On Thursday night, given the stakes, competition, and injuries, James Harden had the defining performance of his career, and the game was more than just another win. It was a statement game. The Beard has had enough. First, he had a statement for the league’s best player to start his monster-streak. In his most recent outing, Harden had a statement for the league’s best team, the “unbeatable” Warriors. In the best game of his career, Harden proved that he might just be good enough to beat them by himself, even though he’s got plenty of help in reserve. The rest of the NBA is finally started to notice too. This game was not just another game, but the defining-point of this entire regular season for the Houston Rockets, and James Harden’s legacy.
The media will spin it like James Harden beat four all-stars alone, but Clint Capela was savage in the paint, continuing his career-year, and dominated the interior on both ends of the floor. Especially with CP3 and Eric Gordon sidelined, Capela becomes integrally more important to Houston and Harden’s success. Winning isn’t always due to the play of your stars, although the media makes it seems that way. Basketball is a team sport. The Beard could score 50 every night, yet he and Houston would still need some kind of assistance. One of the most difficult things for coaches and GMs to find in the NBA are role players who thrive and mesh with their stars.
That thriving presence has come, in the in the form of Houstonian Danuel House, Jr. Luckily for the Rockets, Harden and House work so well together. House feeds off the Beard’s energy and vice versa. There’s a reason House was the teammate Harden first mentioned in his interview following the game. The MVP notices the changes a difference-maker can provide for a team. House has adapted with ease to D’Antonti’s system and plays his heart out on every possession. For a player with minimal NBA-experience, House has a very high basketball IQ. The guy never makes mistakes, knows when to cut to the basket, drives to the lane hard, and plays underrated, GREAT defense, on every possession. House is a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the hardwood. His grit and toughness fits right alongside P.J., Gerald, Rivers, and Nene’s energy that gives the Rockets their defensive identity. Combine the athleticism and grit of P.J. Tucker and Gerald Green. Mix that with maximum-efficient play, and you get Danuel House Jr. His consistency has been a revelation for the Rockets and brings a new dynamic force to the offense. House had another efficient game against the Warriors, collecting 17 points, 4 boards, and 3 assists, on ridiculous shooting percentages of 67% from deep, and 60% overall. He’s the only player in the league this season to have 3 straight games with 15 points on 60% shooting from long range and overall. He was perfect on 9 free throw attempts against the Warriors, in a time when many players take freebies for granted. You can tell the man has work ethic and puts in the time to get better. His shooting makes the defense have to respect him, and he drives the lane like he wants to tear off the rim with a visceral ferocity. Personally, I enjoy watching House play as much as Harden. House has taken full advantage of an opportunity given to him and made the most of it, something 90% of NBA players in his situation take for granted. In the process, it’s benefiting the Rockets’ success in so many aspects. His defense and energy are contagious for Houston, as he’s been the best pickup of the year, and a secret weapon for the Rockets, as most NBA fans don’t even know his name (yet). House has transformed from a virtual unknown, to become the NBA’s most efficient and effective rotational-player. The Rockets inserted him into the starting lineup 6 games ago and haven’t lost since. This newfound defensive identity, along with the Beard’s historic play, has launched Houston to within a game of the Warriors in the standings and back into the title conversation.
Ironically, the Warriors waived House before the season began. Luckily, Daryl Morey and co. jumped on the opportunity, with House making the most of his chance. He made sure to remind Golden State of the mistake they made, as his presence was felt all over the floor. House gave the Warriors a haunting reminder of what they lost, as he out-hustled Draymond Green and anyone the Warriors put on the floor. In the process, allowing him to develop more chemistry with Harden and the Rockets. As Golden State’s chemistry-related issues continue to tear their team apart, Houston’s chemistry is getting better with each game, despite all the injuries. James Harden, the league’s most durable player, took a beating, and still led the Rockets from 20-points down in a comeback victory over the Warriors in Oracle. The Beard’s mental revolution has been extraordinary to watch. Harden knows what he’s got and has all the tools necessary on this Rockets team to accomplish the ultimate goal, the Championship. The Warriors move to cut House was their decision to make. Now he’s gone from Golden State, they’ve moved on with their own deck of cards. If the Rockets keep on moving up the standings, that title of ‘Champs’, that the Warriors proudly associate with, just might be gone as well.
Right now, things are looking up for Houston, despite no return timetables for CP3 or EG. Up next is a tough matchup in Portland. After a season-defining win, don’t be surprised if the Rockets have a bit of a letdown. The Blazers boast one of the best home-court advantages in the NBA, and usually give Houston a tough fight. However, the Rockets have House, and, like they say in Vegas… “the House always wins.”