Chris Paul’s injury was a shock to the Houston Rockets. But they don’t show that, just like their opponents they spread optimism. James Harden is now required as a one-man army. Match 6 in Oakland goes live on DAZN at 3am.
Spreading optimism is the task of every protagonist in the world of sport – the NBA is no exception. “I think we are in a good situation,” said Steve Kerr, for example, after his team was 2-3 behind in the Western Finals. “No problem, we have enough players,” were the words of his opponent Mike D’Antoni when he was asked directly after game 5 about the consequences of a possible failure by Chris Paul.
CP3 himself gave the reporters a relaxed “I’m okay” before he left in his car – but in this case the optimism was a little too much of a good thing. Because since Friday morning local time it is certain that he will not be okay, at least not for game 6 in Oakland. A strain in his thigh will force him to watch.
Paul’s retirement gives the series a new twist, because the game of the Rockets will logically change without the Point Guard, which stands on the field in the post season 31.8 minutes per game (18.6 points, 7.9 assists). First and foremost, James Harden must assume an even greater responsibility than before.
The good news from the Rockets’ point of view: this is not the first season in which they have had to do without CP3. He missed 14 of the first 15 games of the season with a knee injury, ten of these games were won by the Rockets. As the season progressed, Paul was inactive in another ten games due to minor aches, five of which his team won.
And: The Rockets played their best ball when Paul and Harden rocked the Backcourt together. Projected on 100 ball possessions they destroyed their opponents with 13.6 points difference. With Harden without Paul on the field, however, it was enough for a net rating of +7.8, which is still very strong.
A few impressions of how the team performs without Paul but with Harden could already be collected in the current playoffs, since Mike D’Antoni likes to stagger the minutes of his two stars (meaning: when one sits, the other plays). The result in the 15 games so far: A net rating of +8.8, although the bearded player is not at his highest level when it comes to closing efficiency.
His usage rate of 39.3 percent in these phases is monstrous, the way he plays is both simple and effective: he is presented with screens until he has the mismatch that suits him against the all-switching defense of the Warriors. Then it’s Iso-Ball, who will be even more without Paul than with him.
The problem: Harden is in the middle of a throwing crisis, his last 20 (!) threesomes all went wrong. So it’s quite possible that the Warriors will have a look if this will continue and will drop demonstratively to make the drive more difficult. If the litter still doesn’t fall in, Houston actually has a problem.
Harden himself is not interested in this shooting slump as long as his team wins anyway. D’Antoni is not concerned about this either, but suspected that Harden’s legs were a little tired from the long season and the great responsibility he bears.
However, no one should expect a timely recovery here. On the one hand, the Warriors preach that they want to revive the ball movement in their offense. On the other hand, it’s quite possible that they’re trying with Harden what the Rockets have been doing with Stephen Curry for five games now: To attack him in felt any attack targeted. If this is the case, Harden faces a combination of offensive and defensive hard work, whose workload could take on LeBron’s proportions. James is the only indestructible cyborg in the Association.
These are not optimal conditions for overcoming the crisis. For this reason, many hopes rest on Eric Gordon. D’Antoni already announced that he would now have to slip into the role of ballhandler and litter-creator in order to relieve Harden. That he can do that is out of the question – due to his shooting it is often forgotten that he is also a good slasher – but he never really had to prove it when it matters. And: He too has not yet reached his best form from downtown in the current series (35.4 percent).
Gordon, by the way, has always come from the bank lately. This will now have to change, which means that the seven-man rotation that D’Antoni last used needs another player. Luc Mbah a Moute will probably benefit from this and see minutes. He can be integrated into the sometimes great defense of the Rockets without problems, but in the harmonic offensive he represents a big weak point with his missing throw.
Gerald Green’s playing time will also increase. He has recently attracted particular attention for meeting wild threesomes, which is what his team needs. Ryan Anderson or Nene are the other candidates who might have slipped into the rotation, so it’s sure to get bigger and slower.
The bottom line, of course, is the beard – which also jumped on the optimism bandwagon. “We want to compete here with the same Swag, with the same positive energy,” he dictated into the microphones. “But we don’t want to complain and be a little nervous about Paul’s injury.” moping around. We’re fine!”