May 19, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) in the first half in game one of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Aggressive James Harden
James Harden has this habit where he likes to feel first quarters out. And many times, the entire first half. He doesn’t usually — or at least this postseason — get off to a quick start. That needs to change in Game 2.
During Game 1, Harden scored only seven points in the first half and finished with 28 points. Especially if Dwight Howard is out of Game 2, or if he’s going to be as ineffective as he was in the second half of Game 1, the Rockets need Harden to have an out-of-his-mind Game 2 — early and often.
Houston’s best player needs too look like the best player on the court if the Rockets are going to win Game 2, especially if shorthanded. That simply wasn’t the case in Game 1, despite how great Harden looked down the stretch.