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The Rockets without James Harden … it wins even more!

An MVP who leaves and… everything is better? The Houston Rockets lost James Harden but they are doing much better since the departure of the superstar. Surprising? Maybe not. In this case, the Texans might just be better at subtraction. Because the back All-Star, figure of the franchise for eight years, weighed down the mood.

He wanted to leave in November and he made it known, almost to the point of publicly demanding his transfer. With an attitude unworthy of a professional player: late for training camp, without proof, while he was partying without a mask in private clubs while his teammates took to the courts. What’s more is out of shape.

Immediately arrived, Harden took the beak with the rookie Jae’Sean Tate then with John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. Then he broke down. After yet another defeat, during which his level of effort on the ground did not do him honor, he let loose in front of the journalists’ microphone. With a clear message: ” we are not good enough, we cannot win. In other words, send it elsewhere.

NBA James Harden Houston Rockets OKC

“A lot of guys here want to fight to win. If you have 15 guys who have the same goal, know their role, and shoot the same way to win, you’re fine. But when you have some guys in the equation that don’t want to, it’s hard to achieve something special or positive as a team, ”Wall commented.

“I’ve been on teams like this where guys are in ‘me, me, me’ mode and not team-oriented, it hurts. Man, you can’t give it all up after 9 games, it’s a long season. “

John Wall remains zen but tackles James Harden

Cousins ​​went even further: “It is clear that what he said was disrespectful, but everyone has their own opinion. The disrespect started long before. As soon as training camp approaches, disembarking as he did, with all his escapades off the field. “

“He can think whatever he wants from the organization but there are fourteen other guys in the locker room who haven’t done anything to him. It is completely unfair to disrespect us. “

So much for the atmosphere. The Rockets were closer to the apocalypse than the NBA playoffs. Despite all the talent of James Harden. So, obviously, since he left, everything is healthier in the group.

“The team was not what we wanted and we had people who didn’t want to be here. So it’s rather difficult to play in such conditions. Once the transfer was done, we had the team we wanted and especially the guys who really wanted to give themselves here, ”Wall insisted a few days ago.

Getting along well is not always a condition to win, but it helps. Less pressure, more mutual aid, more desire. It’s obvious. It is a very solid foundation. But that’s not all that explains Houston’s current good performance. Indeed, the team of Stephen Silas plays a completely different basketball without Harden. With significantly less isolation and a little more movement. It’s silly and that’s what analysts, supporters or anyone who follows basketball has been asking for a long time.

The Rockets, NBA best defense without James Harden …

Houston Rockets Christian WoodHouston Rockets Christian Wood

However, the change is not drastic. But it is progressing. On the other hand, the evolution is much more radical in defense. The Rockets have the best defense in the league since James Harden left. Irony ? Over the same period, the Nets have one of the worst … with 118 points collected on 100 possessions. Everyone knows that the bearded man is catastrophic in defense, where he makes no effort.

But note that the Texans now have several good stopers. PJ Tucker. David Nwaba. The energetic Tate. Eric Gordon, but on man only. Victor Oladipo, when he is in full possession of his means. The same goes for Wall. Much easier to make stops.

Moreover, Houston has a record of 7 wins in 10 games when Brooklyn is 6 out of 9. Both teams are doing equally well. The Rockets even a little better with five straight wins.

So can it hold up? Over time, the franchise inevitably lost its greatest talent. It reminds a bit of the Denver Nuggets post-Carmelo Anthony. The team was running better. But she did not pass the first round even though she had still played in a Conference final with Melo. The Rockets were aiming for the title with Harden. There, making the playoffs would already be a victory.

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