Harden Set To Make Return

The Storylines: This game has the potential for a true classic. James Harden has been injured for the last 5 games, during which the Rockets struggled going 1-4 without their star. The time has finally arrived where Harden will lace it up in front of a sold out crowd at the Toyota Center in Houston. Everyone is eager to see the return of the league's best player and soon to be MVP, but will they be disappointed ? Golden State will be playing their 3rd game with new additions Rajon Rondo and Brook Lopez. The team is 1-1 in the previous two games, recently losing on the road to Utah, the only undefeated home team. We know what the Warriors game plan will be: stop James Harden. Is that even possible ? Who could they possibly throw in his direction to limit his scoring ? The picture above simply won't be happening. There is no way the team will give sharpshooter Klay Thompson the task of guarding such an elite player. Does that mean that 6'1 guard Eric Bledsoe will be trying to stop the 6'5 Harden ? Possibly, given he is the team's best defender, but that mismatch is just asking to be exposed. There aren't many other options the team has though. Perhaps they'll see if the 6'9 veteran Andrei Kirilenko can generate some success ? In all likelihood, those are the only two possibilities, which isn't good for Golden State.

The Prediction: This game, like all of the Rockets games, comes down to one thing, James Harden. If the Warriors can find a way to stop him, limit his production, they'll have a very good chance at winning the game. Otherwise, Harden will shred the team for 35-40 points and the Warriors go home with a loss. Even with the possibility of Bledsoe and Kirilenko guarding the Rockets' star, there's no guarantee either will succeed. This is a job that perhaps only the Bobcats' Michael Kidd-Gilchrist can accomplish. The other matchups however, should bode well for the Warriors. Rondo could tear Rio to pieces, forcing him into 10 turnovers is even a possibility. Klay against Iggy is likely a stalemate, as neither will probably have an impactful performance. The paint might be where this game is decided. The duo of Kanter & Lopez will look early and often to abuse the Rockets' thin frontcourt. Perhaps if the Warriors can dominate the paint, they'll have a chance to win ? Unlikely. Harden is simply the God of the CSL and if you want to win against him, you'll need to be on your home court or have a bonafide superstar to put in his way. We think the Rockets hold down home court in Harden's return.


Rockets win by 11.

Will definitely be a great matchup, at least I hope as I'm limiting Harden's minutes for the time being but who knows, Coach Rudy T may feel like he can play more mins.

Good luck HG.

Well feel free to limit his minutes all you want   

But for what reason ? He'll be back at 100% for our game...worried about another injury ?

Yeah, don't wanna take a chance so early in the season though he may end up playing longer than I anticipate, high 20's low 30's.

WillyJakkz (HOU) wrote:Yeah,  don't wanna take a chance so early in the season though he may end up playing longer than I anticipate, high 20's low 30's.

Scratch that. Looks like Harden is going to sit another game since you never submitted a depth for this sim. Shit, now my adjustments are probably going to come back to bite me. I'll probably lose anyway now lol.

Ahhh nevermind. Somehow you got Harden in there without sending a depth.

We lost, 82-93 as you were up by 21 at one point. Harden only had 24 but Gallo chipped in 22 to help you win.

We also shot 16/32 from the line...mainly because of Brook Lopez going 9/20..don't know how I'm going to cope with his poor FT shooting.

We shot 37% and 28% one of our worst...if not the worst shooting performances of the season for us. Bledsoe grabbed 5 steals, Rondo grabbed 3 but wasn't enough as we struggled to score big time.

Great to see Harden back on the court. Will only make things tighter in the Western Conference.

Higrade (GSW) wrote:
We also shot 16/32 from the line...mainly because of Brook Lopez going 9/20..don't know how I'm going to cope with his poor FT shooting.

The same way I do with D-12.. You pray he makes his FTs.. And you better believe that if your guy went to the line 20 times he AT LEAST was fouled 10 times. That's enough to put 1 or 2 players in foul trouble, and you're not even counting possible and-ones...
Take the most of it, just like I try to do. Try to ruin the depth of the other team.