http://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/article/3-pointers-Takeaways-from-the-Rockets-115-111-12436997.php
3-pointers: Takeaways from the Rockets' win over the Bucks
Updated 5:28 pm, Sunday, December 17, 2017
Houston Rockets guard James Harden, right, dribbles as Milwaukee Bucks guard DeAndre Liggins defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets guard James Harden, right, dribbles as Milwaukee Bucks guard DeAndre Liggins defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreHouston Rockets guard James Harden reacts after a 3-pointer by Chris Paul during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets guard James Harden reacts after a 3-pointer by Chris Paul during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreHouston Rockets forward Tarik Black (28) drives to the basket as Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets forward Tarik Black (28) drives to the basket as Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the
... moreHouston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives between Milwaukee Bucks center Thon Maker, left, and guard Eric Bledsoe during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives between Milwaukee Bucks center Thon Maker, left, and guard Eric Bledsoe during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP
... moreHouston Rockets guard James Harden (13) passes the ball as Milwaukee Bucks forward John Henson, right, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets guard James Harden (13) passes the ball as Milwaukee Bucks forward John Henson, right, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won
... moreMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, shoots as Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, shoots as Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreMilwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd watches from the scorer's table during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks head coach Jason Kidd watches from the scorer's table during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian
... moreMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives as Houston Rockets guard James Harden defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives as Houston Rockets guard James Harden defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreMilwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe (6) drives to the basket past Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe (6) drives to the basket past Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreHouston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) drives past Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) drives past Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreHouston Rockets center Nene Hilario, right, dunks as Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets center Nene Hilario, right, dunks as Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreHouston Rockets guard James Harden, right, dribbles as Milwaukee Bucks guard DeAndre Liggins defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets guard James Harden, right, dribbles as Milwaukee Bucks guard DeAndre Liggins defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreHouston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson, right, looks to pass as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson, right, looks to pass as Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP
... moreMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, attempts to steal the ball from Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, attempts to steal the ball from Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP
... moreHouston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni, right, talks with official Tyler Ford during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni, right, talks with official Tyler Ford during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the
... moreMilwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) shoots as Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton (22) shoots as Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric
... moreMilwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) and John Henson walk the court during the final seconds of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon (13) and John Henson walk the court during the final seconds of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the
... moreHouston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza holds his thigh during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Ariza remained in the game. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza holds his thigh during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Ariza remained in the game. Houston won
... moreMilwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe, right, is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe, right, is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111.
... moreMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, shoots over Houston Rockets forward Tarik Black (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, right, shoots over Houston Rockets forward Tarik Black (28) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the
... moreMilwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton, left, dribbles as Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessMilwaukee Bucks forward Khris Middleton, left, dribbles as Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game
... moreHouston Rockets guard James Harden reacts after making a 3-pointer during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game 115-111. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
lessHouston Rockets guard James Harden reacts after making a 3-pointer during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, in Houston. Houston won the game
... moreIt was clear from the start that the Rockets did not have ‘the juice” as Mike D’Antoni put it that they would like for a game against the long and athletic Milwaukee Bucks. There are games like that in an NBA season, most coming in the second half of a back-to-back. For the Rockets, that was even more apparent with Clint Capela and Luc Mbah a Moute out and James Harden playing through pain in his right knee.
That all made the win, the Rockets’ 13th straight, different from the others in the streak and in many ways, more impressive. They had to find a way to break through. They had to attack the paint in the fourth quarter, knock down mid-range shots, even expand the rotation by bringing in Tarik Black for defensive energy and one sensational dunk.
The Rockets had to find a way when the usual ways would not have been enough.
1. James Harden arrived at Toyota Center with a good chance of sitting out Saturday’s game. As much as he has fought sitting out for rest days over the years, this was not about rest, with his right knee sore from his confrontation with the basket stanchion when he was fouled by Brandon Paul on Friday. It took the doctor to assure him that he could not make the injury worse by playing to choose to play, but that did not mean he was not playing through pain. He was limping in his pregame test to determine if he could play. He said he was in pain throughout the game and clearly did not have the same bounce in his step as before the injury. He did not let that stop him, scoring 31 points with six rebounds and five assists. He likely will be dealing with soreness in the knee for at least the next few games, but already said he would play Monday. At a time in which players sitting out has become part of NBA strategies, Harden has missed one game in four seasons with an injury. Neither is wrong. Harden’s determination to play does show his commitment. It is a form of leadership many on the outside ignored. The Rockets have reduced his workload as part of the current NBA mindset. The Rockets have virtually ended game-day shootarounds. They rarely practice. Harden is playing fewer minutes than he ever has as a starter, ranking 12th in the league. The Rockets hope those steps will have as greater a cumulative effect on keeping him fresh for the spring as missing a few games along the way. That remains to be seen, but he left no question on Saturday about his determination and commitment, something that did not go unnoticed in his locker room.
Sherra Wright-Robinson, the ex-wife of former NBA player Lorenzen Wright, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in his 2010 death.
Media: Sports Illustrated2. Chris Paul turned to James Harden and said simply “I got you.” With that, he more than finished off the Bucks. He said all that was needed about their partnership and the success that so far goes beyond the Rockets’ hopes. When Paul was off in the first half, missing all five of his shots, Harden had 15 first half points. With Harden playing through pain, Paul took off in the second half and finished off the Bucks down the stretch. A night before, Harden’s shot was off, but Paul had kept the Rockets rolling. The Rockets never shared the idea that their stars would have difficulty meshing, but they did think they would need to adjust. Instead, they just needed to get on the court together, seamlessly working off each other and showing their vision and feel for the game is not limited to finding open teammates. The Rockets have added more weakside action to take advantage of so often having a second playmaker on the floor. Both have shot well. But much of their instant success has been from the attitude. Their 14-0 record in games Paul has played, the best start for a starter on a new team since the NBA began indicating starting lineups in boxscores in 1970, showed how in sync they have been. “I got you” said it as clearly.
3. More than a third of the way into the season, the NBA elimination of ‘continuation’ in foul calls has not impacted James Harden as many once assumed. It seems, however, that officials remain unclear about what should be considered a shooting foul and wildly inconsistent about a rule that is either unfairly difficult for them to officiate in real time or will just take more time to become instinctive as the other calls they have long trained to make. The rule is supposed to award shooting fouls when the player gathers the ball, rather than on a drive. But the degree to which a player at full speed has gathered and whether that is enough to consider the foul in the act of shooting has been unclear. Yet, the impact of the change is often minimal, as with Saturday, when the Bucks were so often over the foul limit that the Rockets lived at the line. Chris Paul repeatedly drew rip-through fouls, catching the Bucks’ young guards reaching. They were correctly ruled non-shooting fouls, but when the Rockets were in the bonus, he immediately walked to the free throw line to start shooting. Harden is taking 9.5 free throws per game, 1.4 fewer than last season, though at least part of the difference could be from taking so many more 3s. His 8.1 free throws per game lead the league, anyway. The Rockets’ 20.4 free throws per game are the league high. In the past six games, the Rockets have attempted 29.5 free throws per game, up from 20.7 in the previous six games. As players have adjusted, the impact of the rule changes has been minimal. They have, however, made officials’ tough job even tougher.
