Houston Rockets: Takeaways From 5-Game Road Trip

Harden Steps Up Despite Shooting Struggles

There is no question that the Rockets’ offense runs through James Harden. He dominates the ball as much as any player in the NBA, as he has a usage rate of 32.9; that trails only DeMarcus Cousins for players that are regulars. Naturally, that normally means that if he is struggling to score, the Rockets as a whole are as well.

That was not necessarily the case for them on this road trip, though.

During the course of the road trip, Harden shot a lackluster 38.1 percent from the field and ugly 21.1 percent from deep. But, he did not let that stop him, as he made up for it at the foul line, taking 69 free throws in five games and making 61 of them for 88.4 percent. That helped buoy his scoring average, as he poured in 29.8 points per game on the road trip.

But he did help in other areas as well. He averaged five rebounds and 8.8 assists per game to contribute despite his shot not falling consistently. He had two double-doubles on the trip, with the first coming against the Raptors with a monster 40-point, 14-assist game. The other was against the Hornets, when he scored 12 points with 10 assists.

The Rockets will need Harden to step up his efficiency offensively if they are to continue holding onto a playoff spot, but it was encouraging to see him help in other areas despite struggles sometimes from the field.

Next: Bench Offers Solid Production