Houston Rockets: 3 players who must step up without James Harden

(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
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(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)

With Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden expected to miss at least the next two weeks due to a strained left hamstring, which players must find a way to step up in his absence?

In a season where the Houston Rockets have had several players miss significant time due to injury, the team recently received surprising news in regards to one of the game’s most durable stars.

Earlier this week, the Rockets announced that James Harden will miss at least the next two weeks, after suffering a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in Houston’s double-overtime victory against the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 31.

"“It’s not a quick return at all,” said Dr. Walter Lowe, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “We use PRP these days, that’s platelet rich plasma. You spin down blood, take platelets that have a bunch of healing factors in them…the fast ones are two to three weeks and the slow ones of the Grade 2s are four to six weeks.”"

Yet despite Harden’s loss, the Rockets still boast one of the league’s top teams, as Houston seeks to remain at the top half of the Western Conference standings.

With that being said, here are the three players that must step up in lieu of The Beard.