Houston Rockets: 3 takeaways from narrow Game 3 win vs. Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 20: Eric Gordon #10 and James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets embrace after their 104-101 win over the Utah Jazz in Game Three during the first round of the 2019 NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Vivint Smart Home Arena on April 20, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /

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3. Chris Paul provides a steady presence on offense

In a game in which his backcourt sidekick struggled to find his shot until money time, Chris Paul managed to help the Rockets weather the storm by picking up the slack and taking full advantage of a moment when his team needed him the most.

Despite struggling to find his rhythm from deep through the first two games of the series, Paul would provide Houston’s offense with a cool, calm and collected presence, as the former Wake Forest star helped set up teammates as well as himself for scoring opportunities in Game 3.

The 14-year veteran — who poured in 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting in the first half — hit several shots in the mid-range that proved to be instrumental in navigating the Rockets through Harden’s early troubles.

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"“We were just trying to hang around,” Paul said per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle afterwards. “We were all talking to each other, about doing what we had to do to pull this out. “The name of the game is to win the game.”"

Although Paul would only score just six more points following the first half, the nine-time All-Star displayed why many consider him as one of the top floor generals in all of basketball by making a series of plays within pick-and-roll and iso sets that left the likes of Utah’s Kyle Korver and Rudy Gobert completely befuddled.

Should this trend continue, then it could pose trouble for future opponents that may stand in the Rockets’ way, as the contributions of CP3 will prove to be just as vital as The Beard’s in Houston’s official quest for a championship.

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