I missed most of the first half because I was watching the Thunder game but from what I saw he looked pretty good our there. Especially on the defensive end. He also stood out on the offensive boards.
What shocked me though is that he took 21 shots. First night with a new team where he's supposed to be the 3rd option at best and he gets off 21 shots?
Were they running the offense through him early to get him comfortable? I didn't notice him taking many shots in the 4th quarter.
In the 1st half, he hung out around the perimeter more than I would have liked and even took a quick 3 that barely touched the rim. But in the 2nd half and into OT, he looked like the Josh Smith that made a name for himself in Atlanta.
He used his athleticism and aggressiveness to get scores closer to the basket which included some nice finishes at the rim. He hustled on the boards and even got off a few nice passes.
I think the Rockets are going to be a force. Even before getting Smith, I liked what the Rockets were doing. Harden is playing at an MVP level and they are getting more from the bench than most anticipated they would. I also liked the addition of Cory Brewer who is good solid pro.
I think they have all the pieces to go all the way in the Western Conference, but it won't be easy because as you know, that conference is loaded with an insane amount of talent and great teams.