Rockets’ Mike D’Antoni confident James Harden’s new conditioning will help him last in the playoffs

Following a rousing 20-point Game 2 win against the Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni feels his star player, James Harden, has made the necessary adjustments to make his body last throughout the course of a long postseason.

It has been argued that Harden seems to run out of gas throughout the postseason, as his last few playoff exits can point to exhaustion after poor performances. According to D’Antoni, that will no longer be the case.

“He’s reshaped his body, he’s eating the right way. He’s focused in on the playoffs and making sure he has enough energy all the way through.”

Mike D’Antoni on James Harden: “He’s reshaped his body, he’s eating the right way. He’s focused in on the playoffs and making sure he has enough energy all the way through.” pic.twitter.com/FskRotHAWg

— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) April 18, 2019

Harden has played 33 minutes in each of the first two games of this series, without the need for more, as the results have been a 32- and a 20-point blowout, respectively. He has played in 78 games this season, averaging 36.8 minutes per outing — putting him at 2,870 total minutes for the season and bound to cross the 3,000-minute barrier soon throughout these playoffs.

Harden has reportedly adopted a different eating regimen, as well as packing in workouts to keep his core stronger and able to last throughout a grueling regular season and the ensuing postseason, that often takes a toll on a body. However, we won’t know if his regimen is really effective or not until the Rockets get deeper into the playoffs and allow him to showcase his mettle when it matters most.

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